sure mark isn't docklands going to be operating a full pace service from 2010 in anyway?

I saw the poster that kicked off this thread on the train this morning.

It says "Get to the O2 using public transport".

Implicit in that is that you won't be going from the O2 by public transport.

Anyway, the issue of concerts and finishing times certainly happens in other jurisdictions, I don't think anyone here is seriously proposing they end at 10 pm, if anything above Mark's analysis of how early a gig must end if customers are to avail of public transport shows how prohibitive the current schedules are for people wishing to get home late at night.

EDIT: One other thing, is on street car parking free in Dublin after 7pm?

On most, but by no means all, streets. A minority have restrictions from 7am until midnight. And I've seen the clampers roaming an area with several of those streets last at night on many an occasion.

I don't know if you saw the map in this mornings Metro but there is a more detailed pdf format map here http://www.theo2.ie/assets/pdf/Trans...e_Download.pdf outlining all the bus routes etc

Its one of the better maps i have seen in a long time good job done.

For those coming from west dublin/maynooth/meath Docklands station will be very handy! Nice to see shuttle buses coming into play also!

The road map coming into Dublin seems a bit out though! No M1 marked, not even as far as the airport

also no mention of docklands station on the dart & luas section and reference to www.dart.ie? (slightly out of date) main map looks good though.

I was about to post that link.

I'm going to take a look at the planning application - it seems it has a mobility plan. The application was to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, not the city council.

On AA roadwatch on Drivetime this evening they mentioned the shuttle.
They only stated it as going from Green Line Luas, good to see it will serve other locations too.

It would seem a very easy plan to park a couple of 29Ks in Docklands, where they're out of the way of scheduled services, and have one depart 20 mins after the concert ends, and the second depart 20 mins after that, running all stops to Maynooth.

This would leave the bay platforms in Connolly for a couple of similar services to Drogheda.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, it's a matter of IE putting their commercial hat on. Why have combined concert and rail tickets never happened in this country?

Am I misreading this or are they claiming that Heuston is a 28 minute walk form the Point? Or from the edge of the map, which is a bit pointless. not sure I'd fancy walking to Clontarf Road either, and I think 14 minutes is a bit optimistic.

Closest stations to the 02:

DART: Grand Canal Dock (1.32km) Connolly (1.42km), Tara Street (1.52km), Pearse (1.57km), Lansdowne Road (2.07km)

Green Line: St. Stephens Green (2.8km), Charlemont (3.2km, but expect a lot of trams to be filled by people getting on at St. Stephens Green).

Red Line: Busáras (but expect a lot of trams to be filled by people getting on at Connolly).


This http://www.dto.ie/web2006/jp.htm gives 48 minutes to Heuston (4.082 km), but is overly-generous.

25 minutes (again generous), 2.117 km to Clontarf Road.

What about Grand Canal Dock?

Thats exactly what I was thinking, GCD was nearest.

Fixed already. There seems to be some glitches with the journey planner, e.g. it claims Charlemont (via South Lotts Road and the Grand Canal) is the closest Green Line stop - it might be the least hassle route, but is about 400m longer than via the city centre to St. Stephens Green.

All I can say, speaking from experience tonight is that the O2/The Point is back with a vengeance.

Brought Dublin traffic to a complete standstill. Worst I've ever seen on the Coast Road in Sandymount. A normal 40-60 min Blackrock to Clontarf Drive took 2 hrs after giving up on East Link after taking 1 hr to get just over 1/2 way along the Sandymount Coast Road. A complete farce.

Words just fail me. Why the hell where they given planning permission for this place, given the chaos that it used to cause before the renovations, when it was a much smaller venue.

There's no hope for planning in this city. The venue should not have been allowed to open until Luas extension and Shuttle Buses were in place and free for all concert goes (paid for in Concert ticket at least).

Thankfully I'll be back on the Dart next week.

Docklands station is according to the dto 5 minutes

But its the same story with Drumcondra with only 1 route calling at the station and that does well!

Hammer, Nail, Head. - "How prohibitive the current schedules are."

Once again the issue of profit and public service obligations starts to rise from its grave. Its an issue thats endemic throughout the state and semi state bodies. An Post, CIE etc etc. Subsidy, profit, service. Those words don't blend.

Im with you there Rob. Got caught in it tonight aswell. Im not lucking forward to its forthcoming schedule in 09. North Quays were heading to Galway.:D The promoters are not at fault. They just book the place. The owner, planners and transport companies are all to blame for this disaster.

Full house 4 carriage on the last train to maynooth tonight

Crowds seem to be arriving at connolly after 11