http://busrage.com/forum/ BUSRAGE Discussions: Recent Posts en Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:55:40 +0000 http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5337#post-5363 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:18:41 +0000 Al 5363@http://busrage.com/forum/ <blockquote><p>Wow. That was sudden. Quite sad as well.</p> <p>Mr. Brennan's death after an illness, at a relatively young age, reminds me of the recent death of George Warrington, who ran the US transport concerns Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. Seems like being too deep into the politics kills you at an early age, eh? (Meanwhile, Warrington's successor at Amtrak, one David Gunn, who had more of a business approach than a political and worked at a lot more railway/transport agencies including New York's MTA and Philadelphia's SEPTA, is still going strong. Gotta be the politics.)</p></blockquote> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5338#post-5362 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:24:25 +0000 admin 5362@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>We've had reports of email disappearing from users inboxes on the webmail service - if anyone is seeing this behavior please post here so we can keep track of it.</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Admin. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5337#post-5361 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:16:41 +0000 admin 5361@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Former transport minister, and architect of the Dublin Bus "franchising" plans, <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0709/breaking14.htm">'Séamus Brennan has died, aged 60</a>.</p> <p>Our sympathies are with his family. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5334#post-5360 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:18:39 +0000 dowdingc 5360@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>I am one of those "Dublin Bus sucks" people. I lived in Dublin during 2001/2002, when there were far less people living here, and the 65B bus service was never on time when I wanted to get home from work. Here's an example:</p> <p>"We stopped to watch a bus go past on the other side of the road. The rain fell heavily and we both breathed a sigh of relief. The bus would be back in a moment to pick us up.<br /> We waited for another 10 minutes.<br /> ‘Where the hell is that bus?’ I snapped. ‘I’m bloody freezing out here! Where do the buggers go?’<br /> This bus stop was like the Bermuda Triangle. Double-decker buses just… vanished. How could someone make a £250,000, four metre high bus painted in vibrant blue, white and orange disappear? Maybe the driver had nicked off to the nearest pub for a drink; there was a tavern just over the next hill.<br /> I questioned a number of people about the puzzling bus disappearances. The truth was more idiotic than my pub theory. The drivers were supposed to turn around 100 metres up the road and come back to pick us up. Drivers who were running late did not turn around. They raced past, turned onto the nearest freeway and headed back into the city. The buses were completely empty.<br /> It’s the sort of efficiency drive I would expect from Sir Humphrey Appleby of the BBC’s Yes Minister series. In one episode, Appleby posted 200 administrators to a brand new hospital. No patients had been admitted and there were no doctors or nurses, because, ‘the cost would be prohibitive, Minister’." See <a href="http://www.chrisdowding.net" rel="nofollow">www.chrisdowding.net</a> for more. </p> <p>I'm not sure if the 65B route is still rotton. Hopefully most people put up with the bus to Tallaght and catch the Luas home from the Square (the Luas was only getting built when I worked here). I sympathise with anyone who has to use the 65B all the way to town. I consider myself to be environmentally aware, but it you're on the 65B, maybe you should buy yourself an old banger. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5306#post-5359 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:44:37 +0000 dowdingc 5359@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>You know, it's pretty easy to reduce the cost of the express Airlink service if you want to:</p> <p>a) If there's a group of you, or if you are going out to the airport a few times, buy a 5 pack of One day Rambler tickets at 19 Euros, which works out to €3.90 a ticket.<br /> b) If you're a family of people, buy the One Day Family Rambler ticket for €10.00. Say you are a family with two parents and two kids. The standard Airlink fare would be 18 Euros, so the Rambler ticket is much cheaper. </p> <p>While both of these options still work out a bit higher than the cost of the local buses, you get into town heaps quicker and the Rambler ticket is still valid for other bus routes for the rest of the day. Of course, DB's Airlink drivers don't carry the Rambler tickets on the buses - because it would mean less revenue to DB. Lots of newsagents and corner stores in town carry them. I haven't tried this, but CIE sell tickets at their Information Desk at the airport, and so does Dublin Tourism. Maybe the Rambler tickets are available there. </p> <p>Here's my experience of the local buses, as an Aussie arriving in Dublin for the first time:- </p> <p>"The double-decker bus lurched around a corner. The driver tramped briefly on the brakes and we were thrown headfirst towards the seat in front of us. The driver pressed on the accelerator just in time and our heads rolled backwards, just before our teeth collided with the seat.<br /> I clutched Kerryn’s hand and jammed my feet tightly against the floor. Was the driver training for some kind of Bus Grand Prix event? He tested the entire power range of the engine as he raced towards the city. He also changed gears and floored the engine every time he hit a bump in the road, which made the bus leap spectacularly into the air." (See <a href="http://www.chrisdowding.net" rel="nofollow">www.chrisdowding.net</a> for more.)</p> <p>In comparison, the Airlink services are smooth, quiet and arranged to carry luggage. They only take half the time of a local bus. You don't have to shove your way past 'every man and his dog' to get on, either.... er, actually, forget I said anything. Keep using the local buses and leave the Airlink 747 nice and empty - for me;) </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5304#post-5358 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:48:39 +0000 dowdingc 5358@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>When my wife and I lived in Dublin (2001/2002), bus drivers drove past frantically waving people standing at different bus stops (in the rain). The bus services were always running late, and to make up time, some drivers would shortcut their route. This cut several minutes from their time, but it also cut several passengers off from their intended destination! After I read this post, it was obvious that Dublin Bus remains the inefficient hopeless service it was when I lived there.</p> <p>I remember that passengers say thanks as they pass the driver to get off a Dublin bus, but in my case this was short for 'Thanks, driver for not abusing me' or 'thank God I'm still alive.' See <a href="http://www.chrisdowding.net" rel="nofollow">www.chrisdowding.net</a> for more. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5357 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:47:44 +0000 admin 5357@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>arnold - this is off-topic for this thread - if you want you can add this as a new topic for discussion here: <a href="/forum/?new=1">add new topic</a>. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5356 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:46:39 +0000 arnold 5356@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Can somebody please tell me why so many people think it is acceptable to run after a departing bus ,that has pulled away from the stop and to start banging onthe door of the bus ? </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5324#post-5355 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:25:13 +0000 paddy.brophy 5355@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>If I were working for the department of Dublin Bus that deals with routes and timetables, I would introduce the following 3 services from the area in question:</p> <p>First route: Dalkey Station, Killiney Towers, Killiney Shopping Centre, Ballybrack, Cherrywood, M50 (Non-stop), Carrickmines, Stepaside, Sandyford, Dundrum, Terenure, Rathfarnham, Hazelhatch Station, Liffey Valley and Lucan. This would be half hourly on peak and hourly off peak during the week. It would be hourly throughout the weekend.</p> <p>Second route: Dalkey Station, Killiney Towers, Killiney Shopping Centre, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely, Cornelscourt, Foxrock, Stillorgan, UCD, Donnybrook, Ranelagh, Georges Street, Dame Street, O'Connell Street and Parnell Square. This would be half hourly on peak and hourly off peak Monday to Saturday. It would be hourly on a Sunday.</p> <p>Third route: Dalkey Station, Killiney Towers, Glenageary Shopping Center, Deansgrange, Foxrock, Sandyford Industrial Estate (for the Luas Green Line), M50 (Non-stop), Tallaght Square (for the Luas Red Line), Clondalkin Train Station, Liffey Valley, M50 (Non-stop) and Blanchardstown. It would have the same frequency as the Second route. These routes would run until 11:30 in the evening.</p> <p>I would also have an alternate version of the aforemetioned routes covering more specific parts of the Killiney, Dalkey and Sandycove areas with similar frequency. Therefore, Dalkey would become an additional interchange by the DART line. This would mean a better balance of services between Sydney Parade, Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Bray. It may also have a knock on effect which would increase the amount of trains serving Dalkey as more people would be getting on and off at Dalkey to and from various bus services.</p> <p>The above three routes are merely suggestions and certain stretches might not reflect the demand of tranportation needs. It would however connect Dalkey with a lot of business districts thereby opening the door to a huge amount of new employement options and opportunities. The 59 would still exist in its current frequency. I would have the frequency of the 8 bus increased to hourly during the week and 90 minutely at the weekends making sure that the last bus left Dalkey at 11:30 in the evening. I would also suggest having the 7D bus running at a similar clockface and have it bypass Monkstown Farm to knock time off the journey length.</p> <p>A message in another topic on this website suggested having every three or four 46A buses being sent to Dalkey. With this, the supply might end up exceeding demand. However, on its Nitelink route (the 46N), there is on average 5 or 6 people still on the bus passed Dun Laoghaire. Surely, if this is the level of demand at night, the demand during the day would be many times higher. On occassion, this handy number has dropped me at the bottom of my road leaving me with a 2 minute walk as opposed to a 15 minute walk. Usually, it only stops at the Post Office before going back along the same it came from. The Post Office is a considerable distance from my house. The advantage that the bus has over the DART is that it can drop people closer to where they want to go. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5335#post-5354 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:01:44 +0000 admin 5354@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>I'm making this a sticky as other people may find this information useful. Any problems, please <a href="/inside/contact/">email us</a> </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5336#post-5353 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:00:00 +0000 admin 5353@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Apparently hotmail are blocking email from us - this means that when you register as a new user from an msn or hotmail account it may bounce back to us and we will be unable to send you your password.</p> <p>At the moment the only solution is to check your bulk mail for an email from us, if it's not there then you may wish to contact hotmail directly and ask them to stop blocking us.</p> <p>Alternatively, if you can, we suggest using <a href="/services/webmail/">another email provider</a>.</p> <p>If you are still having problems please <a href="/inside/contact/">send us an email</a> and we will set your account up manually. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5335#post-5352 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:58:47 +0000 admin 5352@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Hey SickCert,</p> <p>It's because you already have a username on the system which got migrated from the old board. Did you try following the advise in the sticky post?</p> <blockquote><p> 1. Find one of your old posts on the discussion forum, make a note of the username for the post in the left hand column.<br /> 2. Try to login using that username (without entering a password)<br /> 3. You should see a recover password button, click this - your new password will be emailed to you. </p></blockquote> <p>If the email address we have on file for you is out of date, drop me a private email and I will update it, so you can reactivate you original username.</p> <p>Armitage. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5335#post-5351 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:11:32 +0000 Sick 5351@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Sick as in sickcert? </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5350 Fri, 30 May 2008 14:10:20 +0000 Richard2 5350@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Thanks admin, I'll give that a go. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5349 Fri, 30 May 2008 10:26:36 +0000 admin 5349@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Yes, you can change your password. Once you log in you should see "view your profile" in the place<br /> where the log in form was. </p> <p>Click on this, and on the subsequent page click on "edit" in the top right hand corner of the page.</p> <p>The "change password" form is at the bottom of this page. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5304#post-5348 Thu, 29 May 2008 18:33:11 +0000 Richard2 5348@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>No, because it did not have either. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5324#post-5347 Thu, 29 May 2008 18:31:42 +0000 Richard2 5347@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>There was a no.8 run again for a year or 2 after a campaign by a local FG politician called Eugene Regan, but DB made a dog's breakfast of it, running it at poor frequency and by a different route from its old one. I find it intensely frustrating visiting 2 close friends of mine in Sandycove and Glenageary, and I am sure there are many others who feel the same. Shame on DB for their shoddy treatment of this area. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5346 Thu, 29 May 2008 18:27:21 +0000 Richard2 5346@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>I have just registered (as a new user, I didn't go in as my former self, namely Richard)but I have been sent a password which I will not be able to remember and which I probably will not type in correctly - I only got in this time by copying and pasting it from the email, which I do not want to have to keep doing. Is there any way a user can reset his/her own password? </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5334#post-5345 Sat, 10 May 2008 19:04:15 +0000 iyzz 5345@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>with regard its timing. I know and accept that there will always be occasional times when buses simply cannot leave the terminus on time, but I get this bus from Hawkins St several times a week and I swear it NEVER leaves on time. In comparison to the 46a - another high frequency route - it is disgraceful - what's the explanation? </p> <p>From my local bustop (ie: not at either terminus), I've often been waiting 30 mins for a 39 even though they are supposed to go every ten minutes.</p> <p>What's most frustrating (intriuging?) about this is that I genuinely have no other complaints about other buses I take. I'm not one of these ''Dublin bus sucks!!'' people. The 37 and 70 always seem to leave the termini on time. I find the 66 and 67a pretty reliable. The 46a is excellent, as are most of the xpressos to UCD. So why is the 39 so unreliable?</p> <p>Every ten mins my arse!</p> <p>(also, why do some townbound 39s state the destination is ''westmoreland st'', not ''hawkins st'' ? I'm geussing this is because Hawkins St gets overcrowded with buses at times but this just adds to my frustration of this route!) </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5332#post-5343 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:58:47 +0000 admin 5343@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Yeah, I hear what you're saying.</p> <p>I'm trying to look on it as a positive thing, it should at least make integration a little better, although to be honest there are a few suspect things about it (which will make there way into a front page article soon). The main worry I have is that it is a step towards a UK-style privatisation mess. Oh, and it does of course give the minister cover when things start to go wrong, while leaving him the opportunity to take credit when they go right. Marvelous.</p> <p>Then there is the pensions issue, I haven't heard much from the unions since the announcement. </p> <p>One interesting point, the bill does not provide for this new body to license private operators, that will still rest with the Department of Transport. Something stinks about that I think... </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5332#post-5342 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:47:35 +0000 Al 5342@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for the clarification.</p> <p>Imitating <em>anything</em> going on in London is going to be a recipe for disaster. We do not need TfD; TfL is hampered by its own oversized bureaucracy, and DTO will be nothing but layers to insulate against accountability. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5332#post-5341 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:08:27 +0000 admin 5341@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>The context of Alek's original posting got lost in the migration to the new platform - he was originally talking about <a href="http://busrage.com/2008/04/16/dublin-transport-authority-by-2009/">this story</a>. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/1164#post-5340 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:35:08 +0000 Al 5340@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>How things have changed over four years. (What's with resurrecting an old post?)</p> <p>Platform 11 have turned out to be government shills/plants. They now go by the name "<a href="http://www.railusers.ie">Rail Users Ireland</a>" and have backed off a lot of their initial positions that they used to support (Western Rail Corridor, railfreight, any coherent spending on new rolling stock, network expansion in general, mainline electrification, operating speeds on par with the "big countries" of the EU) and have shown themselves as cheerleaders for the status quo (Luas, Metro, <strong>noisy Intercity DMUs,</strong> intercity trains no faster than 100 mph, the words of consultants are "gospel")…sad. </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5332#post-5339 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:27:13 +0000 Al 5339@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Major hurdle towards what, and pension protection for whom?</p> <p>Is Brussels' hand in it? </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5324#post-5338 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:21:35 +0000 Al 5338@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>The 8 was cancelled a number of years ago; the replacement route, 7D, originally ran over the 8's entire route. The 59 (and back then the 59A, when it ran) were the "local" routes, and today as then the <em>intent</em> was to have strictly local bus service with direct operations to Dublin city centre restricted to peak hours; or passengers bound for Dublin should ride the DART. Folly, IMHO. (After all, did they restrict bus service via Sandycove and Glenageary just because they have DART stations, too?) </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5333#post-5337 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:15:57 +0000 admin 5337@http://busrage.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>After many hours of toil we've finally launched BUSRAGE on it's new platform. We have upgraded the entire site to more reliable and faster hardware and software. We are now hosted in Europe, so users may or may not notice a difference due to this also.</p> <p>Plus, and this is the most obvious change, our new discussion forum now requires a user account before a message can be posted. While some users may dislike this, it is necessary in order to combat the vast amounts of spam and trolling we have to deal with.</p> <p>As part of moving from the old site to the new one we tried to preserve the existing message board, and auto-created user accounts for users who provided an email address with their posting. If you would like to activate an account that has been auto-created for posts you have made in the past, you can request the password to be sent to you. Simply follow these steps:</p> <p>1. Find one of your old posts on the discussion forum, make a note of the username for the post in the left hand column.<br /> 2. Try to login using that username (without entering a pasword)<br /> 3. You should see a recover password button, click this - your new password will be emailed to you.</p> <p>Alternatively you can setup a new account, simply go to the register page by following the link above the login form.</p> <p>Any problems, please email us via the addresses on the contact page.</p> <p>We are keen to hear comments about the new site, and to hear about any issues encountered.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>BUSRAGE Administrators </p> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5202#post-5336 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:46:51 +0000 Anonymous 5336@http://busrage.com/forum/ I totally agree with the first post. The 79/a does not go as frequently as it purports to on the timetable and when I once asked the guy who seems to be in charge of the buses on the quays about this he replied with a rude and agressive retort that left me very upset. <br> <br>Now yesterday I see that the 79a is being diverted away from inchicore. This means that almost half (32 of 65) the 79/a service is being cut from going down inchicore road. <br> <br>This is crazy given that the 79/a is rarely half full (unlike the other bus serving the Model School the 78a which is always very full) and lots of people get on/off on the Inchicore road. To divert an undersubscribed bus so it doesn&#39;t go past lots of passengers is crazy. <br> <br>Also it means that coming from town and heuston station tourists will have a reduced service to Kilmainham Gaol, the HIlton and IMMA. <br> <br>It is simply crazy to make public transport less accessible to people who (despite poor service and rude attitudes) continue to use it.<br/><em>[posted by: cb]</em> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5276#post-5335 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:22:47 +0000 MylesKenny 5335@http://busrage.com/forum/ then why is DB making Dun Laoghaire to Tallaght buses better only http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5276#post-5334 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:55:03 +0000 Anonymous 5334@http://busrage.com/forum/ "DB are thinking of extending the 37 to blanch sc" <br> <br>Theres my point. If DB do plan to extend it, it will be on the dublinbus.ie site!<br/><em>[posted by: Fran]</em> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5276#post-5333 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:46:02 +0000 MylesKenny 5333@http://busrage.com/forum/ fran well i heard a rumour that DB are thinking of extending the 37 to blanch sc http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5332#post-5332 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:21:13 +0000 AlekSmart 5332@http://busrage.com/forum/ "The Transport (Reorganization of Coras Iompar Eireann) Act 1986" <br> <br>Watch this one prople because buried deep within it could be the first major hurdle.....and it`s all about Pension Fund protection. http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5276#post-5331 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:29:57 +0000 Anonymous 5331@http://busrage.com/forum/ When and IF Db start new routes if will be made public on thier website. <br> <br>BUT I&#39;ve heard rumours of a route 36 starting soon..<br/><em>[posted by: Fran]</em> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5324#post-5330 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:15:38 +0000 paddy.brophy 5330@http://busrage.com/forum/ I know Joe.However, the only areas that people from Dalkey have access to is town(very important) and Mackintosh Park which is 10-15 minutes walk from the Dual Carriageway.I am aware that the people from Mackintosh Park need a bus to Dun Laoghaire.However, that is beside the point.The combined population of the Dalkey,Killiney and Sandycove areas is roughly 22000.The point I am making is that there should be at least one regular bus service covering the aformentioned area which would take people to the likes of Cabinteely, UCD and Sandyford Industrial Estate.While the emphasis on transport is getting people into the heart of Dublin,there are still a lot of people from the area in question who travel north west.I feel very lucky to live near such a great system like the DART but a bus service is needed to cover the upper road as well as it brings people to other areas in town that are nowhere near the DART.The 7D is a very poor bus service with only two morning journeys at irregular times and one evening return and one service on a Saturday.<br/><em>[posted by: Patrick Brophy]</em> http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5276#post-5329 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:20:07 +0000 MylesKenny 5329@http://busrage.com/forum/ i mean any more new routes coming to DB http://busrage.com/forum/topic/5326#post-5328 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:09:34 +0000 admin 5328@http://busrage.com/forum/ I don&#39;t think that&#39;s the point though. <br> <br>Bus Eireann buses have stops much further apart than Dublin Bus buses, so it&#39;s not too much to ask for drivers to make clear announcements when stopping as to what the passengers options are at that point. <br> <br>This is the norm in other countries, travel with someone like National Express in Britain and you will hear drivers announcing things like "This is the stop for Birmingham, passengers intending to travel to London should change here, this bus is for the West Midlands." <br> <br>Passengers should be told if they need to get off the bus to change for another destination, especially for a popular destination like Dublin. <br> <br>The problem is compounded by a number of issues: <br> <br>1. The fact that the public haven&#39;t got much trust in destination scrolls on the front of vehicles (if it has one) as these are often wrong. This is why drivers get pestered by passengers asking where the bus is going, it&#39;s not because they haven&#39;t bothered to look at the scroll, it&#39;s because they don&#39;t trust it. <br> <br>2. The problem that, for whatever reason, the timetables are frequently not kept too - so you can&#39;t be sure which timetabled bus you&#39;re on. <br> <br>3. The general assumption that if you are a "regular" on the bus you will be aware of it&#39;s quirks without having to be told. I regularly travelled on the 84 and 84A in the 1990s and the route frequently departed from the timetabled route. As regulars we knew it would but not everyone is a daily commuter.