buses to ucd?

terri24

Hi all,
starting in ucd in september and considering commuting. Just wondering is there any buses from Naas to ucd or how long it takes to drive in there in rush hr traffic??
Thanks!

Ado86

A girl on my course is from Naas and she commuted for 1st year on Bus eireann buses. As far as I know it took a minimum of 1 hr 30 mins each way, but could be slightly longer. I know she struggled with that amount of commuting each day, and ended up moving out for the subsequent years. Depending on your timetable it might be ok though...

upmeath

Ado86 wrote: »

A girl on my course is from Naas and she commuted for 1st year on Bus eireann buses... ...I know she struggled with that amount of commuting each day, and ended up moving out for the subsequent years. Depending on your timetable it might be ok though...

OP what course are you hoping to study? Unless you've 15 or fewer hours a week in 1st year (highly unlikely, regardless of what you're studying) commuting from outside Dublin can be very tedious.
We had 30+ scheduled hours in 1st year (it can often be 35 or more depending on projects) and one guy from Clondalkin (not even outside Dublin) had to drop out because getting 4 Dublin Bus services each day to get to and from college was just too much for him.
Unless there's a direct UCD-Naas service operated by CIE you could end up dreading the thought of college, and not really enjoying your course as much as you'd hoped. Home-college commuting isn't great for getting to know classmates either, and you might miss out on some of the socialising that cements students in first year.
I know CIE run a Navan-DCU route, so it might be the case that there's a designated Limerick/Naas-UCD route. If so, I suppose a bus to and from college each day might not be too bad, but the thought of standing outside Clerys waiting for a 10 at 8.30am on a wet dull November morning only has limited appeal to any sane human being.

terri24

studying social work, its meant to be a 9-5 monday to friday course i think! did a test drive over there today and it took an hour which isnt too bad but thats not counting student traffic! might move close but it depends on a grant

(insert name)

There is a private bus called the Silver Dawn which goes from UCD to Naas, the number is 045525267

Don't know about mornings/evening times but it leaves UCD at 17.00 every day during term time (not sure about otherwise)

ironclaw

Few people in my course are the same. Many ended up driving, car pooling or moving up to Dublin. Irish Public Transport is non-existant.

trendy88

Hi,

I did it last year(my third year) from athy which is further than Naas. I found it ok driving but its just not feasible with Public Transport. Took me roughly just over an hour most days to drive up and the same back. So would probaly be doable in under an hour from Naas if you were to drive. Parking is a problem though, luckily I had friends in a nearby housing estate but failing that Parking would be most defiantly a major problem after 10 and before 5 .

terri24

thanks for the help guys! might try out driving and see how it goes for the first few weeks anyway!

lilylarkin

Im starting in UCd as a mature student in Sept and I was thinking of car pooling. However I cant seem to find any website or a way to get in touch with people interested in car pooling. Im coming from Killenard in Laois so I would be going through Monasterevin, Naas etc if anyone was interested?

Lollies23

Can anyone recommend the best way to travel to UCd from Drogheda or Dundalk??

Are there any privately operated DIRECT buses, or can anyone offer a car pool from either??

Thanks!:)

rantyface

People I know got the train and then dart. It's a long trek, you'd want to be able to get your study done on the train!

Lollies23

Terri24,

At least with Social work it is only one semester on campus, hopefully you can get a placement nearer home for the second semester!

I am dreading the thought of a long commute but the the prospect of getting a work placement nearer home is what I am counting on

richard2010

terri24 wrote: »

Hi all,
starting in ucd in september and considering commuting. Just wondering is there any buses from Naas to ucd or how long it takes to drive in there in rush hr traffic??
Thanks!

Have a goo at this it might solve your problem: http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1274694471-126.pdf

Moomia

The Silver dawn is brilliant!!! It's a private company, my friend gets them to work every morning and home every evening (she works just up from UCD) and she finds them fantastic. At the moment they are only running one bus but once college starts back they will go back to 2 buses about half an hour between them. Google them they have a website!

I'm going from Newbridge in Sept as a mature student and i've decided to go the silver dawn way to begin with and see how that goes. I was worried about parking because someone told me if you aren't there before 8am you won't get parking???? If the bus doesn't work out i would be happy to car pool???

The silver dawn is €30 for a week!

Sorry guys just checked the website there, Silver Dawn doesn't stop in Naas!!

lilylarkin

Moomia, dont forget to contact me regarding the car pooling if you decide to go that way. I will be coming from Killenard/Monasterevin so can car pool with anyone on the route upwards.

Suggest we coud take cars alternate weeks etc. I have calculated my fuel costs at €100 per week from home to UCD. Anything I can do to reduce that amount will be greatly appreciated.

If anyone else doesnt want to car pool but wants a lift, dont hesitate to get in touch as I would gladly take people for a fuel contribution.

sassypsych

The trouble is how would car pooling work when people doing different courses will have different start and finish times that could vary greatly from day to day.

It is a good idea for people on the same course but would it work realistically when one person could be in at 9am while the other isn't in till 11am or even later and then you could have someone who finishes at 2pm are they going to hang around to wait for someone who isn't finished till 5?

I am coming to UCD from North Tipperary and I am going to do the public transport thing. Train to Heuston then bus. It will mean early starts and probably frustration sometimes but so much cheaper not just in fuel but on the overall wear and tear on the car. I will of course have to use my car sometimes and that will always be there as a back up but not for day to day.

lilylarkin

I disagree Sassy, you say yourself you will have early starts using public transport. Public transport is more inflexible than car pooling.

Whether my lectures start at 9 or 11am I intend to get into UCD everyday before 9 so that i can study and work on projects. Also I intend to study in the library until 8 or 9 in the evening. Its only a matter of finding like minded people who want to study in College and make use of the excellent library facilities.

Its far better to be sitting in a comfortable library rather than sitting in a bus for over 2 hours while the bus winds its way through the city in morning traffic and eventually gets to UCD. It boils down to effective time management whilst reducing travel costs. No brainer!!

sassypsych

Oh no I agree with you lilylarkin, nothing to disagree about, if you can find someone to do it then it a great idea but as you say you want to be in uni before 9am everyday and plan on staying till 8/9, while thats brilliant I am not sure how many people you will find that are willing to do the same thats all I was saying, just pointing out another side thats all.

I would be spending 2 hours driving if I did it myself so would still have the same early starts, with the train I have the option of coming in later if I am not on an early start without having to worry about getting parking after 9am, so for me I would much rather be reading on the bus or train which will take near enough the same time as driving without having to concentrate on the roads/traffic etc myself. Have lots of experience doing both driving and using public transport and for me I know which one I would prefer.:D

Plus the public transport I will be using is flexible. There are trains leaving Heuston at many times through out the day for me to go home at anytime I want and the same going, no matter if I have an early or late start. I also wouldn't want to be on a bus the whole way and only have the option of a morning and evening bus, so if that is your only public transport route then it is understandable why you want to drive.

HavingCrack

sassypsych wrote: »

I am coming to UCD from North Tipperary and I am going to do the public transport thing. Train to Heuston then bus. It will mean early starts and probably frustration sometimes but so much cheaper not just in fuel but on the overall wear and tear on the car. I will of course have to use my car sometimes and that will always be there as a back up but not for day to day.

You'll find that some journey-good luck to ya!

sassypsych

Oh I am used to the journey and have done a lot worse in the past believe me. This journey is easy in comparision

An hour and a half on a train and then a Dublin Bus journey is nothing compared with hours of sitting on a bus eireann bus winding it's way through every last little town and back street :mad: or hours of being sat in a car in rush hour traffic creeping and crawling along. It will be a nice change for me

Doldy101

Did I read on boards (can not find the post) that there was going to be a bus routh from houston station to ucd starting in July?

Cool Mo D

Doldy101 wrote: »

Did I read on boards (can not find the post) that there was going to be a bus routh from houston station to ucd starting in July?

Yes,

According to the new Dublin bus timetable shakeup, the 145 will start at Heuston and head out the Stillorgan road via UCD.

This is part of a very big change to bus routes along the Stillorgan road.

Have a look here

Doldy101

Has this started or when do they hope to start. Just it says "proposed"

Cool Mo D

It was due to start this month, but I think it's August now.

HavingCrack

Cool Mo D wrote: »

Yes,

According to the new Dublin bus timetable shakeup, the 145 will start at Heuston and head out the Stillorgan road via UCD.

This is part of a very big change to bus routes along the Stillorgan road.

Have a look here

Wow thats certainly a big shake up alright. The 84 is going to terminate at UCD in future rather than continuing to Ballsbridge and town-thats a suprising one.

sassypsych

I contacted dublin bus recently about the 145 route and when the changes are going ahead.

They said that they are dfeinitly happening but they don't have a date yet and that customers will be given two weeks notice before they happen.

I think they are aiming for late august.

Fishy1

Hi,
Just wondering if the 145 is going/coming from Heuston to UCD yet?

Mycroft H

Fishy1 wrote: »

Hi,
Just wondering if the 145 is going/coming from Heuston to UCD yet?

Nope not yet.... Brought me to parnell square the other day :pac:

lilylarkin

Is there any bus going from Heuston to UCD? I had thought there was to be one since July.........

Lou45

the 46e goes in the mornings, sometimes its the 46a, both from outside heuston at the 92 stop , think the last one is at half 9, saved so much time for me last year

The Agogo

This article sums up the new changes in bus routes to UCD. The pdf Dublin Bus made seems to have disappeared though.

Lollies23 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend the best way to travel to UCd from Drogheda or Dundalk??

Are there any privately operated DIRECT buses, or can anyone offer a car pool from either??

Thanks!:)

Matthews Coaches are the cheapest by far AND they let you carry your bike on board. Drogheda stop is beside Maxol Garage on the River, Dundalk stop is beside the McDonalds.