Double Decker Bus Hire

wrafter

Anyone know where I might hire a double decker bus in Ireland for an extended period of time (approx three weeks), with a view to taking it out of the country for a roadtrip?

jayok

The only company I know with double decker buses here is Dublin Bus. You can hire the bus and driver for a day, don't know if they'll rent you a bus for a week. But I'd give them a try. Did you consider buying a second hand one may be in the UK? (they have feck all trade in value). Would probably just be as cheap as a few weeks rental, don't know how you'd transfer it. As far as I am aware dbl decker buses for Ireland are actually built on a chasis in Belfast. Would a coach not do?

Stating the obvious here, but you're gonna need a correctly graded license and insurance.

Good luck with the quest.

wrafter

Thank you jayok - I don't plan on doing the driving, but I'll get a driver/s who can.

I did look into hiring in London and taking it from there, however price is prohibitive. Interesting idea about second hand. But I don't want it to die on me.

Coach won't suffice, doubledecker it must be. I'll get in touch with Dublin Bus.

Seth Brundle

I doubt you would be able to hire one for that long without paying hand over fist to Dublin Bus. Are you thinking of taking their driver (which I assume is mandatory)?
Anyway, would it fit onto a car ferry to get it out of the country?

wrafter

An interesting question you raise about the ferry, kbannon, and one I do not have an answer to - much research to be done, methinks.

BrianD3

I've never heard of anyone doing this before. I really doubt that Dublin bus would rent out one of their fleet for 3 weeks to a member of the public. You could try posting a message on the commuting/transport forum here, there are a few CIE emplyees that post there.

One other possible solution but a long shot - there are a number of individuals in this country who collect and restore old buses. Some of the buses are relatively modern eg Bombardier KDs, Atlantean AN68s. Perhaps one of these individuals would be willing to rent out a bus. I doubt it though as you'd be dealing with someone's pride and joy
Vist this website for more info and contact details
http://www.preservedirishtransport.com/

John R

I very much doubt Dublin Bus would be in a position to do an extended hire, they do not have much spare capacity, particularly drivers but there is no harm in giving them a call anyway, same goes for Bus Eireann.

Dublin Bus do have a pile of recently withdrawn buses lying about awaiting transfer to the UK to be sold on, up until a few weeks ago they were in daily use and would be in reasonable mechanical condition. I would be surprised if they would be willing to hire one out but it's worth a try.

TBH it is going to cost a huge amount to hire for that length of time, depending on where and how much driving is involved. Look up coach hire rates, a double decker would not be that different in cost to a 53 seater, just more difficult to find.


There are some private operators in Ireland with a small number of double deckers.
Most of the better ones are open-air for tours, I assume that is not what you are looking for though. Most of the others are quite old, generally ex-UK from the 80's, I wouldn't be too optomistic about their reliability on an extended trip with most of them and I doubt their owners would either.



That goes double for the ones in preservation, particularly ex-CIE buses. The Leyland Atlanteans date from the 60's/70's and the Bombardier's although newer are a unique bus, and not in a good way. Getting one repaired in the UK might be very tricky.

Mortons and Malahide coaches in dublin both have double deckers that are fairly new, Mortons bought several new ones in the last few years and Malahide have a few ex Dublin Bus 1990 Olympians. All of those would be reliable enough and are standard so repairs/parts in the UK wouldn't be a problem. They are in regular use on services/contracts though.



The cost of a driver/drivers would be a big deal also, there are strict rules on driving time so if alot of driving is required you may need more than one, payment for several weeks away from home would need to be factored in as well.

Ferries would be no problem, I am not sure about the HSS but any regular ferry is designed to take the largest trucks some of which are taller than a double decker bus. All of DB's new buses are built in Scotland and driven over on the ferry via Northern Ireland.

There are also a small number of double decker coaches available in Ireland, one of those might be more suitable. What exactly are you planning on doing anyway?

kermit_ie

You not only have the problem of fitting it onto a ferry to get it here, you have the problem of driving it around when you are here. They are high, outside the capital and off the major routes, our bridges are low... You get the picture...

Victor

The cruise ferries can take 5m high trucks, so while the bus fits, it will cost.

I imagine if you really want to go double decker (for the view?) get a double decker coach. Comfort level on the coach is goign to be much better for long haul.

Potentially you can use hire drivers for long distance hauls and your own driver for shorter bits.

What will you live in? Hotels?

http://www.iol.ie/~eirebus/
http://www.rapidexpress.ie/tours-coaches.asp
http://www.circlelinebus.com/fleet.htm
http://www.dualwaycoaches.com/fleet.htm

Rates page http://www.dualwaycoaches.com/rates.htm - they would likely improve on that for a three week hire.

One of the film production companies has its own bus rearranged in "foursome" seating with tables.

lanno

try mortons coach hire they have double decker bus for hire

unkel

Victor wrote:

Rates page http://www.dualwaycoaches.com/rates.htm - they would likely improve on that for a three week hire

Howdie inflation

€470 for a day. 4 years ago I paid Dublin Bus £175 for a day...

wrafter

I contacted a London-based company.

Apparantly, the standard height of a British double decker bus is 4.38m, most countries in Europe enforce a 4 metre height limit. They believe that as long as the bus is registered in the UK, under EU regulations I should be permitted to operate freely in any EU territory providing I have complied with home state regulations in terms of MoT, licence tax etc. etc. - except Germany and Switzerland, who wont allow vehicles over 4m regardless.

Their rates are: gbp3,500 for the first week, plus driver's wages and expenses.