[dropcap]Go-Ahead[/dropcap] Ireland began its operation of four Dublin Bus routes on Sunday October 7th.
The private company will now be in control of routes 45a, 59, 63 and 75, all of which run from Dun Laoghaire.
In August 2017, the company which is based in the UK won a tender competition to run 10 per cent of Dublin Bus routes. It is the second phase of their operation in running 23 of the existing Dublin Bus services.
Customers will need to use the TFI app to view real time passenger information as these routes are no longer available on the Dublin Bus app.
Early on Monday morning, Dublin Bus alerted passengers by posting in the ‘News’ section of their app announcing the routes change of operation to Go-Ahead Ireland.
Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said that passengers should expect to see “a very substantial increase in frequency and service levels on about 50 bus routes in Dublin” during the final months of the year.
According to the NTA, there will be minor route alterations as well as changes in regularity for all four routes.
The route 45A from Dun Laoghaire to Kilmacanogue will see an updated frequency of daytime service to every 20 minutes and evening and Sunday times will see updates to every 30 minutes. The same route will apply as before to the 45A routes that divert via Shanganagh Cliffs Estate will be numbered the 45B to avoid confusion.
Route 59 from Dun Laoghaire to Killiney will travel through the same route. Time of departure from Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey have been coordinated with the route 111 to offer evenly spaced departures.
Route 63 from Dun Laoghaire to Kilternan has maintained its frequency of every 30 minutes, with an enhanced service in evening times and on Sunday daytimes to every 30 minutes also.
The route 75 from Dun Laoghaire sees the most changes to its service of the four routes. Journeys travelling via Sandyford Business Park will continue, but service will be changed at peak times.
In Dundrum, the route has changed to serve Main Street, Taney Road and Sydenham Road. A coordination with route 175 between Tallaght and Dundrum will offer evenly spread departures daily.
Additional Sunday morning and evening journeys will be introduced. First and last travel times will remain similar.
According to the Go-Ahead Ireland website, the company will continue overtaking several Dublin Bus service routes that will amount to 23. This means that by the end of January 2019, it will operate the 10 per cent of bus networks it is contracted for.
The company began their second phase of their operation in September this year by introducing their first bus route, the 175. This route currently operates from CityWest to UCD and provides a good, reliable service to the public.
It is of benefit to students in UCD, some of which often had to get two or more buses in order to get to their college.
As a second-year student in UCD, Matthew Carty said that the new routes have “removed the stress of two buses for a majority of students” in his local area.
He says that the service by Go-Ahead so far seems to be “quite punctual and is generally at the stop when it’s due”.
However, one drawback he noticed is that to find real time information for the buses, you have to go through the journey planner in the app, which is “sometimes awkward and takes longer to use.”
Go-Ahead Ireland will continue overtaking a number of bus routes until January 20th, 2019, however dates are subject to change by the NTA.
Rachel Power
Image Credit: Alison Clair