SAVE THE 48A
PUBLIC MEETING
Wednesday 9 February
at 8 pm
Dom Marmion Centre
Beside Dundrum Gym
Speakers include
Dublin Bus workers
local campaigners
DUBLIN BUS has just announced its plans to end the 48A bus service from Ballinteer to the city centre. The existence of the LUAS and claims of falling numbers using the bus service are cited as the reason.
This is outrageous. When the Luas was constructed it was presented to us as an addition to the existing public transport service not a replacement. The removal of the 48A service makes no sense.
1. The Luas does not serve Ballinteer. For many it is more than a twenty minute walk to the nearest station. Even if feeder buses are provided, many people would rather take one direct mode of transport into town. The Luas also only brings passengers as far as Stephens Green.
2.Whatever extension to the 14/14A service is envisaged (to compensate for the loss of the 48A) it will mean a longer journey into town, through traffic blackspots and will inevitably leave some areas that are currently well served by buses without an adequate service. It also leaves the Ballinteer area without a bus service to town through Milltown and Ranelagh.
Walking a distance to a bus stop may not seem a problem to Dublin Bus executives or government ministers but to anyone who is old or infirm or who has small children, it can spell huge hardship.
3.The Luas fare is significantly more expensive than the comparable bus fare. The Luas is also run by a private company. We are all compliant tax payers who have a right to public services yet this will be stolen from under our noses. Is this just another form of a sneaking, creeping privatisation? Is this an attempt to increase LUAS passenger figures to boost profits further for Connex, the company that runs it?
4. The Dundrum Shopping Centre opens in March. It is expected that people from all over Dublin will flock to it. Won't more buses, not less, be needed to facilitate shoppers? Isn't it strange that Dublin Bus is not even going to wait and see what impact this will have before they cut a service. The level of house and apartment building is also unprecedented in the area. Thousands more people will need access to public transport. Cuts in services make absolutely no sense
We need to organise to stop this attack on our bus service. This area has few enough facilities as it stands. People in the area are already fighting to have our public swimming pool reopened. We need to make a stand on this issue too. Come to the public meeting in the Dom Marmion Centre beside Dundrum Gym on Wednesday 9 February at 8pm and make it clear to Dublin Dus and local politicians that we will not stand idly by and allow this to happen.
If you want to help leaflet or campaign on this issue contact Deirdre Cronin 087 6650442
[posted by: Eugene]
BUSRAGE Discussions » Activism
Save the 48A meeting, February 9th
(24 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Vive la résistance!
[posted by: Howley]Posted 3 years ago # -
I'll see you at the meeting!Posted 3 years ago #
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You have my best wishes, even though the 14A goes past my door, because I know that any benefit for me will be temporary and we will all lose out in the long term.Posted 3 years ago #
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48A for Life!!!
It is a Ballinteer Institution.
See you all at the meeting....Posted 3 years ago # -
It can't be taken away from Ballinteer.. there are some of us who still use it ! Are we all meant to walk to the Jerry Lee ?Posted 3 years ago #
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two words for Dublin Bus: MARKET RESEARCH
[posted by: Seb]Posted 3 years ago # -
Seb,
Totally right... If they only did their market research, they would know that the 48A is still needed...
[posted by: Muc]Posted 3 years ago # -
word on the grape vine has it there going to keep the 48a after all!!!
[posted by: word]Posted 3 years ago # -
I heard that too... Is the meeting still going ahead...
[posted by: muc]Posted 3 years ago # -
does anyboby know what happened at the meeting last night re save the 48a. i couldnt make it .sorry!!!Posted 3 years ago #
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ye i couldn't make it either how did it go. good news i hope
[posted by: appoligies]Posted 3 years ago # -
if anybody was at the meeting can you let me know what happened..if the 48a goes ive had it!!!!!Posted 3 years ago #
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Hi was at the meeting but had to leave towards the end. Was very packed, probably 250 or more people came.
The speakers were a busworker from Donnybrook who lived locally in Ballinteer and an activist fighting the closure of the local pool in the DFRC.
The driver was a member of the NRBU and spoke in a personal capacity about the issues with the closure and the mad logic behind it (private sector interests being helped).
He made a great point that if the LUAS doesn’t break even in the first year of operation, the state will cover the shortfall. This is significant when contrasted against the level of government support for Dublin Bus. You would think the city transport company would be supported before any private operated system. He also mentioned the fact that the government is withholding on their promise for the 180 extra buses Dublin Bus need to expand services across the city (as part of the NDP)
The DFRC pool guy made a short speech discussing the cut backs in public services in the Ballinteer area (the closure of the local pool had made many people angry in the area) and linked in to the planned attack on the 48A.
Then the fun began when the political representatives got to speak from the floor. No sight of Seamus Brennan or any of the TD’s (the Green TD only arrived at the end of the meeting as I was leaving- probably stuck in the Dail for a late sitting). Two Labour councillors were there and spoke.
The most heat was generated by a rep for Tom Kitt TD when he tried to explain that Tom had been working on the issue since he had heard about it. He accused the chair (who was a member of the Socialist Workers Party) and had stated that at the very start of the meeting) of being too political with the issue. Many members of the audience spoke about their thoughts on the issue so there was a good discussion on the issue.
The meeting resolved to start collecting petitions locally on the issue and many left their details to be kept in contact with the campaign.
Probably left a fair bit out but it had been a lively meeting on the issue. I think Dublin Bus will reconsider soon.
[posted by: Eugene]Posted 3 years ago # -
But Luas will break even, it will make quite a profit. It is because it is so successful that people are not using the bus. Now, if the Luas was failing and the government were removing the 48A and giving funding to RPA then I would see a problem.
What has the closure of a swimming pool got to do with the 48A?
Why were you expecting Seamus Brennan there?
What has 180 extra buses got to do with the curtailing of the 48A?
From your post it sounds like a lot of Dublin Bus bashing went on...
[posted by: P]Posted 3 years ago # -
But Luas will break even, it will make quite a profit
That is a canard. All expenditure on infrastructure, alignment, stations and rolling stock is not included in that forecast; only revenue generated since start-up of service.
It is because it is so successful that people are not using the bus
Another canard. DB have been cutting due to pressure from Leinster House. Does it make sense to keep cutting after showing a surplus two years in a row??
DART has been just as "successful" as Luas, so much so that IE have had to build onto the platforms to accommodate eight-car trains—but have they cancelled parallel bus service? No. Is the 45 being curtailed because it runs parallel to the DART in Bray, Shankill, Blackrock, Mount Merrion and Ballsbridge? No. How about the 7, which runs parallel to the DART from Ballsbridge to Dun Laoghaire? No again.
Sorry, but the activists are 100 percent right. The more you let the pols in Kildare Street walk all over you, the less bus service you'll end up with.Posted 3 years ago # -
"Another canard. DB have been cutting due to pressure from Leinster House. Does it make sense to keep cutting after showing a surplus two years in a row??"
Is this really the case? I thought the statement from Dublin Bus was that the passenger levels did drop on the part of the route which ran parallel with Luas.
The 45 serves parts of Dublin not served by Dart and similar with the 7 past Dun Laoghaire and yes, they did cut back on services... remember the 8???
I'm all for saving the 48A but to suggest that after spending 700 million on Luas that the Government should not support any shortages in it's first year of Luas' operation seems a bit silly. The Luas is packed to capicity so it would indicate to me that it is going to bring in as much revenue as it can, so any short fall in profits is certainly not down to passenger demand and therefore the government should support it if need be.
Could you imagine the uproar if the Government were to walk away from supporting Luas now after spending so much?
[posted by: P]Posted 3 years ago # -
I thought the statement from Dublin Bus was that the passenger levels did drop on the part of the route which ran parallel with Luas
That's a lie. There is no access to Luas on the 48A route between Dundrum and Ranelagh, so how can the Luas take any passengers away? Further, such a statement makes the assumption that all passengers on the 48A leaving from Dundrum are bound for the city centre; and the 48A still has a distinct edge over the Luas, what with going all the way into town instead of dead-ending at St. Stephen's Green.
yes, they did cut back on services... remember the 8?
Remember also that they had to re-route the 59 to make up for the loss of the 8, and that there is still a rather strong contingent (that the government is resisting) calling for the reinstatement of the 8. The pols in Leinster House are acting like demagogues; their attitude towards rail transport alone is proof of that.
The Luas is packed to capicity
What is that indicative of? More like the Luas was built with a distinct lack of capacity. Luas' edge is, of course, having its own alignment and avoiding the traffic; but off-peak travel must not be permitted to suffer due to the shortcomings of the roads, which is unsupported by the government due to the lack of enforcement on QBCs.
Could you imagine the uproar if the Government were to walk away from supporting Luas now after spending so much?
It's not a case of the government having to choose between Luas and DB.Posted 3 years ago # -
To suggest DB are lying by saying numbers have dropped is a strong accustaion, do you have any facts or evidence to back this up?
While they did re-route the 59, they would be doing exactly the same with re-routing the 14A in Ballinteer.
The Luas is packed to capicity, if you travel on it you will know this only too well. Whether thats a fault of bad design or popularity is irrelevant to the fact that the trams are achieving maximum revenue possibile so the likelihood of the Government bailing it out sems small.
With regard to DB vs Luas, that was not the question. My point was the Government has made a committment with Luas and should support it fully on it's first year of operation.
In the meantime lets hope the 48A stays as it is.
[posted by: P]Posted 3 years ago # -
Contrary to above post on 48a and luas tne 48a runs parallel to the luas from dundrum and luas can be accessed from 48a at windy arbour, cowper and beechwood. As a luas employee accessibility has been investigated thoroughly and a 5 min walk from windy arbour will bring you to dundrum road and 7 mins from cowper/beechwood to 48a on ranelagh road. As a bystander going about my daily business and from reading these posts I have watched carefully and have not seen a full 48a at any time of the day while the 44/c is full to capacity. What may help is introduction of 44a to enniskerry and/or Ballyogan via Ballinteer as the majority of people are now using the 44s. This would be in addition to the extended and frequent 14a as luas was always seen as an additional method of public transport not a replacement. The 45 is a bad example of comparison towards the dart as it shares a limited route with it to the city and serves areas that the dart does not as does the 7. You would be hard pushed to find an empty 45 or a 7 even though it is so frequent. The dart is already full to capacity as are the buses so it would serve no useful purpose to cancel theses servcices which have proven themselves. If DB are force to run loss making and low patronage routes there will not be enough surplus money for new stock and the Govt will use this against them in providing funding under the NDP if they do not fully utilise the tools that they have. A survey on Luas has shown that people from as far as clonskeagh/Bird ave bypass the 48A to get to luas at windy arbour. You cant alter statistics.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago # -
An interesting point you raise A2000 is the high use of the 44. Over the past 3 years a large amount of housing developments have sprawled up past Sandyford towards Stepaside and Kilternan. If bus frequency is the issue between Dundrum and Ranelagh then perhaps it would be wise to increase the 44 and benefit those living further than the Luas.
[posted by: P]Posted 3 years ago # -
To say that the Luas is significantly dearer than the 48a is incorrect. a 10 or 20 cent difference is not huge. All rational people know that the Luas line dupliactes the 48a from Dundrum to st. stephens green. The argument about keeping it is a selfish one. Have you seen the scum that uses the 44. Ballogan/Kilcross/Moreen lowlifes mostly. The meeting was a sea of grey heads. No one else gives a f*** about the issue. Bring on the Dundrum town centre!
[posted by: anto]Posted 3 years ago # -
a 10 or 20 cent difference is not huge
And you ride the Luas when...? 20 cent each way daily is still eight euro per month that you are out...all for not being able to get to the city centre, too.
The rest of your post basically speaks volumes about you...to wit that you are ten times worse than the denizens of Ballyogan, Kilcross and Moreen. Judge not, that ye be not judged...Posted 3 years ago # -
"a 10 or 20 cent difference is not huge"
Cost of 48a from Dundrum is 1.50. Cost of Luas from Balally is 2 uero - that's 50c! I work in Clontarf and I can get from Clontarf to Balally for 1.50 on a travel90 ticket. Without the 48a it'll cost 2.90 - that's a jump of 1.40 PER DAY - or 28 EURO A MONTH and I still have to walk from Stephen's Green to Busaraus.
P.
Posted 3 years ago #
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