Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Transdev planning to bid for bus routes set to be tendered this year

The French-based company currently operates the Luas service.

LUAS OPERATOR TRANSDEV is planning to bid for Irish bus routes that are set to be tendered.

Plans have been in the works since 2012 for the tendering of services, with the National Transport Authority beginning the tendering process last year for the services.

This will mean that around 10% of services operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, and will run until 2019.

Transdev

Transdev confirmed that it will be taking part in the tendering process, but could not confirm which routes it has bids on.

In Ireland the company is best known for operating the Luas service.

So far this year the service has been hit with 11 strike days taken, and more industrial action is planned for this month and next month.

Internationally the France-based company is involved in a number of different services.

12/4/2016 Luas Strike Issues Escalates Transdev currently operate the Luas service RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

The company currently employs around 83,000 people in 19 countries with services that include trams, buses, light rail and metro services.

Last year the company won 15 bids to operate new services internationally, including in Germany, Sweden and New Zealand.

What routes will be tendered?

Three tenders have been put out by the National Transport Authority: one for Dublin Bus services, one for Bus Éireann commuter routes between Kildare and Dublin, and one for Bus Éireann services in Waterford.

Routes currently operated by Dublin Bus that are set to be tendered include 17 (Rialto – Blackrock), 18 (Palmerstown (Old Lucan Road) – Sandymount), and the 45a (Dún Laoghaire (DART Station) – Ballywaltrim).

Companies interested in taking on the routes have completed a pre-qualification questionnaires, and over the next two months shortlisted candidates will have to give a more detailed account of how they plan to meet the tender.

The new operators are expected to be in place by the end of the year.

There have been concerns from unions that the the process could lead to drivers having to work for private bus companies, something that led to drivers planning and then calling off a strike last May following extensive talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

Read: Privatisation of bus routes stalled to allow for further talks with unions

Also: Unions to discuss proposed bus privatisation with Oireachtas committee

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
49 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Do the Bort man
    Favourite Do the Bort man
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:58 AM

    Interesting. With the exception of the strikes, the Luas has been very reliable and usually runs to schedule, compared to Irish rail and Dublin Bus. Its going to be harder to keep buses to a tight schedule due traffic, and people clogging up bus lanes.

    201
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Smith
    Favourite Joe Smith
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:19 PM

    The proposed routes for outsourcing are not prone to delays as they are orbital rows

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:52 PM

    They are prone to delays as they operate through some very congested roads.

    44
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Smith
    Favourite Joe Smith
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 2:05 PM

    Not compared to city centre, most of them routes make their time + the “new operator” will be controlled from Dublin bus control centre ………….

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kárl
    Favourite Kárl
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 2:08 PM

    There is no agreement in place for Dublin Bus to control routes operated by a competitor. I don’t know where you got that fact.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute AlanH -AFC
    Favourite AlanH -AFC
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:34 PM

    You would hardly expect a competitor to control a service for you. DB will not be controlling any route not operated by them.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drogheda Rises.
    Favourite Drogheda Rises.
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:49 PM

    Examining what happened after Britain privatised the rail this isnt a good idea, just leads to huge ticket increases and lesser used/night services being scrapped. Organisng the Luas and Dublin Bus and Dart into a Transport for London style system would be more benificial where any profits are put back into infrastructure and there arent any private interests or shareholders anywhere, just quality public transport where busy routes subsidise free transport for school children or the elderly. That system works well in London where the tube drivers even end up being paid more than our train drivers. Privatisation and Transdev and the decentralisation and fragmentation of our Public transport is a bad thing for commuters pockets and for the night time economy.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Kevin
    Favourite Tom Kevin
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 5:13 PM

    Luas runs to Schedule due to the fact its on a track nothing in its way no real mechanical parts and has traffic light priority. Of course it would run on schedule.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Carroll
    Favourite Ryan Carroll
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:56 AM

    It’s not really privatisation any more than the Luas is, it’s a similar model to Luas. Privatisation would be selling off the network and buses British Rail style. This is competing to MANAGE the routes not own them, and surely the drivers will be protected by the TUPE law. It seems to work well in London , rail competition or privatisation would never work here but this might. CIE is a bloated inefficient monster.

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Malvolio32
    Favourite Malvolio32
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:06 PM

    I doubt the drivers are transferring. Are these new routes? If not surely DB drivers would be redeployed somewhere else. You’re right it’s not privatisation so much as outsourcing, or even a concession. A lot of people get mixed up with it though, think everything is privatisation.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Hughes
    Favourite Brendan Hughes
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:23 PM

    Yeah well privatisation sounds better on the news for the ‘everything for free brigade’ than outsourcing or concession routes and gets bums off seats while they get siptu to parade up and down about it.

    27
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Mccomiskey
    Favourite Mick Mccomiskey
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:52 PM

    It does work well . But the drivers will lose thousands. I know because I use to work for them.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Purcell
    Favourite Tom Purcell
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:21 PM

    Given the way we do things here – the workers will likely transfer – with ALL their old entitlements and work practices/habilts which will no doubt cripple any new offering in the same way the LUAS is being attacked now.

    Any new bus operator managing a route would be well advised to hire only people with no prior CIE group experience.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Spider-Man
    Favourite Irish Spider-Man
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 4:16 PM

    Ryan just a few facts for you…
    “It seems to work well in London”?? That’s because of a subvention level of £675 million per year. That budget is being cut this year so let’s see how well it works.

    There is 83 different pay rates among London bus drivers. Most at the lower end of the scale.

    Workers are forced to move every time a contract moves ( 5 years), meaning huge disturbance and more frozen pension entitlement.

    TUPE offers no protection: if the transport network is broken up the multinational vultures will descend and the taxpayers will be paying multiples of the current subvention for a worse service.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:56 AM

    Wonderful now we know a big part of the strike!

    In even better news they have cancelled sixk leave pay for drivers whcih has increased from 4.5% to over 10% since start of 2016.

    Own goal by SIPTU as they cannot so anything as the agreement allows them scrap it once aboce 5.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Awkward Seal
    Favourite Awkward Seal
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:41 PM

    It does certainly seem SIPTU had the bigger picture in mind and used the all-too-willing luas drivers as pawns. I guess if they embarrassed transdev then SIPTU could say they’re not fit to run the buses and they could keep their gravy train flowing. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Game of Trones and am giving them too much credit.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 2:22 PM

    SIPTU certainly got this one badly wrong and I reckon Transdev are trying to capitalise on the good will this dispute has given them

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marc Power
    Favourite Marc Power
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:09 PM

    Not sure how this will pan out but the transit system in Dublin at present is awful for a European capital. Perhaps brining in an experienced expert from another jurisdiction might help Dublin move forward from the impasse of Luas strikes, lack of airport railway. .lack of night busses and from the undignified scrum called the last bus at 11.30 each night?

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Josephine Sweeney
    Favourite Josephine Sweeney
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:45 PM

    Buses full of scabs in case of future issues

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drogheda Rises.
    Favourite Drogheda Rises.
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:51 PM

    Transdev dont have experience with any of those things? Dublin transport should be ran by a centralised authority and hire experts from London.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tommy macdonagh
    Favourite tommy macdonagh
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:24 PM

    excellent news, transdev everyone favorite transport company

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ray.farrelly
    Favourite ray.farrelly
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:11 PM

    No Tommy. Every blueshirt’s favorite transport company.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:08 PM

    Seen a piece on the Irish times website this morning about this and have been waiting for it to hit here.

    Transdev certainly know how to make life interesting for themselves

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ironballs mcginty
    Favourite ironballs mcginty
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:29 PM

    If transdev win the bid to run these, i hope they recruit a better class of employee. Have a look at the picture on rte website with siptu rep, its hilarious. They really dont hire them for their looks. If you can look unintelligent, well this is a picture of it.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:47 PM

    You want them to hire on the basis of looks? Oookay.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ironballs mcginty
    Favourite ironballs mcginty
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 5:43 PM

    Eehhh No. They dont look to bright at all and im guessing thats why they are driving their greedy agenda. A brighter employee may be more appreciative of their terms and conditions

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Random_paddy
    Favourite Random_paddy
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:50 AM

    I thought their service was already derailed

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nathan Wheeler
    Favourite Nathan Wheeler
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:55 AM

    No they just need more on the job train-ing!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:00 PM

    Can’t wait til we’re paying a fiver to bus it into town.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Kelly
    Favourite Peter Kelly
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:59 PM

    If they give me the same wages as the luas drivers, I’m applying, happy days. I’ve over 30yrs experience.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tadhg Delaney
    Favourite Tadhg Delaney
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:01 PM

    The treatment off unions by the corporate bossed causing the chaos off luas our voted represented political people allow the rest off our transport infrastructure to foreign corporate thieves whose existence is profit based not service based any right thinking person will e mail local political rep’s for these people never be allowed hold our services held to ransom for the greed off these outside entity now is time for the famous irish fighting spirit that brought about the end off the British empire wake up Ireland please

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:16 PM

    Grow up Tadgh

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clifford Brennan
    Favourite Clifford Brennan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:26 PM

    “the fighting spirit that brought about the end of the British Empire ” They honoured this by striking throughout the 1916 commemorations. Sound lads.

    34
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:29 PM

    Tadhg

    Any chance you could rewrite your post to make it somewhat intelligible. I have no idea what the first half of your post is trying to say

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seaghán Ó Gallchóir
    Favourite Seaghán Ó Gallchóir
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 5:25 PM

    Yeah, I’m sure Connolly and the ICA would’ve been appalled that the tram drivers would dare to go on strike…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 5:19 PM

    Veolia/Transderv have a reputation of causing chaos in industrial relations all over the world. The trample all over workers rights, pay and conditions.
    They already have a grip on our water, and a foot in the public transport door with the Luas. Now they want to muscle in on bus transport.
    Is everything to be privatised in the country? Water, Health,Education, Social Welfare, Public Transport.
    It sure looks like we are really being made TTIP friendly.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 1:30 PM

    Great news if they win the deal. Onwards and upwards we go

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Veronica
    Favourite Veronica
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:56 AM

    So Dublin can expect a lot of strikes if Transdev do buy the routes seemingly as the las is on strike every day now it seems with no end in sight to this dispute….

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Carroll
    Favourite Ryan Carroll
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:58 AM

    Cos CIE never strikes over new trains? Or 10 minute DARTs (God forbid!!)or “pay differential ” or “pay equity” or “its Tuesday”??

    126
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Varley
    Favourite Darren Varley
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 12:15 PM

    Damn those Tuesday’s to hell

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Matt Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:26 PM

    Privatise the Cops while you’re at it. The OCP Corporation really turned around the Detroit PD.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Spider-Man
    Favourite Irish Spider-Man
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 9:13 PM

    Agree Matt. Private cops is the way forward. No more brutality at water protests

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Brady
    Favourite Seamus Brady
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 2:03 PM

    Typical they can’t run the luas so they’ll probably have first choice on the bus routes. They should be thrown out of the country and let the transport authority take over and run the trains darts luas and the bus services. Get these leeches out of the country

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drogheda Rises.
    Favourite Drogheda Rises.
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:39 PM

    Surely a London type system would be much better? ‘Transport for Dublin’ where all profits go straight back into the infrastructure and makes the ticket price cheaper? Privatisation leads to much higher prices (Britain’s train system an example).

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TTIP McGowan
    Favourite TTIP McGowan
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 3:54 PM

    Perfect opportunity for them to do this. The media have helped Transdev to look like the corporate kid with a lollipop.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 5:20 PM

    TTIP McGowan, it looks like the purpose of the strike is coming out now.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Cahill
    Favourite Rob Cahill
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 2:58 PM

    All the bus drivers will be lining up to get on those routes now they know what the luas operators get. Imagine the pay where a bit of effort is required ??

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Don
    Favourite Don
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:41 PM

    Hmmm….so is this the real reason why SIPTU has backed the Luas drivers to turn down the WRC agreement. Risking their members jobs and livelihoods in a strategic power game over the privatisation of new bus services.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Flynn
    Favourite Mark Flynn
    Report
    May 18th 2016, 12:46 PM

    Looks like Dublin bus going to get the tender for the 10% so there’ll be no problem Transdev or any other private company won’t be getting any of these routes. None of the privates will operate at night when there not making money.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds