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THE FIRST HIGH-FREQUENCY ‘spine’ as part of the €2 billion BusConnects plan for Dublin is set to begin this weekend.
The landmark BusConnects plan involves investments in fleet and infrastructure as well as a redesign of Dublin’s bus network.
The plan will see the current Dublin Bus routes throughout the capital abolished and replaced with spines and orbital routes.
The most frequent services will be along key spines that will run every five to ten minutes into and out of the city. The less frequent orbital routes stay outside the city centre and cross various spines.
Phase 1 of the plan’s implementation sees the H Spine beginning operation.
The H Spine links the city centre to the north-east of Dublin in places such as Howth, Malahide, Raheny and Donaghmede and is set to begin service from this Sunday 27 June.
There are three slightly different H Spines, H1, H2 and H3, that combined have a frequency of eight minutes, with H1 running every 15 minutes and the other two running every half an hour.
The new routes will stop less frequently than the current routes (29a, 32, 31, 31a and 31b) which will cease from this Sunday.
The remaining phases of the network will be rolled out over an incremental basis with the National Transport Authority saying that the C Spine towards Lucan set to be launched in the autumn.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan this morning launched the new H Spine out in Howth, describing it as “a milestone for the BusConnects project” and saying that it will “also make it easier to enjoy a day at the beach, a walk on the pier, or a bite to eat during the outdoor summer.”
He also defended the fact that the eight spines as part of the BusConnects project aren’t beginning together.
“I think a phased basis, going back to the approach we’re taking with Covid, I think a phased introduction of new bus services is going to work better. Just with resources, financial as well as management, and teasing out each route to see how it works.”
He added:
“This system, beginning with the H Spine, the spine routes and the orbital routes is going to be much easier to understand, much easier to follow.”
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“Spine” if only he had one himself
More easy access for the feral teenagers to go out & wreck the place!
@Full of Pirates: What do you suggest, that we reduce the public transport infrastructure??
@WiseUp: transport police or the guards to crack down on these thugs. Increasing public transport while taking guards off is not much benefit for the average person.
@Full of Pirates: What a strange view you hold. Meanwhile we’re 100 years behind every other EU country when it comes to public transport.
@WiseUp: That will totally be on the cards in a few years if there’s any truth in the claims of big companies wanting to continue their ‘work from home’ schemes that were introduced during the pandemic.
Do it slowly and in phases to avoid people copping on to the fact this is a terrible idea. Very cynical and sly
Nothing agreed with drivers to change of terms and conditions. Strike action Looming
@Gavin Courtney: what terms and conditions have changed ?
@David Hammond: it’ll be longer hours for starters guarenteed
@Gavin Courtney: where are you getting that from? Presumably drivers will just have to maintain their contracted hours.
As per usual though, I would imagine they will seek further pay increases and inconvenience the travelling pubic in the process. Much like when the train drivers sought increases for driving longer DART trains as they were ‘taking on more responsibility’…
@Gavin Courtney: wearing a Glasgow shirt Gavin would think you have little knowledge of Dublin Bus routes and its employees conditions, best to comment on your own city’s Bus service and leave this one to us Dubs.
@David Hammond: says someone who doesn’t use public transport.
@Peter Murphy: not sure why you think that. Pre-covid I took the train to work every day.
@Gavin Courtney: I know a few people looking for work, who probably wouldn’t mind, as long as they are paid overtime.
@Tosh Moher: considering I am irish and considering I am a driver, I know alot more than you do about the situation…..Best you keep your comments to what you know…hey
@Gavin Courtney: why not wear an Irish club jersey Gavin if you Irish instead of one from a foreign city?
@Tosh Moher: deflection tactics to take away from the fact you’ve jumped the gun…..Nice try
How the hell will bus connects make it easier to enjoy a day at the beach? HOW? Minister Ryan, you are a living in a fantasy world. On a hot sunny day, it can take the 31 bus an hour and a half to get to Howth as the road gets congested from Sutton back towards the city. How is changing the number of the bus going to change traffic conditions? Waffle, Minister Ryan. Waffle!
@Kárl: what’s your solution. Flying buses ?
@Shea Carroll: Bus drivers’ union wouldn’t be happy with that.
@Shea Carroll: I don’t have a solution. But changing the number on a bus route all not get it to its destination any quicker.
@Kárl:
High speed small ferries.
Looking forward to this
@Gavin Tobin: You’ll have to wait. And wait. And wait. But hopefully not if it ‘does what it says on the tin…’
It remains to be seen if the drivers will operate it as they voted against it the other day, a lot of disruption on the way id say
Imagine the howls of outrage from the northside if the first ‘spine’ had been on the southside!
@Nick Caffrey: So it’s Northside ingrates v Southside invertebrates then?
@Nick Caffrey: What a southsider thing to say. That’s exactly why you’re all the laughing stock of the entire country. ;)
@WiseUp: That’s what the rest of the country tells those in the Northside to keep them in the Northside and Southsiders appreciate the help. ;)
2 billion for this!! Build a subway ,muppets!!
€2billion!! 2 BILLION EURO
@Nordub: Only Capital city in Europe without an underground rail system
Who in the name of God will use this route, complete waste of money.
@Anne Busher Collins: Yeah, because nobody ever goes out to Howth and Malahide
have your say