Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
BUS CONNECTS PLANNERS have insisted that the “integrity” of the scheme remains in tact after changes to the plan mean more routes will now be going into Dublin city.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) announced some redesigns to the plan today after an unprecedented response to a public consultation campaign that saw almost 50,000 people contribute.
The Bus Connects system is built around the concept of prioritising key ‘spines’ that run towards the city and a system of orbital routes that connect them.
There had been seven spines under the plans announced last year but the NTA said today that an eighth has now been added.
The new ‘H’ spine will run from the city centre along the Howth Road towards Howth and Malahide.
At a briefing today, the NTA revealed results of the public consultation programme which saw people give their views through letters, emails and an online survey.
The biggest single complaint from people (44%) related to the loss of existing services with over a quarter of people (26%) expressing concern that they will be required to make an interchange to complete their journey.
Almost a third of people were worried about the Bus Connects plan not providing them with sufficient access to schools, colleges and hospitals.
The NTA said it is confident it has addressed the concerns of “all but a small minority” of those who responded. Specifically, it said that 95% of areas where an interchange is not currently required will not need one once the plan is introduced.
The NTA has also said the redesign means “more direct routes to the city centre”.
Speaking at today’s briefing, NTA chief executive Anne Graham said this would not compromise the Bus Connects concept.
“What we have kept is the integrity of the scheme that we put forward last year. And the majority it remains in place,” she said.
So, you know, what we have kept is the integrity of the scheme that we put forward last year. And the majority of it remains in place. What we’ve done is actually added in additional services in terms of direct services and connected back some links that were broken in the previous proposals. So it’s about additional, rather than completely changing what was proposed. So we still think the integrity of the proposed last year is still there.
“What we’re doing is addressing local issues, and particularly issues about access to the city centre,” Graham added.
Hugh Creegan, deputy CEO of the NTA, added that traffic concerns have been taken into consideration during the redesign.
We’ve been very conscious of city center when we’re redesigning this network and what we’ve done is redistributed the routes in the city center so they’re more distributed for us. Say the section in city center all the way from Winetavern Street down as far as Matt Talbot Bridge, so there’s a greater distribution of the services and therefore the loads at any particular point in network has become reduced.
Maps
The NTA also today launched a online route mapper tool for people to identify what bus routes they would take once the Bus Connects plan becomes operational.
The tool allows people to search using bus-only services or a bus in connection with rail services.
The Bus Connects plan envisages a 90-minute fare that will allow customers pay a single fare across any combination of bus, Dart and Luas services for a journey.
The NTA said it is “aiming to introduce the 90-minute fare structure at between €2.25 and €2.60″.
“The fare determination for public transport is undertaken every year and fares are only confirmed at that point. In recent years, the NTA has sought to simplify fare structures in Dublin to ease the transition to the new envisaged fare structure,” an NTA spokesperson said.
The NTA also said today that it had taken concerns on board in relating to access to hospitals with Creegan mentioning two such changes.
“We’ve gone around each of the hospitals and key locations and saw what adjustments we could make. So in the case of Beaumont Hospital for instance where there was issues about the amount of access. One of the branches of the A spine now runs in to the hospital, the N8 also runs into the hospital as well as a third route into the hospital as well,” he said.
“When we go down to Vincent’s Hospital on the south side, there were questions about how could you get from Sandymount to Vincent’s Hospital which are addressed with a change one of the routes there.”
A dedicated transport police, more prisons and harsher sentences would go a long way in keeping our bus and rail staff safe from the absolute sc um that spoil travel for everyone.
@Tony Doran: when I was a bus driver, by far the most common offenders for antisocial behaviour carried social welfare ‘free travel’ cards. Anyone with these who cause trouble should have them withdrawn permanently.
@The busman 31: There’s no such thing as “social welfare free travel cards”. FT is for disability allowance and pensioners only.
@Vincent Wallace: I think he means disabilities caused by addiction
@Tony Doran: Nah it wouldn’t and no one wants to pay that much to watch the same behaviour continue.
@Tony Doran: would be great in an ideal world but we already don’t have enough Gardai as it is so can’t see how we could create a new police force aswell
@jak: And that’s just to deal with those muppets talking loudly and incessantly on their phones, lol.
@The busman 31:
I thought it was only pensioners & disabled got free pass.
I am shocked to hear these thugs get it as well
@The busman 31: I use a fT card as a person with disabilities. I have hidden disabilities and git hassled a lot by bus drivers with chips on the shoulder about me having a card as I was not visibly disabled.
I have had more than one apology from Dublin Bus and garage managers.
The NBRU became the first union in the world ti have disability inclusion in its core beliefs, which has helped a lot
@DisgruntledOldMan: Simple, give those security people police powers similar the Airport Police.
@Tony Doran: after they commit a crime on the bus they’ll be back on it soon as they get a suspended sentence,countries a joke.
@Tony Doran: more prisons and harsher sentences has not worked in the US or anywhere else it is implemented. I don’t have the solution, I am just pointing out your conclusion has shown not to work and it’s indisputable really in the evidence of it not working. Societal pressures and education would be more effective but again won’t work by itself.
Good news yet sad news. Sad that society has dropped to this level. Sad that you can’t feel safe on a bus journey
Would love to know how much we’re paying this private company over the trail period? This information not important enough for the article (of course).
@Andrew Kenny: well your so called government done nothing about it
@Thesaltyurchin: Nothing Dublin Bus is paying for it.
@Andrew Kenny: It hasn’t all of a sudden got to a level, it’s just something is done about it. Also it’s on a relatively small minority of routes.
@Gary Kearney: I see, from what I can gather it’s state ‘answerable’ with some novelty positions assigned by the Transport Minister, but is now owned by a Australian pensions fund? (the bought from a UK company)… fair enough, a good measure of how much we hate paying for anything perhaps!… Why would they invest in infrastructure (Aussies) probs getting the money they need, harvesting our sorrow.
@Gary Kearney: Dublin bus is state owned and get PSO subvention
In Ireland, the people who are helped the most by the state and by our taxes, people on welfare, people with free houses, etc, are the ones who actually cause trouble, in a very twisted way of mind.
In Finland or Denmark, for example, these people cause no trouble and they are humble and grateful for the help by the society.
In our little country it’s the other way around, the more free help you get the more sc um you are.
@Chris: so well put…and around the country its getting bad as the free travel has hoardes of this kind going to visit their cousins council houses in other counties.
@Chris: If they made antisocial behaviour a part of the conditions for the welfare system we’d be in a better place, but we’ve not built anything in the Transport space for decades, even through the Celtic Tiger years, we we’re more concerned with shiny toys than roads or trains.
@Chris: Funny but I am one of those people who gets help from the state and I do appreciate it. I worked all my life until I no longer could.
I live under the poverty line and it can be very difficult at times but it could be worse.
To hear such generalisation from you is sadly the norm.
Wrong of course but it suits the narrative you believe.
@Dec Hardy: Hoards of people traveling to see their families.
Oh the terror of it all.
I know people with free travel who use it as the trains are warmer than being at home, same as the library.
@Chris: some of these people have to sleep on bus to stay warm
@Gary Kearney: My father told me that back in the day, during winter, you couldn’t get into Pearse St Library because of all the people in there for warmth!
Useless the Gardaí are the only ones that should be patrolling buses not private security. Powerless guys in high viz vests about as useful as an ashtray on a bike.
@Adrian Aungier: So you want to pay gardai to stand on buses all day? Any type of security guard is a deterrent, and between a lad just graduated from templemore versus some of those eastern European lads that work security on the Dart, I know which one the scrotes would be more afraid of!
@Adrian Aungier: I for one would would feel safer with security on public transport. Not enough Gardai on out streets where they’re most needed.
@Adrian Aungier: Seems to work on the LUAS.
@Jason Memail: @Vincent Wallace:be afraid of the ones that can actually do something. the security guards have zero power and the scrotes know this.
@Jason Memail: That is literally what most people want, until they see the bill and then it’s back to ‘money for the boys’ argument. We’re intolerable really.
@Niall English: well actually can make citizens arrest and get gaurds to remove them.
Hopefully they go in hard with their batons, especially on the e scooter brigades trying to bring the dangerous machines on the buses.
@J B: they get truncheons, private security so watch out and behave. They will knock your arse sideways.
@Buster Lawless: They are banned from Public Transport from today I thinK!
@Gary Kearney: about time as the explosion would kill the whole bus
@J B: ah yes I have seen these,.Luas security with the razor blades embedded at the sides. Nasty weapons.
@J B: You mean something like the old fashioned two D-cell maglite!
@Pat Barry: that’s the one. A vicious and destructive weapon if desired.
Ticket inspectors.
@Eric Gaffney: Actually their job is to “de-escalate situations” according to the article. So it’ll be “now lads, now lads” sort of thing.
Does two units,mean that only two buses will have security guards? If it does mean that , it’s typical of who is in charge!! Give them something to keep them quiet..
Fond memories of the smell of hash wafting from the back on the 13 bus.
@honey badger: not really acceptable on public transport is it? No doubt you progressed to booting heroin on the bus also.
@honey badger: Fond memories? Other passengers being made to passively smoke drugs. Good times eh?
@Anthony Curran: this is why security is needed, because scrotes like that smoking this poison on the buses in front of kids. Disgraceful
@Buster Lawless: Smoking was allowed on the buses back then and the cannabis that was used is closer to medicinal cannabis than the stuff they use now.
Medicinal cannabis like stem cells have proven to be game changers in pain management.
@Gary Kearney: no its the mindless thugs smoking that schizophrenic inducing poison
The scheme will be based on the UNIFIL model in Lebanon – any transgressors will be requested to desist, and if they refuse, they will receive a stern reprimand in the post.
@Peter Connaughton: IDF using our UN peacekeepers as human shields.
So expect an increase in bus fares and still anti-social behaviour like it was before… fantastic.
@Rafa C: Bus fare prices went down!
@Gary Kearney: What’s that got to do with them going back up again?
Nonsensical & farcical. The equivalent of putting a band aid over a bullet wound. Cannot remember the last time I was on a bus that was checked for fare evasion. During the pandemic they were happy to do it with gardai present, since then, nothing. Will these cars be responding to calls from drivers & passengers?
Will they be present on routes that have low rates of anti social behaviour for photo ops or Will they venture out on routes into areas where the feral youth & usual suspects do whatever they want? I certainly hope so. Ireland needs dedicated transport police. Garda traffic corps doesn’t seem too interested in doing their job.
People whinged about anti-social behaviour on buses whilst crying that something should be done. Now action has been taken and they are still whining. The Journal comments section never fails. Baaaaa. Baaaaa. Baaaaa.
@Sun Rise: The irony of this comment……given you are whining and crying all the time about people whining and crying
Complete an utter waste of time.
All the scrotes know these a powerless lads in a hi viz that can not put a finger on them. No powers to even detain somebody. Security in this country need to be given more powers if its ever going to work.
@T – TED Teddy: I think the batons will make them think twice about getting up to any high jinx.
@T – TED Teddy: Who says they have to detain anybody? Look at how much less codology there is on the Luas when the security lads are hanging around.
Spare the rod and spoil the child! Hopefully it’ll all work! Speaking of which, if every person between 14 and 60 had to go do some work for 8 hours a day the crime rate would be halved in a day!!. ” devil makes work for idle hands ” as they say..time to stop people with 300 previous convictions getting to 301! The justice system needs to wake up!! 300 crimes is 300 victims or more!. Ban them from the buses on the first instance and jail them for 6 months on the second offence, you and I know they will be back to commit it!! Its in their nature!! Wait till the claims start pouring in for hurting their feelings by escorting them off the bus..! I was late your honour cos I was thrown off da buses!
@leon nirwri: to hard for leftist and red judges. Those poor lads have childhood issues.
Working Sunday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday. So will there be a free for all on Mondays?
@Ciaran De Bhal: Sunday to Thursdays tend to include Mondays.
@Ciaran De Bhal: Hahaha Ciaran, you made me laugh. The funny thing is people upvoting your shitte, meaning they are also lacking few braincells.
@jak: he didn’t make an error lol.
About time. What about the Luas? Roaming ?
@Nuala Ryan: the luas already have dedicated security teams. Not enough but they already have it.
@Alex: luas security walk the other way when they see antisocial behaviour
@Nuala Ryan: it’s not on every transport what’s the point in having it because it’s cost two much money to run as usual only happens in Ireland it’s a joke this country is finished
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: That’s why we need dedicated transport police like any developed country in Europe.
But Dublin is safe, Helen
@N D K: dream on
This is what we had ‘bus conductors’ for, and they said we were mad.
Really ……at Dublin.??????
Mexico City, Colombia 100 times bigger and still safe .
@sakk sa: Mexico murder rate per capita: 13.5, Columbia: 24.4, Dublin: 1.
@Paul C: must be humidity related s
@sakk sa: brainless, aren’t you ? I am sure you never went to either of those cities.
@Paul C: Don’t forget it is reported murder which is probably way higher for Mexico. Also crime rates are 20 to 50 times higher. He is smoking something good. Maybe next he will tell us that Johannesburg is even safer?
@Alex: HAaaaahahahahahahhaha
eu sou brasileiro
Does this mean when we get off the bus we have to thank the driver and the security staff too?
Keep forking out cash to those who refuse to work. Apart from the huge chip on their shoulder, they are the entitled brigade. If I can’t have it you won’t either. That’s why bike thefts are so rampant. Stop the benefits.
Need transport police not security saved money again
Ryan is afraid of making a call on this issue. It looks bad on them for the next election as they want the reputation as the party that cares.
Which is not what they are at all.
We used to have conductors taking care of things onboard the buses until some genius decided that it would be cheaper to let the driver do all the work. It’s a shame it didn’t work but at least now they’re realizing that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to get rid of them.
Hopefully they’re less prejudice towards minorities than those w ⚓️ brinks staff that work the trains
There are always rail securities hanging around at those electric gates at Connolly station and big crowd of ticket inspectors. Never seen them giving a fine to anyone nor telling to behave. If a big crowd going without tickets – they just rushing to open gates for them as perfect servants but definitely not securities and inspectors. Really shameful to watch. Those electric gates should be removed not to humiliate so called securities and ticket inspectors – instead of giving fines they assist those who doesn’t pay or behave like animals.
It sure sounds like a good idea but there’s one huge obstacle which will undo the work of the security staff, police etc: (drum roll) I give you… martin nolan. Nuff said.
How sad that it has come to this! Not the Ireland I grew up in, in the 60s and 70s.
Hopefully they’re less prejudice towards minorities than those w⚓️ brinks staff that work the trains
Who is “cobalt”. I’m pretty sure myself who is the useful idiot of Putin is but unfortunately the libel laws stop me from writing my guess. Perhaps someone under Dail privilege could out them.
Dublin starting to resemble Caracas …
Good
have your say