Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

soundman45

Anybody in doing training yet? If so how is it working out so far?

liger

soundman45 wrote: »

Anybody in doing training yet? If so how is it working out so far?

Haven't heard of anyone over there yet. I think they only need about 25 drivers ready to go for the 175 launch.

I know they are in the process of hiring supervisors and controllers at the moment, I'd be interested to know how those jobs compare to the similar roles in DB salary wise.

Anybody here been interviewed for those jobs?

soundman45

liger wrote: »

Haven't heard of anyone over there yet. I think they only need about 25 drivers ready to go for the 175 launch.

I know they are in the process of hiring supervisors and controllers at the moment, I'd be interested to know how those jobs compare to the similar roles in DB salary wise.

Anybody here been interviewed for those jobs?

When does the route 175 start?

liger

soundman45 wrote: »

When does the route 175 start?

9th September. Another media press day showcasing the new livery happening today.

devnull

https://www.go-aheaddublin.ie/newsroom-2/go-ahead-ireland-opens-new-depot-dublin/

Monday, 9th July 2018; Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Shane Ross T.D., today officially opened Go-Ahead Ireland's new bus depot located in Ballymount, Dublin 12 (Ireland).

Also at the opening was David Brown, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group (UK) and Anne Graham, CEO of National Transport Authority. Both spoke of the strong collaboration between the two organisations as it prepares to take over the operation of 24 existing bus routes, or 10% of the capital's network, commencing in early September 2018.

Officially opening the new Depot, Minister Ross said:

“This is an exciting time for Public Transport and particularly for those of us who travel by bus. Recently, I launched my part of the government’s Project Ireland 2040 -‘Linking people and places’, which will see investment of almost €25billion in our transport, tourism and sport infrastructure over the next 10 years. €8.6 billion of this investment is specifically for public transport. We are planning major investment in programmes such as BusConnects which will involve a complete redesign of our Dublin Area Bus Network and 16 core bus corridors. The opening of the new bus depot today marks the next step in the bus market opening process. Introducing competitive tendering into the market encourages everybody to focus on their customer’s needs and we must place passengers at the centre of our public transport policy. It also encourages innovation and improvements to service quality. I am therefore delighted to welcome Go Ahead into the Irish market and the creation of 425 local jobs and an €8.5 million investment in its operation".

Speaking at the opening was Ed Wills, Managing Director, Go-Ahead Ireland who commented, "The opening of the Go-Ahead Ireland depot is a key milestone for our operations in Dublin and we are very excited to see our colleagues and the new fleet of buses located in this modern facility. We are creating new jobs, investing in developing new skills and with the interest we have already received we are confident that there is a lot of interest in our company. We believe in working closely with the communities we serve and wish to provide a friendly service that our customers can rely upon".

The indicative switch-over schedule is as follows;

9th September 2018:

Introduction of the new 175 from Citywest to UCD

7th October 2018:

45A, 75, 184, 63, 185, 111 & 59

18th November 2018:

17A, 102, 33A, 220, 33B & 104

20th January 2019:

18, 76, 239, 270, 238, 76A,236, 17, 114 & 161

The buses will serve communities from Balbriggan in North County Dublin to Newcastle in Co Wicklow; drop off and collect from 1,721 bus stops and travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres annually.

"There have been a number of announcements made in relation to changes to the transport landscape in Dublin recently and it's important that customers using the existing routes know that the Leap Card and Free Travel Cards can be used on all our buses; Real Time Passenger information will still apply, and fares will remain the same. The first difference people will see is that their bus will be operated by Go-Ahead Ireland and driven by our drivers. The second is the new Transport for Ireland livery which sports a blue, white and green design", concluded Ed Wills of Go-Ahead Ireland.

Anne Graham, NTA CEO said: “I welcome the opening of the Go-Ahead Ireland depot and the jobs that are being created here. I believe that Go-Ahead Ireland will bring a new dynamic to the PSO bus market, something that will ultimately be of great benefit to the travelling public.”

The new Go-Ahead Ireland depot is a modern depot with capacity for up to 500 colleagues and 250 buses. These buses will be maintained to the company's exacting standards and colleagues will service the buses underneath sky lifts, rather than pits, as part of a well-designed, generously equipped and modern workshop, complete with a drive through bus wash. The building additionally benefits from a canteen, gym, showers, electric vehicle charging points and a cycle park area.

Thrashssacre

Is the exact route of the 175 bus known yet?

Stephen15

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Is the exact route of the 175 bus known yet?

UCD to Tallaght I believe

Thrashssacre

Stephen15 wrote: »

UCD to Tallaght I believe

Think it's city West to ucd but I was curious as to what route it's taking to get there

dfx-

devnull wrote: »

Both spoke of the strong collaboration between the two organisations as it prepares to take over the operation of 24 existing bus routes, or 10% of the capital's network, commencing in early September 2018.

Strong collaboration indeed, best of mates.

end of the road

dfx- wrote: »

Strong collaboration indeed, best of mates.

indeed. what's the bets when things are going wrong the operator will be thrown under the bus but when they are going right the government will take all the credit?

dublinman1990

All of the new launch dates for the routes beginning with Go-Ahead all take place on Sundays.

Does this mean that we will see new Sunday timetables on the 111 & 114 being implemented from the NTA because those routes don't have a Sunday service.

punisher5112

dublinman1990 wrote: »

All of these new launch dates for the routes that begin with Go-Ahead are all on Sundays.

Sunday is the start of the week in transportation compared to Monday for most others.

Stephen15

sugarman wrote: »

Havent seen anything official but at a guess id say it will take the same route as the 75 as far as Stillorgan, and where the current 75 swings right onto the N11 heading towards Dun Laoghaire the 175 would go left towards UCD.

I was thinking it would be more be direct if it went via Clonskeagh and Goatstown and heading towards Dundrum.

Stephen15

I was on the app store today and it appear the official DB app may have disappeared off the app store. Now bare in mind I am currently out of the country atm. Just stumbled across it by accident today when a different DB app made by AtebApps was one of my suggested apps and I assumed it was an update but it appears to be a completely separate app.

I wonder why happened is it because now with GA coming in the NTA want everyone on the TFI rather than the individual company apps? Or perhaps the app is only available to download in Ireland.

Peregrine

Stephen15 wrote: »

I was on the app store today and it appear the official DB app may have disappeared off the app store. Now bare in mind I am currently out of the country atm. Just stumbled across it by accident today when a different DB app made by AtebApps was one of my suggested apps and I assumed it was an update but it appears to be a completely separate app.

I wonder why happened is it because now with GA coming in the NTA want everyone on the TFI rather than the individual company apps? Or perhaps the app is only available to download in Ireland.

Yeah, it's gone.

There's no way there'd be a Dublin Bus app and a Go Ahead app. They're both just operators for NTA now. I expect a common app, common website and common bus stops along with the common livery.

devnull

Peregrine wrote: »

Stephen15 wrote: »

I was on the app store today and it appear the official DB app may have disappeared off the app store. Now bare in mind I am currently out of the country atm. Just stumbled across it by accident today when a different DB app made by AtebApps was one of my suggested apps and I assumed it was an update but it appears to be a completely separate app.

I wonder why happened is it because now with GA coming in the NTA want everyone on the TFI rather than the individual company apps? Or perhaps the app is only available to download in Ireland.

Yeah, it's gone.

There's no way there'd be a Dublin Bus app and a Go Ahead app. They're both just operators for NTA now. I expect a common app, common website and common bus stops along with the common livery.

Hopefully we will see all that but I remain to be convinced it will happen just yet. Still a lot to do before GA start.

Although saying that with only one route starting until October then they have a bit longer than the September I expected since its not a big deal for just the 175 in September.

Stephen15

Peregrine wrote: »

Yeah, it's gone.

There's no way there'd be a Dublin Bus app and a Go Ahead app. They're both just operators for NTA now. I expect a common app, common website and common bus stops along with the common livery.

No annoucement or heads up which isin't great. You'd think the NTA would be encouraging people to download their own real time app instead.

devnull

Stephen15 wrote: »

Peregrine wrote: »

Yeah, it's gone.

There's no way there'd be a Dublin Bus app and a Go Ahead app. They're both just operators for NTA now. I expect a common app, common website and common bus stops along with the common livery.

No annoucement or heads up which isin't great. You'd think the NTA would be encouraging people to download their own real time app instead.

Realistically they need the operators to play ball with that to make any real take up happen. Last time they did a few days later DB did an even bigger campaign.

Stephen15

devnull wrote: »

Realistically they need the operators to play ball with that to make any real take up happen. Last time they did a few days later DB did an even bigger campaign.

True but it seems odd that the DB is now gone from the play store. I wonder whose idea to get rid of it was, the NTA or DB and why? Seems strange and I would like to think it seems like progress towards a unified transport brand.

marno21

Stephen15 wrote: »

True but it seems odd that the DB is now gone from the play store. I wonder whose idea to get rid of it was, the NTA or DB and why? Seems strange and I would like to think it seems like progress towards a unified transport brand.

If the NTA plan to release a TFI branded app or similar soon I would imagine they would have asked DB to remove it from the app store.

Stephen15

marno21 wrote: »

If the NTA plan to release a TFI branded app or similar soon I would imagine they would have asked DB to remove it from the app store.

The thing they already have two, the Journey Planner and Realtime Ireland. Also the BE app looks to be gone also but the IE app is still there.

marno21

Stephen15 wrote: »

The thing they already have two, the Journey Planner and Realtime Ireland. Also the BE app looks to be gone also but the IE app is still there.

I meant a TFI branded specific app for Dublin to take the role of the now defunct Dublin Bus app and including buses tendered to private operators (Go Ahead + perhaps the likes of the 139 contracted to JJK)

Stephen15

marno21 wrote: »

I meant a TFI branded specific app for Dublin to take the role of the now defunct Dublin Bus app and including buses tendered to private operators (Go Ahead + perhaps the likes of the 139 contracted to JJK)

To be fair both apps do serve that function all that's missing is the timetables.

devnull

From what I've heard it's not been removed my intention.

Could be complete hearsay though.

Stephen15

devnull wrote: »

From what I've heard it's not been removed my intention.

Could be complete hearsay though.

Why don't you search the play store and see for yourself?

devnull

Stephen15 wrote: »

Why don't you search the play store?

I already have - it's not there but from what I have heard the removal is not intentional.

Stephen15

devnull wrote: »

I already have - it's not there but from what I have heard the removal is not intentional.

I can't see how and why it would have been removed accidentally. The app still appears to work normally which would suggest that it's not down for maintence or an update. Seems strange.

devnull

Video tour and quotes of the new depot here

https://twitter.com/GoAheadIreland/status/1016336053404426240

dublinman1990

The 6.1 news is going to show a report about the new GAI depot after it's ad break.

bk

Well the DB app still seems to be on the Apple App Store:

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/dublin-bus/id450455266?mt=8

Though it is a very poor effort. Only 2 stars out of 5 and hasn't been updated in over 2 years! At one point it went 2 years with GPS not working. A very poor effort overall.

I'd recommend Google Maps or Moovit instead.

bk

I have to say the new colour scheme looks well in that video, I look forward to seeing it in person.

dublinman1990

I loved some of the archive footage of the bus liveries from the RTÉ News report.

GT83 from Dublin Bus been painted in the Blue livery as I saw it on Flickr today. When the Go Ahead buses go out of service; they will display "Not in Service, As Serbhis" on their LED panels instead of displaying it Dublin Bus's current format. The GT's will also display a new five digit number painted in white that is located near the front window, the front passenger doors near the TFI logo on the back of the bus.

Courtesy of Michael Kelly; his Flickr account shows his new pictures of GT 83 here near Dublin Airport.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38016434@N05/42166748245/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38016434@N05/28202586647/in/photostream/

StreetLight

devnull wrote: »

From what I've heard it's not been removed my intention.

Could be complete hearsay though.

Someone pointed this out to DB on their Twitter page recently. One of the replies was that if an app has not been updated within a certain timeframe, then it's automatically removed from the Play Store.

bk

StreetLight wrote: »

Someone pointed this out to DB on their Twitter page recently. One of the replies was that if an app has not been updated within a certain timeframe, then it's automatically removed from the Play Store.

I was thinking it was something like that. A similar clear out will happen soon on the Apple App Store when Apple gets rid of non 64 bit apps (I don't know if the DB app would be effected or not).

At least the NTA apps are updated frequently, not that they are great. But no point in having an app unless you update it frequently.

devnull

Worth noting the bus in the video unfortunately has the old TGX150 ticket machine.

punisher5112

devnull wrote: »

Worth noting the bus in the video unfortunately has the old TGX150 ticket machine.

They won't be changed for another while yet.

3 seconds to read a card is shocking to be honest.

L1011

Where do they find new TGX150s? Product is long retired by parkeon officially, and the underlying chipsets aren't made either

devnull

L1011 wrote: »

Where do they find new TGX150s? Product is long retired by parkeon officially, and the underlying chipsets aren't made either

Not sure if the bus in the video was an ex Dublin Bus one though or one that is new to Go-Ahead.

Parkeon retired it themselves but Transmach are still supplying it.

punisher5112

L1011 wrote: »

Where do they find new TGX150s? Product is long retired by parkeon officially, and the underlying chipsets aren't made either

They would be left fitted on the bus, db has quite a few of them even as spares.

All buses seen are ex db. They may also have a few new ones but not 100% on if they have them yet.

Obviously the Merc single decks are brought in from the UK for training.

L1011

The replacement vehicles for DB will need them too. Buying refurb isn't an endless supply

dashcamdanny

Very uneasy week as a DB employee. Cant help but feel our positions and jobs are being threatened .

Especially with rival company coming to many of our garages to drive busses away.

Many colleagues probably feel the same. Unions fighting and bickering with each other does not help.

I really hope the NTA stay true to their word and give us more work rather than less.

bk

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Very uneasy week as a DB employee. Cant help but feel our positions and jobs are being threatened .

Especially with rival company coming to many of our garages to drive busses away.

Many colleagues probably feel the same. Unions fighting and bickering with each other does not help.

I really hope the NTA stay true to their word and give us more work rather than less.

Those buses are being replaced by newer buses. They are being taken so their is a balance between new and old buses across both GA and DB. The alternative would be for DB just to have old buses and GA to get all new buses, which would result in DB looking worse.

It might feel uneasy, but it is better then the alternative.

stop

Will the DB rambler products work on GA? My parents use them to bus hop their way to the 185 before walking in the hills, just wondering if they should stop buying 30 day tickets..

markodaly

This is all a welcome move.
Along with the Bus Connects investment, Dublin Public Transport should improve immeasurably.
Unions et al, should drop that chip on that monied shoulder.

punisher5112

stop wrote: »

Will the DB rambler products work on GA? My parents use them to bus hop their way to the 185 before walking in the hills, just wondering if they should stop buying 30 day tickets..

They will be changing fares and how discount comes across but any tickets that works on one will on the other.

Peregrine

stop wrote: »

Will the DB rambler products work on GA? My parents use them to bus hop their way to the 185 before walking in the hills, just wondering if they should stop buying 30 day tickets..

There should be no difference to the customer between the two operators in terms of service. Tickets and fares are set by the NTA and collected by the NTA. You won't even have to know who's operating your bus.

AlekSmart

punisher5112 wrote: »

They would be left fitted on the bus, db has quite a few of them even as spares.

All buses seen are ex db. They may also have a few new ones but not 100% on if they have them yet.

Obviously the Merc single decks are brought in from the UK for training.

All BAC ticketing equipment is removed prior to collection by GAI.

devnull

Go Ahead Ireland Spec 182D465 seen with old TGX150 ticket machine.

BonnieSituation

Will there be anything noticeably different internally on the new spec buses?

devnull

Only differences I know about aside from livery are
-Black light clusters and Wright logo on front
-New style signs and notices
- Different colour handrails
- Different pattern seat fabric.

There may be more!