Go-Ahead Dublin City Routes - Updates and Discussion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119858044#Comment_119858044

Crap service. Have had to resort to getting the Dublin bus 49 / 65/B from where I am in Templeogue (to Old bawn)

For dunleary get a bus into town and then a 46a. Don't go that direction very often since the demise of Buck Henry's though

mikeybhoy

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/1219/1342822-siptu-bus-drivers-in-go-ahead-to-ballot-for-action/

mikeybhoy

Full support to the drivers if this goes ahead

p_haugh

Unfortunately I don't have access to the full article, but seen Go Ahead are essentially hitting back at Bray Councillors about the delays to the services the run within Bray.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/news/go-ahead-calls-for-radical-scheme-that-could-ban-cars-from-part-of-bray-main-street-42294054.html

Its ridiculous that every 185 working still goes through Palermo, definitely part of the cause of delays.

Edit: found a non-paywalled article:

https://www.eastcoast.fm/news/wicklow-news/go-ahead-call-on-council-to-help-improve-public-transport-network-in-north-wicklow/

mikeybhoy

Go-Ahead going on strike on the 1st and 8th March. I presume no service on any GAI route on those dates unless they employ scabs which I believe they do in the UK.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0209/1355760-go-ahead-bus-strike/

dublinman1990

Oh no. Bus passengers in Dun Laoghaire are going to become significantly angry about this strike considering most of the routes running from Dun Laoghaire Dart station are with GAI.

john boye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221558#Comment_120221558

Considering the trouble they have employing full time drivers I'd be surprised if they managed it here.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221693#Comment_120221693

Yes damn those drivers for looking for an improvement in their sub-standard Ts&Cs, Damn them.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221558#Comment_120221558

Where would they even get them?

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221956#Comment_120221956

I don't know tbh but it wouldn't surprise if they tried. A lot of their management have D licences so could be sent out driving and they could possibly bring over from the UK just to defy the strike if nothing else.

There was a recent strike involving Go North West (also Go-Ahead) drivers in Manchester that turned very ugly. It even has a Wikipedia page.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Go_North_West_strike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120222311#Comment_120222311

That would be an excellent response to any strike. Fair play to any manager and driver who would travel from the UK to try ensure the service to the public remains operational. Hopefully such workers are given substantial incentive bonuses for going above and beyond and their commitment to customer service.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120241670#Comment_120241670

Wouldn't happen unless they fancy running someone over leaving the garage.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242036#Comment_120242036

You're understanding of the law around picketing is very poor. You're an embarrassment to the movement you support. You can't even get the basics of your argument right.

Blocking access is not allowed, so why would anyone get run over.

If you are suggesting illegal attempts to block enterances, I'll inform the mod to have you banned from Boards for promoting illegal activity.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242176#Comment_120242176

I don't support any movement unless supporting a fair days pay for a fair days work is a movement. Anyway you'll be delighted to know the strike is off now so there won't be any disruption to the travelling public or picketing. Let's hope a deal can be done that works for both the workers and management.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242952#Comment_120242952

No. Management don't give a fiddlers the unions and dogs know that. Good that strike is off tho.

Burt Renaults

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120241670#Comment_120241670

Better still, they could give a substantial incentive bonus (i.e. a pay rise) to all of their staff. Which, let's be honest, is exactly what's going to happen in the end anyway. The only thing that's not clear is the route that they'll take towards that - although now that they've agreed to go to the Labour Court, and the strike has been averted, it looks like the company has chosen the most straightforward route.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242176#Comment_120242176

You're in no position to accuse others of being an embarrassment. You weren't even aware that there's a massive shortage of people willing to drive buses, and that the staff currently have the upper hand over their employer. Too busy trying to be an edgelord, I suspect.

monument

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242176#Comment_120242176

You may report posts any time you want but you may not threaten other posters like that. It is viewed as back seat moderating.

Imply they are promoting illegal activity without even trying to clarify what they mean first is also not one.

Nor is calling them an embarrassment.

please read the charter before posting again.

— Moderator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120245454#Comment_120245454

Such an upper hand they are willing to lose pay and stand around looking at a burning barrel for a full day. Really showing who's got the upper hand.

If settled by the Labour Court, fair enough.

But if they drag the travelling public into it, I hope the company dig it for as long as possible to negate any increase in the end.

Interesting the Luas staff are not taking about striking during a time of unprecedented rising costs. They were taught a lesson a long time ago now.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120246669#Comment_120246669

I see your point but still don't agree with it. This stuff about disruption travelling public is nonsense as GAI for the most part operate the less important routes that people are not going to be commuting less on. The disruption caused by a GAI strike would be minimal compared to a DB strike.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120247651#Comment_120247651

People don’t commute on GAI routes?

What utter nonsense.

Thousands of people use GAI orbital bus services to get to and from work, college or school every day.

Those passengers are no less important than anyone else using the bus service in Dublin.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120248013#Comment_120248013

Apologies if you took that the wrong way. I was referring to the possibility strike and industrial relations issues at Go-Ahead as opposed to services they provide.

My point is that GAI is far less disruptive than a DB strike. A DB strike would be actually less disruptive now than 5 years ago now GAI are operating too. I support the workers in GAI far more than I would DB drivers going on strike as GAI drivers are paid less than their DB counterparts. Encouraging strike breaking attempts to save disruption to the general public is unacceptable don't you think. I know some people might not care.

dublinman1990

There are huge numbers of people who commute on GAI every day. And it's not just the ODMA routes on it's own. They operate some of the Dublin Commuter belt bus routes like the 120, 125 & 126 along with the 197 from Swords to Ashbourne.

Even though most of the routes operate on a social basis. They do have the capability to provide a much needed function to operate a service for commuters as well.

The hearing taking place between the management of GAI and SIPTU at the Labour Court is something that is very positive.

However; the concern that I have coming from this intervention by the LC is that if they were any opportunity for the drivers to get a pay increase. Would a pay increase in this situation have to be only drawn down from the balance sheets of GAI's business model?

Or OTOH would there be more options to get new sources of finance from GA's new owners who only bought it last year?

p_haugh

Also posted this in the bus connects thread but will post here also:

Seen this on the 17 today, seems to be an internal newsletter that someone stuck up on the bus. Ballymount expansion has supposedly started, with a completion timeline of 25 weeks.

It will enable fleet expansion for the upcoming W routes and the provision of Electric chargers when the need arises, along with some other upgrades.

dublinman1990

GAI have posted two new updates about the Bray Air Show & upcoming US football game to place in the Aviva Stadium for late July and late August on their website today.

Bray Air Show Today 14:51

Please note, the Bray Air Display will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, 29th and 30th of July 2023.

Due to this event, service delays may be experienced between 09:00AM - 18:00PM.

Services will terminate at Quinsborough Road and commence from Adelaide Road.

Additional Service Route 18 - Notre Dame vs Navy Today 16:04

Due to the Notre Dame vs Navy Football game taking place on the 26th August 2023, additional 18 services will be operating.

There will be three additional trips pre-event and three additional trips post-event.

The additional trips are as follows:

17:10 Hollyville - Sandymount

17:30 Hollyville - Sandymount

17:50 Hollyville - Sandymount

23:15 Sandymount - Hollyville

23:45 Sandymount - Hollyville

00:00 Sandymount - Hollyville

I want to ask a question about the additional departures for the 18.

Where exactly is Hollyville on the 18 route? I am not familiar with that part of Dublin.

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120905246#Comment_120905246

Palmerstown terminus.

dfx-

As someone who is familiar with the route and area...

If a tourist came and asked how to get to Hollyville, I'd have no idea where or how to get there.

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120906386#Comment_120906386

I'd quickly do a Google map search, as I've just done now. However, I knew this route so it helped too... I agree that each operator and even the NTA aren't consistent with the information provided.

KD345

The inconsistency for passengers is so poor.

In this case of the 18, they use “Hollyville” as the westerly departure point. Hollyville Lawn is a small cul de sac off the Old Lucan Road beside Palmerstown Village which is what is displayed on the front of the bus. 

At the other end of the route they change their approach, where the terminus is Newgrove Avenue they choose to just go with Sandymount.

You can’t fault their accuracy in places but it’s delivered through the eyes of the operator and regulator rather than the passenger and end user. 

Citrus_8

All Dublin city bus routes should be reviewed for this reason. Surely, Dublin Commuter Coalition could help with that... I'm a huge fan of terminus being named after a name of the bigger/widely known names. Eg., The Square doesn't satisfy me and I'd call it either Tallaght Square (Tallaght The Square?) Or Tallaght Centre.

Community College (Maynooth) - not sure how it's actually showing up on the buses, but I'd say Maynooth North would be better or at least wither Maynooth Moyglare or then Maynooth Community College.

L1011

Some stop names are obsolete businesses also. I'm not sure exactly when they got rid of O'Briens Supermarket as a stage name in Maynooth but it had rebranded twice before they did (Quinnsworth, Tesco). Riding School in Celbridge refers to a business that closed almost 20 years ago

Citrus_8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120909432#Comment_120909432

That's why stops should never be called after the businesses. Always after a street/road, park, cemetery, school or other governmental building or either create some names after a large rock, tree, lake or whatever locally well known and could understood by non-locals, but at least would be relevant. Instead of Tesco it could be a supermarket, however, I'm pretty sure shops don't get built in the fields so surely they could use a name of a road from the nearby junction.

In some countries, businesses pay big money regularly to the authorities to name a bus stop for a number of decades after the business. If NTA doesn't receive any money for that reason, I then don't see why would there be any bus stops named after the businesses.

TranslatorPS

Naming stops after businesses is something that Bus Éireann is guilty of in their bracketed stop naming scheme. I'm actually rather glad those names stayed confined to two spaces: online timetables and duty cards.

An approach found on the continent is for any intermediate stops to be named by streets, cross-streets, railway stations, schools, major government offices, whatever, and then for termini to carry the neighbourhood/area name. My homecity in particular practices this with intermediate stops taking the "street it's on / cross-street" format. By that merit, 4357/4359 Hollyville Lawn should be named Palmerstown.

The major problem in this scenario is that of course many will take the attitude of "but this isn't the town/area/village centre!" In Palmerstown's case, that's solved by 2212 Palmerstown Village (which is annoying in that you have the nearby 2241, 4401, and 4361 all called Kennelsfort Road (or Rd in the case of 4361). It could be grounds for confusion, but regardless.

All in all, I still dislike the fact that there are major inconsistencies between stop names as per timetables and the destination scrolls. The act should be cleaned up one way or another, and informing pax about these changes should be taken far more seriously.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120911181#Comment_120911181

Not helped by the NTA and the operators having their own autonomy in this regard. The W61 buses display Hazelhatch and Celbridge Station across two lines but the DB buses on the L58 and L59 display Hazelhatch Stn both should consistent. The 11 displayed Wadelai since time began until someone decided to change it to St. Papins Road.

In fairness DB have always been fairly consistent with their timetable information and LED displays but they shouldn't get off scot free though as having recruitment messages on the scrolls of in service buses should not be allowed by the NTA.

Seanoreilly200

Is anyone here a Go ahead Ireland driver? I am just wondering if they are hiring B applicants and what is the pay after you are qualified