Go-Ahead Win Dublin Bus Tender

[F Great Eastern]

Go-Ahead have won the tender in Dublin for all orbital bus routes in the city (10% of all bus routes) beating off competition from state owned Dublin Bus.

Originally the field was made up of National Express, First Aircoach, RATP and Transdev as well, however all four of these operators are believed to have withdrawn in the bidding process.

The following routes will start to transfer to Go-Ahead from November 2018 with all routes below to transfer by February 2019.

17 Rialto to Blackrock
17a Blanchardstown Centre to Kilbarrack
18 Palmerstown(Old Lucan Road)to Sandymount
33a Swords to Balbriggan
33b Swords to Portrane
45a Dún Laoghaire (Rail Station)to Ballywaltrim
59 Dún Laoghaire to Mackintosh Park
63 Dún Laoghaire to Kilternan
75 The Square Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire
76 Chapelizod to Tallaght (The Square)
76a Blanchardstown Centre to Tallaght (The Square)
102 Sutton station to Dublin Airport
104 Clontarf Road (Conquer Hill) to Santry (Shanard Road)
111 Loughlinstown Park to Dún Laoghaire
114 Ticknock to Blackrock Station
161 Dundrum Luas Station to Rockbrook
175 UCD to City West
184 Bray Rail station to Newtownmountkennedy
185 Bray Railstation to Shop River (Enniskerry)
220 Ballymun (Shangan Road) to Lady's Well Road
236 Blanchardstown Centre to Damastown
238 Tyrrelstown to Lady's Well Road
239 Blanchardstown Centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
270 Blanchardstown Centre to Dunboyne.

Fares, Timetables and frequencies will be set by the National Transport Authority who will keep all revenue and pay operators a fixed fee.

 

[Mwanesh]

I hope if Bus Eiream strike now they will just close the company.The unions shot themselves in the foot.I knew this was coming.You cant hold an entire network to ransom

 

[F Great Eastern]

There's another two tenders for Bus Eireann services in the works:
- City services in Waterford
- Commuter routes along the N4 and N7 corridors.

Rumour has it that there will be some totally brand new routes introduced by the NTA as well which will go out to an open tender on a route by route basis too.

 

[F Great Eastern]

The NTA have confirmed that three more tenders have been issued:
- Kilkenny Town Services - 2 routes, both approx 9km long (New Routes)
- Kilkenny to Dublin - Route 817 (Existing Route)
- Naas to Blanchardstown - Route 139 (New Route)

 

[Hornet]

This might allow for the flexibility that Dublin Bus need, as part of the Bus Connects proposals, which aim to radically revamp both orbital and cross city journeys into, into a more cohesive service. (Although Dublin Bus and the NTA's past efforts didn't amount to much). A better service on both the 18 and 75 cannot come to soon for me. Levels of service on both these routes are very poor, with the 18 evening and weekend service being especially poor, given the large amount of interconnections it makes with other routes. 45 minute gaps between services on a route, which traverses southern Dublin suburbia, could easily support a 10-15 minute service profile.

What is Bus Connects?

BusConnects is a plan to fundamentally transform Dublin’s bus system, so that journeys by bus will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable. It will enable more people to travel by bus than ever before, and allow bus commuting to become a viable and attractive choice for employees, students, shoppers and visitors.

BusConnects aims to overhaul the current bus system in the Dublin region by:

building a network of “next generation” bus corridors on the busiest bus routes to make bus journeys faster, predictable and reliable;
introducing Bus Rapid Transit, a higher quality of bus system, on three of the busiest corridors;
completely redesigning the network of bus routes to provide a more efficient network, connecting more places and carrying more passengers;
developing a state-of-the-art ticketing system using credit and debit cards or mobile phones to link with payment accounts and making payment much more convenient;
implementing a cashless payment system to vastly speed up passenger boarding times;
revamping the fare system to provide a simpler fare structure, allowing seamless movement between different transport services without financial penalty;
implementing a new bus livery providing a modern look and feel to the new bus system;
rolling out new bus stops with better signage and information and increasing the provision of additional bus shelters; and
transitioning - starting now - to a new bus fleet using low-emission vehicle technologies.
Overall Benefits

For passengers BusConnects will deliver:

reliable and punctual bus services;
faster journey times for passengers;
comfortable, modern vehicles;
high frequency service on busy routes;
an easy to understand network;
universal passenger information - at roadside, on apps and on vehicles;
simpler fare structures and easier payment; and
seamless integration with other transport types.
For businesses BusConnects will:

by improving transport, make Dublin a more attractive location for employers;
increase potential employment catchment areas by providing new transport links;
reduce commuting time for employees; and
reduce car congestion and enhance the attractiveness of urban centres for shopping and social purposes.
For cyclists BusConnects will:

deliver a step-change in cycling facilities on the key radial routes into the city centre;
provide safe cycling facilities, largely segregated from other traffic, along these corridors; and
provide the opportunity for more people to cycle to work, school, college or for recreational purposes.
For visitors BusConnects will:

ensure a simpler and more understandable bus transport system;
enable easy use of the bus system, without the need to purchase advance tickets or payment cards;
make more places accessible for visitors and tourists; and
reduce the impacts of traffic congestion in urban centres.
For the environment BusConnects will:

enable more people to use sustainable transport;
transition the bus fleet to low emission vehicles;
assist Ireland to meet its climate change targets; and
provide a greener transport system for everyone.

https://busconnects.ie/

Prosposals for future of Dublin Bus services unveiled
Tuesday, June 06, 2017 - 02:32 pm
Potential proposals for the future of Dublin's bus services were launched this morning.

The National Transport Authority is looking for feedback on the ideas for the new network.

The report launched earlier would see fewer routes, with a number of main corridors through Dublin city.


It aims to make planning journeys easier - particularly if you're heading on routes outside of the city.

One of the main features of the new plan would be more interchanges - meaning you may have to take two buses to get where you want to go.

Many current routes would be changed or re-named

Transport Expert Jarrett Walker will oversee the project.

It's estimated the changes will take place towards the end of 2018 or int 2019.

Speaking at the launch, Ray Coyne Dublin Bus CEO said he was delighted with the commitment to invest €1 billion in Dublin’s bus network.

"This is great news for our customers and a huge opportunity to continue the growth and success of Dublin Bus.

"We will carry over 130 million passengers this year and continue to grow by constantly improving services. An excellent bus network is clearly of strategic importance to the city; Dublin Bus will work closely with Jarrett Walker and the NTA to future proof the city’s bus network for the benefit of our customers and for a successful Dublin.

"I would also encourage all our customers to engage in this debate and let us know what bus network they want for the future.”

Anne Graham from the NTA says people can have their say on whether or not they're in favour.

"We are asking the public to consider what those options are and give us that feedback on whether they are willing to make more interchanges but also to have a faster journey but also to get to more places on their bus network as well."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...e-of-dublin-bus-services-unveiled-792553.html

 

[F Great Eastern]

This seems to be part of the Bus Connects proposals, which aim to radically revamp both orbital and cross city journeys into, into a more cohesive service. (Although Dublin Bus and the NTA's past efforts didn't amount to much).

The previous network re-design was almost fully designed by Dublin Bus with very little involvement from the NTA, since the former was operating under a contract that was signed before the NTA came into existence at a time where there was no proper regulator.

A couple of years ago that contract ran out and the NTA issued a new one to Dublin Bus which allowed for powers to transfer over to the NTA and since then there has been a transfer of control of some activities from the companies to the regulator and the funding model has changed.

However now the NTA has final say on fares, timetables, service levels and frequencies on state funded routes and the operator may not change them without approval and the end goal is for the operators to simply operate the routes like London and the NTA to manage everything else like TFL.

However Ireland being Ireland that is not going to happen overnight as the various state companies are keen to protect their brand and do not want a big TFL style organisation taking over and of course the unions have a lot of say in this as well as they know that if the market gets opened the service will turn from a service that primarily focuses on staff/operators to customers.

It will however be interesting to see how this all integrates, as TFI have spent a lot of money on integrated journey planners, ticketing, mapping and centralized resources that include all operators, but to date, the state companies have shied away from using them and have created their own versions on their own websites, minus any other operators.

The major problem is that in Ireland the operators are much much bigger and well known than the overall TFI brand, whereas in London the overall TFL brand is much bigger than the operators and that is something that the NTA need to figure out how they are going to overcome as I can't see the current operators at least rolling over and sacrificing their own brand for proper integration.

 

[F Great Eastern]

A better service on both the 18 and 75 cannot come to soon for me. Levels of service on both these routes are very poor, with the 18 evening and weekend service being especially poor, given the large amount of interconnections it makes with other routes. 45 minute gaps between services on a route, which traverses southern Dublin suburbia, could easily support a 10-15 minute service profile.

According to RTE there will be a 35% increase in km covered.

 

[berneyarms]

This might allow for the flexibility that Dublin Bus need, as part of the Bus Connects proposals, which aim to radically revamp both orbital and cross city journeys into, into a more cohesive service. (Although Dublin Bus and the NTA's past efforts didn't amount to much). A better service on both the 18 and 75 cannot come to soon for me. Levels of service on both these routes are very poor, with the 18 evening and weekend service being especially poor, given the large amount of interconnections it makes with other routes. 45 minute gaps between services on a route, which traverses southern Dublin suburbia, could easily support a 10-15 minute service profile.



https://busconnects.ie/



http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...e-of-dublin-bus-services-unveiled-792553.html

The 75 has just had a complete timetable recast. There will also be a new 175 linking UCD with Citywest.

The 17 and 18 will no doubt be updated as part of this process - they didn't get revised timetables as part of Network Direct due to government cutbacks.

 

[DT611]

I hope if Bus Eiream strike now they will just close the company.The unions shot themselves in the foot.I knew this was coming.You cant hold an entire network to ransom

The unions didn't shoot themselves in the foot at all, this tendering has been planned and been worked on for a good few years so has nothing to do with the bus eireann strike.
there are no plans for bus eireann to strike and even if there were the amount of routes ran by the company means if it was to close down it may take a very long time for people to get service back. That isn't going to be politically exceptible and rightly so.

 

[Robertj21a]

The unions didn't shoot themselves in the foot at all, this tendering has been planned and been worked on for a good few years so has nothing to do with the bus eireann strike.
there are no plans for bus eireann to strike and even if there were the amount of routes ran by the company means if it was to close down it may take a very long time for people to get service back. That isn't going to be politically exceptible and rightly so.

In view of the union problems at Bus Eireann I assume there will be a steady movement of work to GoAhead in subsequent years.

 

[berneyarms]

I hope if Bus Eiream strike now they will just close the company.The unions shot themselves in the foot.I knew this was coming.You cant hold an entire network to ransom

This particular tendering has nothing to do with Bus Eireann.

Dublin Bus staff have already received guarantees that no jobs will be lost and no one will have to TUPE across to the new operator as the Dublin Bus services will expand to compensate for the loss of these routes.

 

[Hornet]

The 75 has just had a complete timetable recast. There will also be a new 175 linking UCD with Citywest.

The 17 and 18 will no doubt be updated as part of this process - they didn't get revised timetables as part of Network Direct due to government cutbacks.

Interesting to note that the 175 was proposed by Dublin Bus in 2011 from The Square to Dun Laoghaire.

Route 75 will be redesigned and replaced in part by Route 175.

Route 75 will continue to link Tallaght with Dun Laoghaire. It will be realigned from the Ballinteer area making the service more direct and faster for customers. It will operate its current alignment from Tallaght, (The Square) as far as Butterfield Avenue and will then operate via Nutgrove Avenue and Churchtown Road to Dundrum, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Stillorgan Shopping Centre – Kill Avenue and Dun Laoghaire.

Route 175 will operate from Tallaght (The Square) to Dun Laoghaire. It will operate via Old Bawn Road, Killininny Road, Scholarstown Road, Taylor’s Lane, Grange Road, Broadford Road, Ballinteer Avenue, Wyckham Way, Dundrum S.C., Sandyford Ind, Estate, Stillorgan S.C., Coppinger, Newtown Park, Monkstown Ring Road, Monkstown Avenue, and Mounttown Road to Dun Laoghaire.

Route 75
Tallaght (The Square) » Old Bawn Road » Firhouse Road » Butterfield Avenue » Nutgrove Avenue » Churchtown Road » Dundrum » Sandyford Industrial Estate » Stillorgan Shopping Centre » Foxrock Church » Kill Avenue » Dún Laoghaire Rail Station

Route 175
Tallaght (The Square) » Old Bawn Road » Killininny Road » Scholarstown Road » Grange Road » Broadford Road >> Ballinteer Avenue » Dundrum Shopping Centre » Sandyford Industrial Estate » Stillorgan Shopping Centre » Monkstown Link Road » Monkstown Avenue » Dún Laoghaire Rail Station

Service Frequencies (Estimates)
Route Peak Off Peak
75 20 30
175 30 60

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056432551

(Dublin Bus link broken).

 

[berneyarms]

It got canned along with the rest of the orbital route reviews due to lack of funds.

 

[F Great Eastern]

What is the current status of the BE tenders?

 

[radamfi]

This is interesting. They acknowledge the problems that the British style stage based system causes.

Something the deregulated operators in England, Scotland and Wales still fail to understand.

https://busconnects.ie/initiatives/just-the-ticket/

Fares and Ticketing Systems

Without changing the ticketing systems and the bus fares structure, the overall project would not deliver the full benefits that are possible under this transformation.

The second biggest source of bus delays, after traffic congestion, is the payment process at bus stops. Payment of fares by cash is still commonplace, slowing down the boarding time. Even when using the Leap Card, the complexity of payment stages means a high percentage of passengers have to interact with the driver, with resultant delays at bus stops. At busy bus stops these delays can be for several minutes. Multiply by the number of busy stops on a route, and those delays accumulate to add significantly to the overall journey time.

Under BusConnects we will simplify and streamline the process of paying for bus journeys. We want to make the fare system simpler, and we also want to make movement between different bus services seamless and easy, without financial penalty. This will require a move to either a “tag-on” and “tag-off” facility, similar to Luas and DART, or a single “flat fare” approach in order to reduce the need to interact with the driver for fare payments.

As part of this process, cashless operation will be introduced on all buses, to remove the delays caused by cash payments. Currently over 70% of fare payments are made by Leap card. As this increases over the next couple of years, the transition to a cashless regime will become easier. BusConnects will incorporate the latest developments in account-based ticketing technology, potentially allowing use of credit / debit cards or mobile devices as a convenient means of payment. This will also allow integration with other transport payments such as parking facilities and bicycle hire.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Go-Ahead seem to be the lowest payers in most areas where they operate in the UK. This isn't going to end well...

 

[F Great Eastern]

But the unions ruled out staff TUPE'ing across as part of previous negotiations, which actually shot themselves in the foot as now they pretty much allow Go-Ahead to set their own terms and conditions and rates of pay which wouldn't have been the case if the staff went across.

 

[Robertj21a]

But the unions ruled out staff TUPE'ing across as part of previous negotiations, which actually shot themselves in the foot as now they pretty much allow Go-Ahead to set their own terms and conditions and rates of pay which wouldn't have been the case if the staff went across.

So GoAhead can, in time, become the low-cost operation for Dublin. It will be interesting to see the eventual outcome for Dublin Bus.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Indeed, essentially what they've sold down the river is their long term interests for short-term gain.

 

[robertclark125]

Could Go Ahead offer to employ staff on TUPE?

 

[F Great Eastern]

The unions wanted an opt out of it and to stay with Dublin Bus so basically it was agreed they would not have to TUPE across.

Now the drivers on the routes that Dublin Bus lose will be redeployed to new expanded Dublin Bus services.

I would say GA are happy with this since it means they don't have a group of highly unionised staff on high conditions causing problems or pushing up average pay that they would like to offer.

 

[berneyarms]

What is the current status of the BE tenders?

Still a work in progress and to be awarded.

 

[Robertj21a]

The unions wanted an opt out of it and to stay with Dublin Bus so basically it was agreed they would not have to TUPE across.

Now the drivers on the routes that Dublin Bus lose will be redeployed to new expanded Dublin Bus services.

I would say GA are happy with this since it means they don't have a group of highly unionised staff on high conditions causing problems or pushing up average pay that they would like to offer.

I wouldn't just say that GoAhead are 'happy' - I'd guess that they are highly amused or, as my father would say, absolutely tickled pink !

 

[F Great Eastern]

Heard from a friend who used Dublin Bus this morning that the company are unhappy witt the decision not to be awarded the tender and feel that they may have been marked down too harshly on the quality side of the bid.

 

[Wolfie]

The unions wanted an opt out of it and to stay with Dublin Bus so basically it was agreed they would not have to TUPE across.

Now the drivers on the routes that Dublin Bus lose will be redeployed to new expanded Dublin Bus services.

I would say GA are happy with this since it means they don't have a group of highly unionised staff on high conditions causing problems or pushing up average pay that they would like to offer.

Yup and at some point in the next few years the economics of Dublin Bus will come under close scrutiny. Continued state bailouts are likely, at EU if not Irish level, to be ruled as an illegal subsidy which discriminates against Go Ahead....

 

[berneyarms]

Yup and at some point in the next few years the economics of Dublin Bus will come under close scrutiny. Continued state bailouts are likely, at EU if not Irish level, to be ruled as an illegal subsidy which discriminates against Go Ahead....

What continued state bailouts?

DB gets a PSO subsidy in the same manner as any other operator.

 

[Flying Snail]

But the unions ruled out staff TUPE'ing across as part of previous negotiations, which actually shot themselves in the foot as now they pretty much allow Go-Ahead to set their own terms and conditions and rates of pay which wouldn't have been the case if the staff went across.

Nonsense. A new operator was always going to have to recruit significant numbers of new staff, there was no way all the requirements would have been filled by TUPE staff with the current employment situation in DB.

Even if they hadn't been able to guarantee all staff staying in DB a lot would have by passing on shortfalls from retirements and shaping recruitment to allow as many current staff to stay as possible.

There is no requirement to employ new recruits on the same pay and conditions as TUPEd staff, GA will do this whether it is 100%, 90% or 50% of staff are new. TUPE also doesn't guarantee long term conditions, we have seen it in other companies who have acquired TUPE staff on higher terms than they want to pay; they take on new recruits on lower pay and do everything they can to rid themselves of the legacy staff on better pay.

The biggest problem for GA will be if DB continue to recruit or time their next recruiting phase to coincide with GA, how easily will they fill their required vacancies alongside a very similar job offer with better pay and conditions. DB will be able to pick the best candidates and GA will have no choice to take whoever is left to run their contracted services or be in breach of their terms with the NTA.

That is assuming that GA will be offering worse pay and conditions to DB which seems to be the assumed wisdom.

 

[Flying Snail]

Yup and at some point in the next few years the economics of Dublin Bus will come under close scrutiny. Continued state bailouts are likely, at EU if not Irish level, to be ruled as an illegal subsidy which discriminates against Go Ahead....

This isn't UK style deregulation, GA's operation will not be in competition with DB for passengers, they are running the services on a franchise contract for the NTA and unlike UK rail franchises the farebox is going directly to the franchising authority.

 

[berneyarms]

TUPE in Ireland has limited benefits - the guarantee lasts only 12 months. Why would anyone risk that?

 

[Hornet]

Usual foaming at the mouth reactions from the NRBU/SIPTU union leaders today, even though no existing Dublin Bus driver T&C's are affected. Even my local idiot TD as banging on as though it's the end of civilisation as we know it.