Working in Clonee- The Commute

Topcat1234

Hi Board members,

I have a quick question and I am hoping some one can help me. In a few weeks I will begin working in Clonee. Just near the village. As I am relocating from down the country I am a bit clueless in regards the area and travel times.

I am looking at renting a room in either Blanchardstown, Cabra, Smithsfield etc..
I do not actually drive so I am wondering about travel times in the morning. Is the traffic bad heading into Clonee? How long would it take from say Cabra to Clonee by bus? Work starts at 8am so I would be travelling early.

I am considering Blanchardstown but I think I want to be closer to the city. Hence the Cabra question. I know the bus runs along the way.

I would be really grateful if anyone can tell me more about the commutes from the mentioned areas. Many thanks.

MacauDragon

Topcat1234 wrote: »

Hi Board members,

I have a quick question and I am hoping some one can help me. In a few weeks I will begin working in Clonee. Just near the village. As I am relocating from down the country I am a bit clueless in regards the area and travel times.

I am looking at renting a room in either Blanchardstown, Cabra, Smithsfield etc..
I do not actually drive so I am wondering about travel times in the morning. Is the traffic bad heading into Clonee? How long would it take from say Cabra to Clonee by bus? Work starts at 8am so I would be travelling early.

I am considering Blanchardstown but I think I want to be closer to the city. Hence the Cabra question. I know the bus runs along the way.

I would be really grateful if anyone can tell me more about the commutes from the mentioned areas. Many thanks.

Going away/outbound from the city should be fairly easy.
Theres a few bus routes that go blanch village - clonee.
On a good day maybe 30 mins from middle of blanch village to clonee.
45 mins otherwise.

There's two 39 buses - At least one of them has a route that was dreamed up by an escaped lunatic. It takes maybe 2 hours to travel from Clonee/blanch to Blanch/clonee via 100 stops, never gets above 20kmph. So beware.

For Cabra add 20 mins.

Gavin "shels"

My girlfriend walks from Huntstown to Clonee Village in 30 mins with the option of the 270 bus. You have the 39a then to the Shopping Centre and City Centre. Also have a night link service outbound at weekends too.

Topcat1234

50 to 65 mins from Cabra to Clonee? My god I didn't think it was that far!!
From the city must take hours then?

PopTarts

Topcat1234 wrote: »

50 to 65 mins from Cabra to Clonee? My god I didn't think it was that far!!
From the city must take hours then?

Nah the 39A can get you to Blanch Centre in about 10 mins from the Navan Rd / Kempton / Halfway House.

39 might be about 20/25 mins at that time.

ThisRegard

Topcat1234 wrote: »

50 to 65 mins from Cabra to Clonee? My god I didn't think it was that far!!
From the city must take hours then?

Yeah, that's not right, you're heading against traffic so unless there's an accident it won't take long.

Cathmandooo

The 70 bus will get you there quicker from Smithfield or Cabra, it by-passes Blanchardstown and the centre.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/703/

LXFlyer

MacauDragon wrote: »

Going away/outbound from the city should be fairly easy.
Theres a few bus routes that go blanch village - clonee.
On a good day maybe 30 mins from middle of blanch village to clonee.
45 mins otherwise.

There's two 39 buses - At least one of them has a route that was dreamed up by an escaped lunatic. It takes maybe 2 hours to travel from Clonee/blanch to Blanch/clonee via 100 stops, never gets above 20kmph. So beware.

For Cabra add 20 mins.

Neither the 39 nor the 39a go near Clonee Village - the only options are the 70 and the 270.

not yet

Just an idea but what about cycling, you'd cycle from Cabra to Clonee in 30-40 min. Or better still get an electric bike...I've been on one recently and was amazed at how easy you can get around with little effort..

MacauDragon

lxflyer wrote: »

Neither the 39 nor the 39a go near Clonee Village - the only options are the 70 and the 270.

Wrong.
39 Ongar stop is approx 2 mins drive from clonee village.
A co-worker could easily pick you up en route.

MacauDragon

not yet wrote: »

Just an idea but what about cycling, you'd cycle from Cabra to Clonee in 30-40 min. Or better still get an electric bike...I've been on one recently and was amazed at how easy you can get around with little effort..

If it was me, id just get a room somewhere between clonee village and the rail lines. (Clonsilla and hansfield stations).
D15 has everything youll normally need. And youll probably cut a few quid off your rent.

LXFlyer

MacauDragon wrote: »

Wrong.
39 Ongar stop is approx 2 mins drive from clonee village.
A co-worker could easily pick you up en route.

That may not be a realistic option - getting someone to drive to Ongar to pick the OP up every day at what could be varying times isn't always viable.

Most people when commuting by public transport get it to the their place of work or within a walking distance - expecting others to pick them up isn't something I'd be suggesting from the outset as a given.

In that context the 39/39a are not an option - it's certainly not walkable.

MacauDragon

"Neither the 39 nor the 39a go near Clonee Village - the only options are the 70 and the 270".

Its approximately 1km between the two points.

It is near.

Ive had the same situation in a previous job. I used to get a lift from a bus stop with a coworker travelling the same direction.
In a worst case scenario one of the team would pop out for 5 mins.

It is an option.

LXFlyer

MacauDragon wrote: »

"Neither the 39 nor the 39a go near Clonee Village - the only options are the 70 and the 270".

Its approximately 1km between the two points.

It is near.

Ive had the same situation in a previous job. I used to get a lift from a bus stop with a coworker travelling the same direction.
In a worst case scenario one of the team would pop out for 5 mins.

It is an option.

Well personally I wouldn't be relying on that.

The point is that both the 70 and the 270 are the better options bus wise as they both operate directly to Clonee without a long detour around Clonsilla.

MacauDragon

Op the 70 and 270 are the best options.
However, the 39 is definitely an option if you can work your way around its negatives.

Limiting your choice of rooms strictly to just those near the 70 or 270 may prove more of a negative price wise.

If you can find some way to travel the tiny distance between Ongar and Clonee you will have a far greater choice of rooms.

Its an unpleasant 1km little stretch with no footpath, dangerous to cycle.

Personally Id pick the best priced local room and use the savings for a moped.

Topcat1234

Hi Posters,

Thanks for all your replies. I value them even if you don't agree with each other! lol

I may consider cycling from Cabra. It is a long stretch though? How is the road on the way out? Is it Hilly?

MD- You're dead right about the cheap rent. I have to say though, I think I would prefer to be closer to the city. At least on the Blanchards town side. I have friends in other parts of Dublin and I don't want to be too cut off from the action! I think getting home at night on weekends would be a stretch too. Or if I wanted to nip in on a week night.

ongarboy

OP,

i agree for living near the city if your socialising etc will be city centre otherwise you'll pay a fortune on taxis and nitelink can be a pain. If you're young and into socialising and your other friends live near the city centre, renting out in an outer suburb is not recommended.

Therefore definitely look for something on the no 70 route anywhere along the Cabra/Navan Road or even Stoneybatter, Hanlons Corner etc. . As you will be going against rush hour traffic, you will fly out in less than 30 minutes. You can cycle it and it is flat all the way but while the N3 dual carriageaway allows cyclists as far as the Clonee turn off (turns to motorway then), I'm not sure it's ideal unless you enjoy cycling and 10+ kms each way wouldn't be a hassle for you. (another option is to rent in Drumcondra, get the train there and get off at Clonsilla train station with a fold up bike and cycle the approx 3 remaining kms to Clonee)


The 39 or 39a should most definitely be avoided if Clonee is your end destination as you have to go through a circuitous route all the housing estates of Blanchardstown/Hunstown/Hartstown, the shopping centre itself, Blanch village and Clonsilla if you are getting 39 and most of Ongar/Castaheany. This is what takes up most of the 39's journey time and which is why I always avoid that bus and take the train into town.

The other poster's suggestion to endure all that and then end up at the terminus which is still 2kms from your actual destination in Clonee and expect a colleague to be willing and available to pick you up and drop you off every single day is just not practical. What if none of your colleagues pass that route? Also, expecting someone to pop out "for a few minutes" to collect you every single day is also not reasonable.

MacauDragon

ongarboy wrote: »

OP,

i agree for living near the city if your socialising etc will be city centre otherwise you'll pay a fortune on taxis and nitelink can be a pain. If you're young and into socialising and your other friends live near the city centre, renting out in an outer suburb is not recommended.

Therefore definitely look for something on the no 70 route anywhere along the Cabra/Navan Road or even Stoneybatter, Hanlons Corner etc. . As you will be going against rush hour traffic, you will fly out in less than 30 minutes. You can cycle it and it is flat all the way but while the N3 dual carriageaway allows cyclists as far as the Clonee turn off (turns to motorway then), I'm not sure it's ideal unless you enjoy cycling and 10+ kms each way wouldn't be a hassle for you.

The 39 or 39a should most definitely be avoided if Clonee is your end destination as you have to go through a circuitous route all the housing estates of Blanchardstown/Hunstown/Hartstown, the shopping centre itself, Blanch village and Clonsilla if you are getting 39 and most of Ongar/Castaheany. This is what takes up most of the 39's journey time and which is why I always avoid that bus and take the train into town.

The other poster's suggestion to endure all that and then end up at the terminus which is still 2kms from your actual destination in Clonee and expect a colleague to be willing and available to pick you up and drop you off every single day is just not practical. What if none of your colleagues pass that route? Also, expecting someone to pop out "for a few minutes" to collect you every single day is also not reasonable.

The other poster never at any point instructed OP to take a particular bus route or to endure anything. Get it right.

The other poster mentioned the 39 routes as to leave out mentioning them, and the circuitous route taken by one of them, would leave the OP without vital information when seeking accommodation.

OP may have found him/herself on one of these scenic voyages some morning otherwise.

The other poster has used google earth to measure the distance between the closest bus stop as featured on google earth and the entrance to clonee village. The other poster finds this distance to be a shocking 1.49 km.

The other poster walks about that distance for a relaxing lunchtime stroll.

The other poster notes that we don't know what is and isn't practical for the OP from his/her initial post.

The other poster notes that eliminating options when the specifics aren't known is assumption.

The other poster would think nothing of picking up a work colleague and bringing them the grand distance of 1.49km. The other poster would maybe tell such a work colleague to buy him a pint some day.




The other poster advises OP that the cabra-clonee route will be around 12.5km each way, not by any means hilly, but possibly quite dangerous if the larger main roads are taken.

The other poster says... each to their own..., but advises OP to calculate 24 taxi fares for 24 nights out VS rent totals over the year. And to consider the value of an optional extra half hour in bed every single workday.

If the other poster was up for cycling 25km each day, some of it on very fast main roads, then the other poster wouldn't be put off by 1 dodgy road thats 1.49km in length.

The other poster advises OP to download/open google earth.


The other poster finally notes that theres a 39 stop on phibblestown road - which is approximately 1.6km from clonee village. A perfectly safe walking route (north) with paths, lights, etc and no need for any third party assistance.


But sure who needs to know about that.

Topcat1234

I'd say I'll be having more than 24 nights out in a year! lool
I would enjoy the extra half an hour in bed though.

Working in Clonee just goes to show you just cant have it all.

Most people commute in so I wont complain. Just the reverse.

So can we conclude that it is not a straight forward cycle to Clonee?

I am going to have to make a Rekkie to see this route at the some stage with the 70Bus...

fletch

I live in Clonee and worked in the city centre/East Point for >5 years and cycled in. I rarely took the N3...I would cycle up the Ongar Road,then on to Clonsilla Road...through Blanchardstown village...across the M50 on the pedestrian /cycle bridge at the Twelfth Lock and only actually joining the N3 at the Navan Road Parkway Railway station. From there it was pretty much cycle lane/bus lane all the way along the N3 and traffic was generally bumper to bumper so not moving. On the rare occasion I did use the N3 all the way, it was fairly unpleasant

Staplor

Ashtown and a bike might suit you.

PhoenixParker

Staplor wrote: »

Ashtown and a bike might suit you.

Lovely and direct cycle up the canal to Blanch village, from there others have described the route to Clonee. Still handy to town for nights out (train to Pearse or bus on the Navan rd). Taxi home €20 or so.

Topcat1234

I absolutely agree!

Now, does anyone have a room for rent in any of the locations we discussed? lol

MacauDragon

Topcat1234 wrote: »

I absolutely agree!

Now, does anyone have a room for rent in any of the locations we discussed? lol

I have a ticket for a starboard side upper deck cabin on the 39a if you want.

Topcat1234

fletch wrote: »

I live in Clonee and worked in the city centre/East Point for >5 years and cycled in. I rarely took the N3...I would cycle up the Ongar Road,then on to Clonsilla Road...through Blanchardstown village...across the M50 on the pedestrian /cycle bridge at the Twelfth Lock and only actually joining the N3 at the Navan Road Parkway Railway station. From there it was pretty much cycle lane/bus lane all the way along the N3 and traffic was generally bumper to bumper so not moving. On the rare occasion I did use the N3 all the way, it was fairly unpleasant

Hi Fletch,

NOw that I have scoped out the area a bit I'm trying go get my head around your directons. I don't understand the 12th lock. Are you saying you use the R806 or the Old Nvan Road?

Would love to hear more bout this!!!