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Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    devnull wrote: »
    Do you have pictures? They really should be using the same ones that went for the new stops for the 175 for the new services, since these are the best ones.

    They are same length as original display boards.

    No map style layout on it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 Aw139


    A driver said .they can't use the facilities in the station ..so any where they can get a meal. Or a quick dash to the wheterspoons or Insomnia ..I've seen a few of them in there getting a coffee .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    Do you have pictures? They really should be using the same ones that went for the new stops for the 175 for the new services, since these are the best ones.

    I didn't as I only noticed them while driving. They were on the stop across the road from Dunnes in Cornelscourt and I also saw them on a stop in Sandyford Ind. Estate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,148 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside


    What’s the difference between 75 and 75a?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,179 ✭✭✭KD345


    devnull wrote: »
    Do you have pictures? They really should be using the same ones that went for the new stops for the 175 for the new services, since these are the best ones.

    I disagree Devnull, they are full of errors and inaccurate information. They are missing lots of important points and the spider maps could be much better.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,179 ✭✭✭KD345


    What’s the difference between 75 and 75a?

    The 75a serves Sandyford Business District.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    What’s the difference between 75 and 75a?

    The 75 journies via Sandyford Industrial Estate are now called the 75a.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    KD345 wrote: »
    I disagree Devnull, they are full of errors and inaccurate information. They are missing lots of important points and the spider maps could be much better.

    The fact they have spider maps and they have stop specific times alone is a big improvement over the Dublin Bus ones which are very poor by international standards since the DB ones require a geographical knowledge of Dublin to have some kind of idea of when the bus might turn up and also don't list stops.

    What errors did you see out of curiosity? I know the stages are not marked and that needs to be resolved, but they are not on every type of stop that Dublin Bus operate either (but I grant you that some types of stop have them)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,179 ✭✭✭KD345


    devnull wrote: »
    The fact they have spider maps and they have stop specific times alone is a big improvement over the Dublin Bus ones which are very poor by international standards since the DB ones require a geographical knowledge of Dublin to have some kind of idea of when the bus might turn up and also don't list stops.

    What errors did you see out of curiosity? I know the stages are not marked and that needs to be resolved, but they are not on every type of stop that Dublin Bus operate either (but I grant you that some types of stop have them)

    The old Dublin Bus timetable panels were not perfect but they had improved over the years to be generally informative of the route, destination and places served.

    Now, instead of stating the destination of the route, the NTA have chosen to use the description of the second part of the last stop on the route. This is quite specific and can be confusing. For example, instead of Clare Hall being shown for the 27 it now shows “Towards Templeview Avenue”. The timetables no longer show route variations or footnotes, so for the last few buses from Jobstown which only operate to the city centre these timetables state they operate the complete route - not great for a cross city route if you’re travelling late at night. This issue is perhaps best highlighted for the 145 to Ballwaltrim. Only 4 buses per day run to Kilmacanogue but the timetable suggests every departure runs there.

    There are lots of other errors, on the 17 it shows that buses operate to Nutley Avenue. This of course should show Blackrock. The destination of Nutley Avenue comes from the three Saturday journeys to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where Nutley Avenue is the small junction off Nutley Lane near where the stop is located. There is nothing to show the 17 operates to Blackrock.

    The 65 is a route which serves three different termini, Blessington, Ballymore and Ballyknockan. The timetable just says “Towards The Schoolhouse”, which offers no information to the passenger. Nothing to tell which bus is which.

    The most annoying thing is the removal of the places served along the route. To use the 27 as an example again, it serves Tallaght, Walkinstown, Crumlin, The Coombe, City Centre, Fairview, Artane and Coolock. However, unless there is a spider map the timetable just shows Templeview Avenue.

    I do wonder if anybody at NTA/TFI looked over these to check if they were a suitable replacement for what was on the panel originally. It suggests the designer had no local knowledge of the service and area and just copied and pasted without thinking of the person standing at the stop.

    The spider maps are per operator but should be combined together for the passenger. That’s how spider maps work best.

    Excuse the poor quality photos.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    I know this sounds very pedantic but I also noticed that the 75 on it's LED displays now just shows simply Tallaght since GAI started operating it. Tallaght as most would know is a broad area and just showing simply Tallaght to an outsider could mean anywhere in Tallaght such as Jobstown, Killinarden, Fettercairn, Old Bawn, Tymon or Kilmanagh. DB buses have generally displayed Tallaght Square which most would know as the centre of Tallaght.


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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    KD345 wrote: »
    The old Dublin Bus timetable panels were not perfect but they had improved over the years to be generally informative of the route, destination and places served.

    Now, instead of stating the destination of the route, the NTA have chosen to use the description of the second part of the last stop on the route. This is quite specific and can be confusing. For example, instead of Clare Hall being shown for the 27 it now shows “Towards Templeview Avenue”. The timetables no longer show route variations or footnotes, so for the last few buses from Jobstown which only operate to the city centre these timetables state they operate the complete route - not great for a cross city route if you’re travelling late at night. This issue is perhaps best highlighted for the 145 to Ballwaltrim. Only 4 buses per day run to Kilmacanogue but the timetable suggests every departure runs there.

    There are lots of other errors, on the 17 it shows that buses operate to Nutley Avenue. This of course should show Blackrock. The destination of Nutley Avenue comes from the three Saturday journeys to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where Nutley Avenue is the small junction off Nutley Lane near where the stop is located. There is nothing to show the 17 operates to Blackrock.

    The 65 is a route which serves three different termini, Blessington, Ballymore and Ballyknockan. The timetable just says “Towards The Schoolhouse”, which offers no information to the passenger. Nothing to tell which bus is which.

    The most annoying thing is the removal of the places served along the route. To use the 27 as an example again, it serves Tallaght, Walkinstown, Crumlin, The Coombe, City Centre, Fairview, Artane and Coolock. However, unless there is a spider map the timetable just shows Templeview Avenue.

    I do wonder if anybody at NTA/TFI looked over these to check if they were a suitable replacement for what was on the panel originally. It suggests the designer had no local knowledge of the service and area and just copied and pasted without thinking of the person standing at the stop.

    The spider maps are per operator but should be combined together for the passenger. That’s how spider maps work best.

    Excuse the poor quality photos.

    I had only seen the 175 ones on the brand new stops and the shelters with a full spider map on one route - I hadn't seen the other ones.

    You make very valid points about those, I generally like the design but the lack of footnotes and not using destination names, using towards the second last stop and not the terminus and not noting variations are certainly problems which they need to address without doubt. Also for the pole stops with no spider diagrams I agree that they need the information of some of the places called en-route rather than just a basic timetable as you've shown.

    I think the general layout of the new stops is a step forward, but they need to add these details to them, which shouldn't mean they need to change the layout much, but at the moment they are lacking key details - I just haven't seen these kind of stops with such layout myself yet, as I said the new 175 stops and one or two of the shelters I have seen and these issues are not so apparent there.

    As for DB and Go-Ahead services having different spider maps, totally see where you are coming from with that too, for sure would be better but I dare say that there might be reasons that they are kept separate, since I doubt DB want to see their brand totally eroded at bus stops since I'd say it's a quite big pill for them to swallow already.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Stephen15 wrote: »
    I know this sounds very pedantic but I also noticed that the 75 on it's LED displays now just shows simply Tallaght since GAI started operating it. Tallaght as most would know is a broad area and just showing simply Tallaght to an outsider could mean anywhere in Tallaght such as Jobstown, Killinarden, Fettercairn, Old Bawn, Tymon or Kilmanagh. DB buses have generally displayed Tallaght Square which most would know as the centre of Tallaght.

    The ones I saw alternate between

    Tallaght
    The Square

    Tallaght
    Tamhlacht

    Tallaght
    Via Dundrum


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    The ones I saw alternate between

    Tallaght
    The Square

    Tallaght
    Tamhlacht

    Tallaght
    Via Dundrum

    Hadn't noticed that myself I'm generally not a big fan alternating displays as they can be confusing.

    I would prefer if they alternated between.

    Tallaght Square
    Cearnóg Tamhlacht

    And

    Tallaght Square
    Via Dundrum


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,179 ✭✭✭KD345


    devnull wrote: »
    I had only seen the 175 ones on the brand new stops and the shelters with a full spider map on one route - I hadn't seen the other ones.

    You make very valid points about those, I generally like the design but the lack of footnotes and not using destination names, using towards the second last stop and not the terminus and not noting variations are certainly problems which they need to address without doubt. Also for the pole stops with no spider diagrams I agree that they need the information of some of the places called en-route rather than just a basic timetable as you've shown.

    I think the general layout of the new stops is a step forward, but they need to add these details to them, which shouldn't mean they need to change the layout much, but at the moment they are lacking key details - I just haven't seen these kind of stops with such layout myself yet, as I said the new 175 stops and one or two of the shelters I have seen and these issues are not so apparent there.

    As for DB and Go-Ahead services having different spider maps, totally see where you are coming from with that too, but I dare say that there might be reasons that they are kept separate, since I doubt DB want to see their brand totally eroded at bus stops since I'd say it's a quite big pill for them to swallow already.

    I agree, the general design is really nice and the return of the spider map is fantastic. Whatever the politics there needs to be one spider map for people to check. Stop 4713 is a good example, the 77x and 175 both run to UCD from here but the 77x is not included on the map. The 175 and 77X both serve Tallaght Hospital, but you need to check two spider maps to figure that out. They need to tweak the design here to incorporate both operators together, especially when we’ll soon have routes like the 33 and 33a, 84 and 184 etc sharing large sections of their routes.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    KD345 wrote: »
    I agree, the general design is really nice and the return of the spider map is fantastic. Whatever the politics there needs to be one spider map for people to check. Stop 4713 is a good example, the 77x and 175 both run to UCD from here but the 77x is not included on the map. The 175 and 77X both serve Tallaght Hospital, but you need to check two spider maps to figure that out. They need to tweak the design here to incorporate both operators together, especially when we’ll soon have routes like the 33 and 33a, 84 and 184 etc sharing large sections of their routes.

    Oh I totally agree - if I had my way there would be no segregation at all and everything would be treated as one central system like you would have in London and other cities. it's really what we need.

    I think things are moving in the right direction with regards to integration, the last year or two- but there is still a good way to go before we reach the point where we need to be to give a seamless experience to passengers as we will see in other cities in Europe.

    I'm hoping that the next Direct Award contracts to Dublin Bus essentially will push them to integrate their PSO network more within TFI rather than under their own banner primarily, but time will tell if that will happen - but certainly it seems a sensible time for the NTA to do it - a well written contract will help them enforce it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,118 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    The 45a and 184 and 185 timetables are very confusing

    45a because its hard to figure out which buses go through Wolfetone and which dont

    184 doesnt mention Newtownmountkennedy as a major stop, mentions health centre as a major stop (health centre where? Bray? Greystones?) And glenview park? Which is kilpedder

    185 Bray commons? Enniskerry golf club? Maple Grove? Seriously? You mean Lower Dargle Road? Shop River and Palermo?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,148 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside




  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    184 doesnt mention Newtownmountkennedy as a major stop, mentions health centre as a major stop (health centre where? Bray? Greystones?) And glenview park? Which is kilpedder

    185 Bray commons? Enniskerry golf club? Maple Grove? Seriously? You mean Lower Dargle Road? Shop River and Palermo?

    I have to say that I never knew exactly where Shop River meant, but I did know where Enniskerry Golf Club was so it's actually more helpful for me.

    Health Centre is a silly name for a stop on the timetable though, that one sticks out as being the most silly as the lot as it's not very descriptive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    Oh I totally agree - if I had my way there would be no segregation at all and everything would be treated as one central system like you would have in London and other cities. it's really what we need.

    I think things are moving in the right direction with regards to integration, the last year or two- but there is still a good way to go before we reach the point where we need to be to give a seamless experience to passengers.

    I'm hoping that the next Direct Award contracts to Dublin Bus essentially will push them to integrate their PSO network more within TFI rather than as their own brand, but time will tell if that will happen - but certainly it seems a sensible time for the NTA to do it.

    I think some of the problem is with the NTA themselves. Do they have the resources to provide say social media accounts for all operators. However I agree with your point. Let's hope new DB deliveries in 2019 will be in TFI livery.

    Even in Manchester where it's a bit of a free for all in terms of bus operators. All stop information and timetables are consistently branded as TFGM regardless of operator.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    According to the 63 timetables there, Monkstown Avenue is somewhere between Carrickmines and Kiltiernan.
    Poor.

    Yep, just noticed that, heading doesn't match the timetable route either, that's a simple proof-read fail which you have to ask, why this wasn't caught.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 650 ✭✭✭Phat Cat


    soundman45 wrote: »
    I think they have made a big mistake in using so many new drivers. They have no experience driving a bus, no experience dealing with customers, ticketing etc, some do not seem to even be fimiliar with the city. I was on a 45a yesterday in fairness the driver was grand he must have done it before but one guy asked him was the route changed as the previous bus driver (45a) told him he didnt serve bray. Now im happy to accept drivers need to bed in but I think having such a high percentage of raw new drivers was a bad move.

    The drivers seem very nervous alright. I got the 75 to Dundrum Shopping Centre over the weekend and the driver was taking corners really slowly and stopped to far from the curb at some stops. It's all a learning curve though, plus like you mentioned, it's a tough enough job having to deal with tickets, customers on top of having to navigate unfamiliar routes, so it'll obviously take time.

    Edit: My wife said she was driving a few cars back from a 63 earlier tonight that hit a pedestrian island barrier on the right turn onto Oliver Plunkett Road in Monkstown Farm.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,118 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    devnull wrote: »
    I have to say that I never knew exactly where Shop River meant, but I did know where Enniskerry Golf Club was so it's actually more helpful for me.

    Health Centre is a silly name for a stop on the timetable though, that one sticks out as being the most silly as the lot as it's not very descriptive.

    Seriously? Enniskerry Golf Club? Google maps shows it as a random place down near the village. Is this the powerscourt golf club? The pith and putt that closed about 30 years ago? Locals there have never heard of it!!!

    Its the Delgany health centre by the way. Like why couldnt they just say delgany village

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    Seriously? Enniskerry Golf Club? Google maps shows it as a random place down near the village. Is this the powerscourt golf club? The pith and putt that closed about 30 years ago? Locals there have never heard of it!!!

    Shop River is a makey uppy CIEism.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,118 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Stephen15 wrote: »
    Shop River is a makey uppy CIEism.

    Its a townland name. Nobody seems to know where Enniskerry Golf Club but when you say its at Shop river they know where you mean then.

    Who the hell knows where Bray Commons and Health Centre are?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    Its a townland name. Nobody seems to know where Enniskerry Golf Club but when you say its at Shop river they know where you mean then.

    Who the hell knows where Bray Commons and Health Centre are?

    I get what you mean I'm just saying Shop River for most outside the area is completely unheard of. Bray Commons and Health are poor too.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,293 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    I know where the Health Centre is but no idea of Shop River, guessing the Upper Dargle Road? But no one has ever used that around here to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,903 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    There was a stop and stage name in Maynooth of O'Briens Supermarket until relatively recently - it actually lasted on the Wayfarers for longer than the timetables.

    O'Briens was a mostly midlands chain that sold out to Quinnsworth in 1988. And due to there being a branch of O'Briens sandwiches in both shopping centres in the town Google isn't even going to tell you where it is!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    CramCycle wrote: »
    I know where the Health Centre is but no idea of Shop River, guessing the Upper Dargle Road? But no one has ever used that around here to me.

    Shop river is after enniskerry


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,293 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Shop river is after enniskerry
    Live minutes from it and didn't know, good luck to non locals


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,085 ✭✭✭✭BonnieSituation


    Sure even the 25a had Lucan Esker Church, Lucan Shopping Centre and Lucan Superquinn for the same stop. Thankfully they're all near enough to each other.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,164 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    Dublin Bus timetables and scrolls have always assumed local knowledge.

    Shop River -> Enniskerry
    Oldcourt -> Bray
    Omnipark -> Santry

    I always thought it was ridiculous that the old 45 left the City Centre displaying "Oldcourt" rather than "Bray" - I assume the modern digital scrolls can be programmed to change at certain point along the route? i.e. a bus could display "Enniskerry" until it actually got to the village and then change to "Shop River"?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,492 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Shop River is a small group of houses just after the bus stop on the left if you're heading away from Enniskerry. There is a small 'river', although unsure if that's actually Shop River, that originates in a small reservoir on the other side of the road that goes underground under the houses, reappears above ground and wends it's way towards Powerscourt, feeds another small reservoir close to the main car park, and ends up in the Dargle. You can see it all clearly on Google aerial photography if you look.

    I agree though, it's a silly end destination to put on a bus serving Enniskerry.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,118 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    CramCycle wrote: »
    I know where the Health Centre is but no idea of Shop River, guessing the Upper Dargle Road? But no one has ever used that around here to me.

    Yeah but who knows what health centre they are talking about? Bray? Delgany? Greystones? I had to try and figure out it was Delgany. "Health centre" is nonsense and assumes people know there is a health centre there

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,118 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Alun wrote: »
    Shop River is a small group of houses just after the bus stop on the left if you're heading away from Enniskerry. There is a small 'river', although unsure if that's actually Shop River, that originates in a small reservoir on the other side of the road that goes underground under the houses, reappears above ground and wends it's way towards Powerscourt, feeds another small reservoir close to the main car park, and ends up in the Dargle. You can see it all clearly on Google aerial photography if you look.

    I agree though, it's a silly end destination to put on a bus serving Enniskerry.

    Enniskerry Golf Club is worse! Google maps sends you somewhere near the N11 when you look for it. We still dont even know what golf club they are referring to. Powerscourt? The old pitch and putt that has been closed many years?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,293 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Yeah but who knows what health centre they are talking about? Bray? Delgany? Greystones? I had to try and figure out it was Delgany. "Health centre" is nonsense and assumes people know there is a health centre there

    LOL, I was thinking of the Bray one, but only because i wasn't thinking of the bus route.


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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,164 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu




  • Registered Users Posts: 10,670 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    loyatemu wrote: »
    bloody hell - 2 hours!

    It's anywhere from a 30m to 60m trip in a car, which suggests they're building in a lot of leeway for traffic problems to the schedule. But yeah, that's what dwell times and frequent stops will do!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    sugarman wrote: »
    Joke of a decision to run it through Dundrum village to "serve" the Luas, its added an extra 15mins odd in heavy traffic to an already long route. It was less than a 5min walk to the either Dundrum or Balally Luas stops.

    I can't see it lasting long fingers crossed it will be scrapped sooner rather than later.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭Stephen15


    devnull wrote: »
    Do you have pictures? They really should be using the same ones that went for the new stops for the 175 for the new services, since these are the best ones.

    Sorry about the poor quality. I think its temporary. Btw route number can be seen at the top in this case its 63/63A . Even more misleading in some cases these appear alongside the outdated DB timetables.

    http://imgur.com/gallery/xeWoHma


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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Stephen15 wrote: »
    Sorry about the poor quality. I think its temporary. Btw route number can be seen at the top in this case its 63/63A . Even more misleading in some cases these appear alongside the outdated DB timetables.

    http://imgur.com/gallery/xeWoHma

    After all the good work that went into the guidelines and having a nice modern layout it's disappointing to see such poor layouts and presented information - why have they abandoned the principles and the layout they always planned to use and use with great success on the LUAS?

    I certainly hope that they are temporary.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,670 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    I see things are a bit slow in NBRU headquarters today again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,670 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    Tickityboo wrote: »
    Do you honestly think someone in the NBRU is going to make that up?

    Yes. Its very much on brand for them recently.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,695 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    Tickityboo wrote: »
    I'll just put this post back up as it was removed.

    The post was removed because the user in question has been banned well into double figures for causing disruption on the C+T and other forums, trolling and continually re-registers to evade such ban, which is against the Boards Terms and Condition of use.

    In addition I wouldn't go too much on that inside view of how things work on Go-Ahead since the exact same person has had well over a dozen other accounts where they claim they work for Dublin Bus so either they have swapped companies in the last few days or they are not being honest with folks.

    It seems some moderator doesn't want people to know the truth!!

    It's also against the rules to discuss moderation on-thread, which is clearly highlighted in the charter in this forum. No problem with people airing their views but it is standard practice for people who are banned, who re-register to evade that ban, to also have all further accounts banned.

    If someone feels they have been wrongly banned they have the Dispute Resolution Process to argue against their ban, and also the Prison forum if it is a site-ban where appeals are independently heard. Unfortunately rather than avail of this system, the user in question has constantly re-registered and therefore the above process was invoked.

    This shall be the last I say on the matter - all posters must read the charter at the top of the Commuting and Transport forum before posting again in reference to this.

    - Moderator


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,737 ✭✭✭Yer Da sells Avon


    Tickityboo wrote: »
    I'll just put this post back up as it was removed.
    It seems some moderator doesn't want people to know the truth!!

    It's not the truth though. The part about drivers quitting is completely untrue. As is the part about them having to pay €2,000 to leave. There is a training indemnity bond, whereby Go Ahead withholds €15 per week from drivers whom they trained. After two years with the company, that adds up to €2,000 and drivers - if they are still with the company - get it back in a lump sum. If they leave before the two years are up, the company holds onto that money. Fairly straightforward.


  • Registered Users Posts: 16 KC8


    My quick assessment of Go-Ahead so far.

    Go-Ahead rating 7/10:
    Certain features of the timetable are positive (e.g. using a suffix to note journeys on the 75 through the industrial estate) and waiting for the last trains in Bray and Greystones each evening. But they get marked down for the lack of clockface timetable departures and the fact that there are still mistakes in their published timetables. For example, look at the evening Tallaght bound 75A services - the timetable makes no sense!! There are also different timetable versions within the GoAhead website and the NTA website. These should have been set and cross checked weeks ago but the sense is they were set at the last minute.

    The other thing they fall down on is the fact that a driver might work a few routes on a shift - creating a knock on effect if one particular route is delayed. Such an approach needs extra turnaround times between services which don’t appear to be in place. Given their garages location I know why it’s needed. Perhaps the current problems will sort themselves out when all DunLaoghaire services transfer. Perhaps they are using a temporary setup until later this month.

    The final positive for GoAhead is the flexibility to introduce extra services like on the 75 and 175 so quickly. I have never known Dublin Bus to introduce changes so quickly and that is to be welcomed.

    NTA 1/10
    The only reason they don’t get zero is that they actually achieved what many had tried and failed before - breaking the stranglehold of Dublin Bus. (This isn’t an inbuilt disliking for Dublin Bus - I think in the long term it will be great for them, they just don’t know it!). Beyond that, the NTA performance has been dreadful. Bus stops. Timetables. Publicity. RTPI etc. etc. Also the delays caused by the diversion of the 75 via Dundrum Luas is their fault. My solution would be that all peak time departures in both directions operate as 75As and go the old route through Dundrum and the other services divert along the new route when the traffic isn’t bad.

    Livery 0/10 until I saw it in real life, now it’s just as good as the Dublin Bus one!


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,425 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatInABox


    KC8 wrote: »
    NTA 1/10
    The only reason they don’t get zero is that they actually achieved what many had tried and failed before - breaking the stranglehold of Dublin Bus. (This isn’t an inbuilt disliking for Dublin Bus - I think in the long term it will be great for them, they just don’t know it!). Beyond that, the NTA performance has been dreadful. Bus stops. Timetables. Publicity. RTPI etc. etc. Also the delays caused by the diversion of the 75 via Dundrum Luas is their fault. My solution would be that all peak time departures in both directions operate as 75As and go the old route through Dundrum and the other services divert along the new route when the traffic isn’t bad.

    I don't know, I have a little bit of sympathy for the NTA, mainly because some of the stuff that they're doing is quite simply brand new to them. Sure, they've screwed up on numerous fronts, but for me, the real test will come when they have to do something similar again. They need to show that they can learn from their mistakes.

    In terms of work output from a government entity, I'd have them as one of the most productive over the last few years, even if I don't always agree with the results.
    KC8 wrote: »
    Livery 0/10 until I saw it in real life, now it’s just as good as the Dublin Bus one!

    That's great, you're not the first to say that it looks good in person. I haven't seen it myself, so will hold off on judgement, but the views around it seem good to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,646 ✭✭✭Qrt


    I remember hearing before that the NTA are suffering from chronic understaffing, is that true or was it just me hearing things?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    KC8 what are you on about?

    The NTA controls all routes so have go-ahead is no different at all as to how frequency has changed as of the same date of changes many many db routes have had their frequency increased given the go ahead by the NTA.

    The NTA has given go ahead permission not that they just rock up take over and look at us we can increase the frequency.

    The NTA has had this planned all along so no matter what go-ahead would look better as it looks like they are better.

    Bus Connects is another thing that will make them also look better the more routes they get.

    NTA amazingly stop db refund tickets on the day go ahead take over what were db routes.

    Go ahead doesn't need to go to extra expenses of more staff, building, services etc etc for one to go collect their change.

    All services could be improved over night if they brought in the travel 90 across the board and get people away from interaction with driver.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Qrt wrote: »
    I remember hearing before that the NTA are suffering from chronic understaffing, is that true or was it just me hearing things?

    The NTA I'm sure is well staffed as it's just a branch off of the department of transport.


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