[Article] Irish Rail lands in rough over Ryder Cup fares

Mark Gleeson · 21-09-2006, 19:52

I'd say they are more limited by bus transfers on the far side and for 20 euro you might want to get a seat, 8 coach train has 336 seats, 4 bus loads, now try 1200 thats 15 buses

Saturday service is the exact same as Friday, seats still left on the early trains Saturday and Sunday, full service on Sunday morning.

Principle restriction on operation is the availabilty of drivers

Rashers · 21-09-2006, 20:46

Am I right in thinking they are only 4 car services, so if they ran 8 car services, that would double capacity without any extra drivers. But yes the bus transfer remains an issue. Still a couple of extra buses could have sorted it. Plus for once the revenue and EUR20 per person would be good

Mark Gleeson · 21-09-2006, 20:54

As far as I know most are 8 coach trains, they comprise the empty trains sent out to Maynooth early morning, 1 or 2 may be 4 coach (and can't be longer due to restrictions in parking at Connolly off P7) but the current fleet situation is getting 27/28 out of the 29 29000 units in daily service which is world beating the only downtime is Sunday, the primary issue with specials is infact drivers secondary issue is where to park everything there ain't much space in Maynooth

The only reason the bus transfer works is since Dublin Bus held onto the buses last year it was due to retire, that said only brand new 06D buses seem to be running the shuttle service

With only 6000 sold IE where making a profit, that was Monday so by now I'd say they are upwards of 10k

colmoc · 22-09-2006, 09:14

Quote:

DUBLIN BUS has come under fire for providing more than 100 extra buses for the lucrative Ryder Cup not long after demanding that the Government buy the same number to expand its fleet.
A strike was averted last month when the Transport Minister agreed to provide the extra buses, at a cost of €30m to the taxpayer, for the city transport service.
Yet, the semi-state company has managed to come up with 120 extra buses after winning a €1.3m contract to operate a shuttle service to the K Club.
It is believed to be the biggest public transport project since Pope John Paul visited Ireland in 1979.
Last night, a spokesperson for the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, which represents big coach operators, said it was amazed that Dublin Bus could pull approximately 120 buses "out of a hat" to use on a commercial contract when it was so short of capacity.
Dublin Bus said it had secured the extra buses by delaying its bus replacement programme.
It said the extra buses being used for the Ryder Cup were those which would normally be replaced each year, while the purchase of replacement buses had also gone ahead.
But the Coach Tourism and Transport Council questioned how it could afford to buy the new buses without trading in its older fleet.
Chief Executive of the Coach Tourism and Transport, Cora Collins, pointed out that funding had been provided under the National Development Plan for the replacement of 513 buses for Dublin Bus.

www.unison.ie

Derek Wheeler · 22-09-2006, 16:10

Any of the buses Ive seen are all 06 D models. Can DB explain that one?

And finally, IE have a big banner outside Connolly welcoming their "special" passengers" to the Ryder Cup and "thanking" them for travelling with them. Don't think Ive seen a similar effort for the loyal, regular and relient user.

Corporate Ireland is away with the fairies....on Capital Hill.

Mark Gleeson · 22-09-2006, 16:18

The entire AX 06D fleet is out in Kildare thats at least 50 possibly more

The 45 route has 1990's reg buses today, as does the 46A and the number 7 lost its new buses, didn't see any of the 3 axles either as I walked across town, serious downgrade in terms of low floor wheelchair accessibility

Does expose Dublin Bus though nothing wrong with 15 year old buses I remember when the bus home was 20 years old still got me there

At least IE didn't pull coaches from other services to milk the system

The contract is actually with Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus where subcontracted part of the job as where IE, Bus Eireann drivers are driving some of the Dublin Bus buses apparently

Mark Hennessy · 23-09-2006, 21:13

I've been on the 17:55 Maynooth - Harbour on Thursday and Friday.
These trains typically have no PIS and no announcements but for some reason there were audible announcements at every station!
No doubt this trend will continue for the regular pax this week.

21-09-2006, 19:52	#1
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	I'd say they are more limited by bus transfers on the far side and for 20 euro you might want to get a seat, 8 coach train has 336 seats, 4 bus loads, now try 1200 thats 15 buses Saturday service is the exact same as Friday, seats still left on the early trains Saturday and Sunday, full service on Sunday morning. Principle restriction on operation is the availabilty of drivers Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 21-09-2006 at 19:59.

21-09-2006, 20:46	#2
Rashers Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 431	Short trains Am I right in thinking they are only 4 car services, so if they ran 8 car services, that would double capacity without any extra drivers. But yes the bus transfer remains an issue. Still a couple of extra buses could have sorted it. Plus for once the revenue and EUR20 per person would be good

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21-09-2006, 20:54	#3
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	As far as I know most are 8 coach trains, they comprise the empty trains sent out to Maynooth early morning, 1 or 2 may be 4 coach (and can't be longer due to restrictions in parking at Connolly off P7) but the current fleet situation is getting 27/28 out of the 29 29000 units in daily service which is world beating the only downtime is Sunday, the primary issue with specials is infact drivers secondary issue is where to park everything there ain't much space in Maynooth The only reason the bus transfer works is since Dublin Bus held onto the buses last year it was due to retire, that said only brand new 06D buses seem to be running the shuttle service With only 6000 sold IE where making a profit, that was Monday so by now I'd say they are upwards of 10k

22-09-2006, 16:10	#5
Derek Wheeler Registered user Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kildare Posts: 1,555	Any of the buses Ive seen are all 06 D models. Can DB explain that one? And finally, IE have a big banner outside Connolly welcoming their "special" passengers" to the Ryder Cup and "thanking" them for travelling with them. Don't think Ive seen a similar effort for the loyal, regular and relient user. Corporate Ireland is away with the fairies....on Capital Hill.

22-09-2006, 16:18	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	The entire AX 06D fleet is out in Kildare thats at least 50 possibly more The 45 route has 1990's reg buses today, as does the 46A and the number 7 lost its new buses, didn't see any of the 3 axles either as I walked across town, serious downgrade in terms of low floor wheelchair accessibility Does expose Dublin Bus though nothing wrong with 15 year old buses I remember when the bus home was 20 years old still got me there At least IE didn't pull coaches from other services to milk the system The contract is actually with Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus where subcontracted part of the job as where IE, Bus Eireann drivers are driving some of the Dublin Bus buses apparently

23-09-2006, 21:13	#7
Mark Hennessy Membership Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maynooth Posts: 1,116	I've been on the 17:55 Maynooth - Harbour on Thursday and Friday. These trains typically have no PIS and no announcements but for some reason there were audible announcements at every station! No doubt this trend will continue for the regular pax this week.