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Dublin Airport Bus Service Changes

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    #182
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,463 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    koutoubia wrote: »
    Onboard the drivers can take most contactless payments but not swipe.Chip and pin as well.

    It is fair enough for most Europeans, but you will run into lots of issues with this with folks from the US. Most don't have pin and chip, they have chip and signature over there instead and contactless isn't very common either. They are weirdly way behind the times when it comes to financial tech.


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    #183
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Little Tip on Dublin Express
    If you buy your ticket through nationalexpress.com you can get a return for £7 + £1 booking fee, which is roughly €9.40.

    Currently the same trip will cost you €12 on the Dublin Express site.

    Book here:
    https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/airports/dublin


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    #184
    belfast stephen
    Registered Users Posts: 168 ✭✭belfast stephen


    Timetables now up on NX Website

    https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/DA/783/Dublin_Airport,_Terminal_1-Dublin_Custom_House/O/2020-03-03--2020-08-21


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    #185
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,326 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    belfast stephen wrote: »
    Timetables now up on NX Website

    https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/DA/783/Dublin_Airport,_Terminal_1-Dublin_Custom_House/O/2020-03-03--2020-08-21

    Or you can download it (one page for all three services) from here....

    https://www.dublinexpress.ie/images/DublinExpress_timetable.pdf


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    #186
    Charles Babbage
    Registered Users Posts: 5,454 ✭✭✭Charles Babbage


    bk wrote: »
    It is fair enough for most Europeans, but you will run into lots of issues with this with folks from the US. Most don't have pin and chip, they have chip and signature over there instead and contactless isn't very common either. They are weirdly way behind the times when it comes to financial tech.


    If the ticket offices can process such payments they can buy a return ticket.


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    #187
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Dublin Express Routes 782/783/784
    The timetables and route maps for Dublin Express are now showing on the TFI Journey Planner.
    https://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/XSLT_SELTT_REQUEST?itdLPxx_page=ttb&language=en

    Route 785 (Clontarf - Raheny - Coolock - Clare Hall - Airport)
    What looks like a proposed timetable for the 785 is now showing on the TFI Journey planner
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=503537&stc=1&d=1582359754

    No idea of a start date for this service at present.


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    #188
    Brian CivilEng
    Registered Users Posts: 1,016 ✭✭✭Brian CivilEng


    devnull wrote: »
    Dublin Express Routes 782/783/784
    Route 785 (Clontarf - Raheny - Coolock - Clare Hall - Airport)
    What looks like a proposed timetable for the 785 is now showing on the TFI Journey planner
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=503537&stc=1&d=1582359754

    No idea of a start date for this service at present.

    Thanks for that. Looks like they couldn't have chosen a worse timetable for my 08:30 to 17:00 workday if they tried.


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    #189
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    785 Route
    Bear in mind this is just something that it is posted on the NTA Timetable, it's not been announced, there's been no official word on it etc. It's very much subject to change so don't take it as gospel.

    There's no start date as of yet.


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    #190
    koutoubia
    Registered Users Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    Mr.S wrote: »
    Any word if Dublin Express will offer discounted "staff" fares for the airport? This 785 route would be ideal for my OH but not at cost price obviously.
    We have been told yes for DAA staff...but it definitley needs to be confirmed.
    Just remember DX have no stops between city centre and Airport
    devnull wrote: »
    Bear in mind this is just something that it is posted on the NTA Timetable, it's not been announced, there's been no official word on it etc. It's very much subject to change so don't take it as gospel.
    I fully see timetable changes on DX after it has ' bedded' in!


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    #191
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    koutoubia wrote: »
    We have been told yes for DAA staff...but it definitley needs to be confirmed.

    There will be - I believe it was required as part of the tender.


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    #192
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    devnull wrote: »
    Dublin Express Routes 782/783/784
    The timetables and route maps for Dublin Express are now showing on the TFI Journey Planner.
    https://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/XSLT_SELTT_REQUEST?itdLPxx_page=ttb&language=en

    Route 785 (Clontarf - Raheny - Coolock - Clare Hall - Airport)
    What looks like a proposed timetable for the 785 is now showing on the TFI Journey planner
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=503537&stc=1&d=1582359754

    No idea of a start date for this service at present.

    Are we looking at Two different operators here ?

    Dublin Express and Express Bus


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



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    #193
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    AlekSmart wrote: »
    Are we looking at Two different operators here ?

    Dublin Express and Express Bus

    The licences for 782/783/784 are held by Express Bus too and they are the Dubbin Express Routes.


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    #194
    dowlingm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    devnull wrote: »
    Interesting that if you want to write to them you need to send a letter to the UK and if you want to ask for assistance you have to speak to their team which is in Birmingham. Suggests they are not going to have a presence of their own in Ireland for customer support and everything will go through NX HQ.
    Interesting. having a local point of presence for customer support should be the kind of thing NTA should require of licensees for national services, if legal to so do.


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    #195
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    dowlingm wrote: »
    Interesting. having a local point of presence for customer support should be the kind of thing NTA should require of licensees for national services, if legal to so do.

    The set-up is somewhat convoluted.

    - The Dublin Express brand is owned by National Express
    - The vehicles and drivers appear to be being supplied by Bernard Kavanagh.
    - The owner of the licenses appears to be Express Bus Limited (Not NX/BK)
    - The lost property is outsourced to the lost property company in the airport.
    - All of the customer facing roles are being recruited for by Sigmar.

    I haven't seen a local MD job be advertised and the person who is apparently the MD of National Express Ireland is also the commercial director for National Express in the UK, which gives me the idea maybe he is doing it as dual job rather than them having a full-time MD based in Ireland.

    I am sure that there will be DX staff at the airport, although whether their employer is National Express or Sigmar remains to be seen. It does seem that they are doing an awful lot of contracting and treating this as a bolt on of their UK service with very little of their own staff based in Ireland. It's a different model to Aircoach, that's for sure.


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    #196
    ExoPolitic
    Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭ExoPolitic


    https://www.dublinexpress.ie/images/DublinExpress_timetable.pdf

    That is the official link to their new timetable on their website


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    #197
    ExoPolitic
    Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭ExoPolitic


    From their website;

    "Can I buy a ticket from the driver?
    Yes* you can, however this will be subject to availability as services may be full with pre booked customers, so it is always advisable to purchase your ticket in advance.

    If you would like to purchase a ticket from our drivers, please be aware of the following:

    Drivers can accept card only."

    This is interesting...


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    #198
    koutoubia
    Registered Users Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    It has been discussed earlier in the thread!


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    #199
    ExoPolitic
    Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭ExoPolitic


    koutoubia wrote: »
    It has been discussed earlier in the thread!

    Just spotted that, answered a few more of my questions as well!

    Interesting they are not advertising you can travel with cash and pay at the destination when heading airport bound.


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    #200
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    ExoPolitic wrote: »
    Just spotted that, answered a few more of my questions as well!

    Interesting they are not advertising you can travel with cash and pay at the destination when heading airport bound.

    I think that part of this is related to NX treating their Dublin operation as a bolt on to their UK operations rather than an operator in it's own right. The fact that the MD is the commercial director of their UK operation as part of his role rather than having a local MD and also having no CS team here backs that up.

    In the UK NX have a very high percentage of people who would be booking in advance. There would be very little people paying on the day and even less from the city to an airport and I assume that NX feel this won't be an issue in Ireland as they are thinking like a UK consumer rather than an Irish one. They probably want to discourage cash payers.

    They probably think there will be minimal people doing it so it won't be a problem but even on Aircoach today, who accept online tickets, contactless and mtickets, you still see a fair amount of people paying in cash in the city centre so NX I doubt won't be much difference.

    Not allowing drivers to handle cash appears to be a desire to either keep cash out of the hands of the contracted drivers or avoid carrying cash, for whatever reason.


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    #201
    ExoPolitic
    Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭ExoPolitic


    I also noted a post earlier stating that they will take the free travel pass, this is incorrect. I have had a direct conversation with them via the Facebook page and they state that they will not accept it.


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    #202
    bikeman1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,258 ✭✭✭bikeman1


    devnull wrote: »
    Dublin Express Routes 782/783/784
    The timetables and route maps for Dublin Express are now showing on the TFI Journey Planner.
    https://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie/nta/XSLT_SELTT_REQUEST?itdLPxx_page=ttb&language=en

    Route 785 (Clontarf - Raheny - Coolock - Clare Hall - Airport)
    What looks like a proposed timetable for the 785 is now showing on the TFI Journey planner
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=503537&stc=1&d=1582359754

    No idea of a start date for this service at present.

    I had a look at the timetable for the Clontarf to Airport via Raheny route. Is it envisaged that the bus will be picking up at other stops on the route or ONLY those listed? Seems strange to me that there is no routing via Killester or if it is going along the coast, it is giving half of its catchment area to the sea and St. Anne's park for that section, and still no stop at Vernon Ave.?

    Maybe I am missing something. Also the running time of 31 minutes is quite ambitious, traffic can be quick slow on certain parts of that route and there is a lack of bus lanes for some parts too.

    It will still be great to see it happening, but I would allow a minimum of 40 minutes for this run.


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    #203
    koutoubia
    Registered Users Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    Mr.S wrote: »
    The same on their city centre routes. On paper it's possible but in reality, not a hope.

    They have been told by those who live/work/use the M1 corrider-tunnel - CC
    that the times are at best hopeful. They have also done a dummy run to see for themselves.
    They will have to 'adapt' the service as it settles in.


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    #204
    Fizzy Duck
    Registered Users Posts: 182 ✭✭Fizzy Duck


    koutoubia wrote: »
    They have been told by those who live/work/use the M1 corrider-tunnel - CC
    that the times are at best hopeful. They have also done a dummy run to see for themselves.
    They will have to 'adapt' the service as it settles in.

    Flashbacks to Summer 2018 and us telling GA management that the times and interworking were aspirational at best.


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    #205
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    koutoubia wrote: »
    They have been told by those who live/work/use the M1 corrider-tunnel - CC
    that the times are at best hopeful. They have also done a dummy run to see for themselves.
    They will have to 'adapt' the service as it settles in.

    The key in all of this is who are "They" ?

    Invariably an owner or operator will want to maximize the Drivers productive day,and equally invariably,this introduces a certain conflict between accounting and operating norms.

    One "Dummy Run" would never be enough,and just cannot even begin to cater for the issues which arise daily in Dublin City's Traffic (Non) Management scenario.

    This is before we deal with the great Travelling Public and their huge variety of needs,expectations and entitlements.

    Best of Luck with your involvement and keep her lit !! :D


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



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    #206
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    The times do look a bit optimistic, it has to be said.

    In other news, Aircoach have took delivery recently of 5x 2020 Plaxton Panther 3s which should see off the last of the Tri-axle vehicles in their fleet which is sad as the older coaches have better seats and more leg-room.


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    #207
    koutoubia
    Registered Users Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭koutoubia


    AlekSmart wrote: »
    The key in all of this is who are "They" ?
    As far as I can tell its no one in this country, as has been pointed out earlier

    Invariably an owner or operator will want to maximize the Drivers productive day,and equally invariably,this introduces a certain conflict between accounting and operating norms.
    I really dont want to comment too much on this.

    One "Dummy Run" would never be enough,and just cannot even begin to cater for the issues which arise daily in Dublin City's Traffic (Non) Management scenario.
    From , I believe , Thursday onwards reality of travelling times will come blindingly obvious.

    This is before we deal with the great Travelling Public and their huge variety of needs,expectations and entitlements.
    Just to clarify we have been instructed that the Free Travel Pass WILL BE ACCEPTED.We have been given other instructions but I wont go into it here and have said to my manager that the social media accounts need to be updated.

    Best of Luck with your involvement and keep her lit !! :D
    Thank You

    Answers in bold above.....


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    #208
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users Posts: 14,005 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    koutoubia wrote: »
    Answers in bold above.....

    Fair play for the responses :)

    The reality of the Dublin Airport (and environs) situation is the huge potential for service improvement across the board in ALL forms of access to the place.

    So Dublin Express's arrival will not result in the total collapse of Airlink,Aircoach or any other Aer in the parish...there remains room for expansion and improvement for every segment.

    That said,the old adage of "Fail to prepare-Prepare to Fail" still stands.

    My fear would be that somewhere deep within the bowels of this operation lurks a "Virtual" scenario,as in overall top-down planning emanating from a Laptop deep in Northern England and powered by Google.

    Possibly the single greatest aid to a Drivers performance is CLARITY...of purpose,of intent and of operation.

    If a Driver is confident of their role,position and support then that driver can self-confidently do their job.

    Remove any one strand of that Clarity and you set the scene for indecision,error and inefficiency.

    With any luck,and appreciation,the Dublin Express situation will clarify and firm up before the startup leaving the front-line staff well prepared to do their stuff,but be very certain that it is the DRIVER who will be the first (and often ONLY) interface that a Customer will interact with.

    ;)


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



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    #209
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,326 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    For the benefit of Aircoach customers walking from T2 to zone 11 from next week....

    I was dropped off at T2 for the last time this week and had time to do a recce to find where I will be picking up up my bus next week in zone 11.

    My advice is to not use the glass walkway at ground level and don’t even bother crossing the glass bridge from T2 arrivals. Instead, go straight down to the Aer Lingus check-in area on the ground floor, then exit the building, turn left and walk over to the white car park building, keeping it on your left. As soon as you reach the point where people exit from T1, do a right across just one section of zebra crossing, then turn right and you’ll find Zone 11.

    Yesterday (Tue 25th), it wasn’t even signed but a helpful DAA guide showed me where it will be.


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    #210
    stephenjmcd
    Registered Users Posts: 15,199 ✭✭✭✭stephenjmcd


    Air Coach saying on their Facebook page that they will still drop off at T2, pickups only from T1


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    #211
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,584 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    stephenjmcd wrote: »
    Air Coach saying on their Facebook page that they will still drop off at T2, pickups only from T1

    Indeed, which directly contradicts what they said on Facebook earlier, too :)


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