Dublin Bus

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Dublin Bus (Irish: Bus Átha Cliath) is a public transport operator in the Republic of Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of nearly 200 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is owned by the Irish Government. Dublin Bus operates the vast majority of bus services in Dublin but in recent years an increasing number of other bus companies have received licences to operate in Dublin from the Department of Transport.

[edit] Background

A Dublin Bus double-decker crosses tram tracks, as a Luas tram waits, and the DART crosses a bridge in the background

Dublin Bus has 3,408 staff and 1,067 buses travelling nearly 60 million kilometres per annum (Source: "Dublin Bus Annual Report, 2004"). In 2004, Dublin Bus provided passengers with over 500,000 journeys per weekday, with the majority of these journeys occurring during rush hour.

Since the opening of the Luas tram system, Dublin Bus has lost approximately 30% of its passengers to the Tallaght (Red Line) and Sandyford (Green Line) Luas routes to the city centre, as the tram system is widely seen as a more effective option to buses.^{[citation needed]} The planned Dublin Metro may also cause losses for the company.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Fares

Dublin Bus follows an "exact fare - no change" policy on all buses for passengers who pay cash fares - to minimise the risk of staff being robbed, passengers must place the exact fare in coins (notes are not accepted as the counting machines in the garages cannot process them) in the fare box before the ticket is issued; in the case of overpayment a "change ticket" is issued which can only be exchanged for cash at the company's head office on O'Connell Street. There are several types of pre-paid tickets available, including:

• booklets of single day and multi-day tickets ("Ramblers")
• tickets corresponding to cash fares
• 90 Minute tickets which allow unlimited travel (or more precisely the right to board as many buses as required) for 90 minutes which can be bought from newsagents or Dublin Bus outlets and which must be validated in a machine by the door of the bus at the start of each journey.

Old age pensioners and certain other people are allow to travel free of charge (subject to certain restrictions at rush hour, which is under review), this is part of the national "Free Travel Pass"[1] system operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Minimum fares are payable on some services in order to discourage passengers wishing to travel short distances from using seats which could be used by those who wish to travel longer distances. A standard fare (currently €40) is payable by those who evade payment of the full fare for the journey.

[edit] Routes

The main radial routes are focused upon Dublin's 15 Quality Bus Corridors which provide buses with daytime access to the city centre, often bringing commuters into the city faster than they could travel in cars (excluding walking time to bus stops and time waiting for buses).

Express buses (branded "Xpresso") operate on similar routes, but have a limited number of stops and a higher minimum fare.

Dublin Bus operates a "Nitelink" service of approximately 24 routes overnight between Monday and Saturday, with the greatest service frequency being on Friday and Saturday nights - special (higher) fares apply on Nitelink buses.

No "Park and Ride" services are available.

[edit] Fleet

[edit] Double decker

[edit] Articulated buses

[edit] Single deckers

[edit] Minibuses

[edit] Wellington Quay Tragedy

On 21 February 2004 at Wellington Quay, Dublin, an accident occurred involving a collision between two of the company's buses, in which five people were killed and seventeen injured. One of the drivers has been charged with dangerous driving causing death of five people and his trial was due to commence in April 2006 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

[edit] Comfort

Most services are on double-decker buses. The conditions on Dublin Bus vehicles can be described as basic, however these conditions of comfort are comparable to city buses in many cities.

• Seats are configured together tightly, this can cause discomfort to taller passengers.
• Standing is not allowed upstairs or on the stairs but this rule is often not enforced and it is not uncommon to see passengers seated on the staircase.
• On many rush hour services, some passengers must stand downstairs.
• There is no air conditioning, however heating is provided during the winter.
• Smoking has been forbidden on all services since the 1980s. This rule is largely respected by passengers.
• Specified seats must be conceded to the elderly or disabled.
• Most buses can accommodate (only) one wheelchair passenger, or one pram.

[edit] Criticism

Dublin Bus sometimes comes under fire from the public for a number of perceived deficiencies in its service. These are, variously, unpunctuality, apathy or unpleasantness on the part of drivers, and diversions from normal bus-routes, often made without prior warning.

[edit] See also

• List of Irish companies

[edit] External links

• Official site - Dublin Bus
• Dublin Bus Drivers site

Córas Iompair Éireann
Bus Éireann - Irish Bus | Dublin Bus - Bus Átha Cliath | Iarnród Éireann - Irish Rail