Latest news with #DublinBus
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Rail line closed between Connolly Station and Dún Laoghaire for June bank holiday weekend
IRISH RAIL HAS announced that its services between Dublin's Connolly Station and Dún Laoghaire will be unavailable this weekend as commuters flock to a series of bank holiday events. Between today and Monday, 2 June, restrictions and alterations will apply to both rail and bus services because of limited capacity due to annual summer gatherings such as the Bloom festival and the VHI Women's Mini Marathon taking place. Here are the main changes to note across the primary public transport services. Irish Rail A revised timetable will be in place for the weekend, with Monday's times operating as Sunday schedules for Dart and commuter services. Dart services between Connolly Station and Dún Laoghaire will be unavailable due to major works on the line between Connolly and Blackrock which will also impact Rosslare Intercity services. However, rail tickets on affected routes are valid on Dublin Bus. Dart services are operating between Malahide/Howth and Connolly, and between Dún Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones. Irish Rail is reminding customers to pre-book tickets to ensure a seat on intercity trains because of high demand on Heuston-bound rail for the purpose of attending the Bord Bia Bloom festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Advertisement Some Dublin-bound trains from Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford are already fully booked, so additional trains will operate out of Cork and Galway to accommodate passenger numbers heading to Bloom Extra early trains from Cobh, Midleton and Mallow will be laid on to provide for high numbers attending the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Bus Éireann The company says all services will operate to a Sunday schedule this weekend. This will include Dublin's Expressway services serving Ballina, Cavan, Donegal, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford as well as serving Cork, Galway, Limerick and Tralee. Customers are strongly advised to pre-book their tickets and allow for delays if heading to and from Dublin Airport on Expressway due to holidaymakers jetting abroad. The VHI Women's Mini Marathon in the capital will cause road closures, so Bus Éireann says people must check service updates on its website for the latest travel information. Dublin Bus The company's Monday service will operate to a Sunday schedule. Its Nitelink service will continue today, but will not be in place tomorrow. Customers are told to be aware of traffic diversions in place across the city to facilitate the Women's Mini Marathon tomorrow. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Dublin Live
Dublin Bus announce extension of new bus route which will link up Bray with Luas
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Dublin Bus have announced the extension of the new L14 bus route, which will link up Bray and Shankill with Cherrywood and the Green Line Luas. The extended service will begin operating this Sunday. The route change comes after much local consternation with the recent new BusConnects rollout in the area in January, which left Bray and Shankill without a direct route to Cherrywood and a link up with the Luas. The route, which previously just served local roads between Palermo and the Southern Cross in Bray, has now doubled in length, and will serve Shankill and Loughlinstown before heading to Cherrywood. It will also now serve the emerging area of Laughanstown, where a lot of new homes are currently being built. There is no change to the route's timetable, meaning the route will continue to operate every half an hour seven days a week, offering 35 return services Monday to Friday, 32 return services on Saturdays, and 30 return services on Sundays and public holidays. The route will now also provide a link between the Luas and the Dart at Bray station. Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport Authority Jeremy Ryan said: 'Building on the success of the initial launch of the L14 under Phase 6A of BusConnects in January, we've taken on board valuable customer feedback highlighting the need for stronger onward connectivity. In response, we're pleased to announce that Route L14 will now extend to serve Cherrywood, Shankill, and connect with the Luas Green Line – making the serviced more accessible and convenient for our passengers.' Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Dublin Live
Gardai to conduct spot checks on Dublin buses this bank holiday weekend to support 'safety of customers'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gardai will conduct spot checks on Dublin buses this bank holiday weekend in order to support the "safety of our customers and employees". Officers will board board Dublin Bus services as part of a new series of 'Days of Action' across the fleet which will start this weekend and continue over the coming weeks. The new plan is part of a joint commitment by Dublin Bus, An Garda Síochána, and the Department of Transport to improve safety on public transport. This includes a dedicated public transport wide day on June 10, which will involve increased Garda presence across key routes and areas of the city. The Garda Days of Action are planned to continue throughout 2025, with the dates, times, and loations to be decided by feedback on the ground. Reported incidents of anti-social behaviour aboard Dublin Bus services have more than doubled from 494 to 1053 per year in the last five years. The initiative, Dublin Bus say, aims to "deter anti-social behaviour, support drivers and enhance the experience for people using public transport across the city and Greater Dublin Area". Chief Executive of Dublin Bus Billy Hann said: 'At Dublin Bus, the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. The Garda Days of Action reflect our strong and ongoing partnership with An Garda Síochána, and we welcome their continued support in ensuring a safe and respectful environment on board our services. "Our Safer Journeys Team is a key part of this safety focus, and we remain committed to working with Government and the Gardaí to enhance safety and security across the public transport network." Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien added: "A reliable and safe public transport network is fundamental to a functioning city. "That means visibility, presence and cooperation. I fully support these Garda-led Days of Action and commend Dublin Bus for the proactive way it has approached safety through initiatives like the Safer Journeys Team. "This is what joined-up public service delivery looks like — practical, responsive and focused on people." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Fare dodging on Dublin and Cork rail services cost Iarnród Éireann €4.6m in 2024, NTA study finds
Some of the highest rates of fare-dodging took place on commuter rail services last year, according to data collected by the National Transport Authority (NTA), while one Dublin Bus route recorded non-payment by 20.6 per cent of passengers. Regular surveys conducted on public transport services last year found 6.9 per cent of passengers on Dart and commuter trains for the greater Dublin region and Cork did not have a valid ticket for their journey. This resulted in an estimated loss in revenue of €4.6 million for Iarnród Éireann . By contrast, NTA figures revealed the lowest fare-evasion rate on any public transport service was on Iarnród Éireann's intercity routes. Only 1.4 per cent of passengers were found travelling without a valid ticket on these routes, which run between Dublin and Belfast, Cork, Waterford and other cities. This resulted in a further estimated loss in revenue of €2.2 million in 2024. Luas data was not included. READ MORE Despite high overall fare-evasion rates, Iarnród Éireann did not suffer any deductions last year. This is because a rate of 6.9 per cent for Dart and commuter rail services is within the permitted threshold allowed by the NTA before financial penalties are enforced. The company received incentives totalling almost €37,000 for the high compliance rate on its intercity trains, making Iarnród Éireann the only public transport operator last year to receive such a payment. Alongside rail services, NTA provided an overview of fare evasion across three different bus companies including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Go Ahead Bus. Dublin Bus, the country's largest public transport operator in terms of passenger numbers, had the greatest estimated loss in revenue due to fare dodgers, at €6 million in 2024. However, the fare-evasion level recorded on its services was one of the lowest of any operator, at 3.4 per cent. Dublin Bus was the only one of the large bus companies surveyed to find a fare-evasion rate below the target of 3.9 per cent for bus services. The highest evasion rate on a Dublin Bus service was 20.6 per cent recorded on the 43 (Talbot Street-Swords Business Park) route. Full compliance was found among passengers on 26 of 84 routes surveyed. A breakdown of fare-evasion types showed that instances of 'no ticket' accounted for 65.8 per cent of cases while 'over-riding' accounted for 32.5 per cent. Fare-loss proportion was highest for 'no ticket' at 84.6 per cent. Sunday afternoons were found to be the most popular time for fare dodgers using Dublin Bus services, with an evasion rate of 5.1 per cent recorded on Sundays from 12pm to 6:59pm. Bus Éireann suffered deductions of more than €118,000 over its failure to meet the 3.9 per cent target rate last year, while the loss of revenue from fare dodgers across its services was calculated to be at least €4.5 million. The company's range of subsidised routes recorded evasion rates of approximately 5 per cent. This included commuter and city bus services in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and several large towns, as well as commuter services in the greater Dublin region. Bus Éireann's highest fare-dodging activity was found on two services in Cork – the 220X Ovens-Crosshaven route (35.3 per cent) and 206 Grange-South Mall (34.3 per cent). This was followed by 190 Drogheda-Trim (23.9 per cent) and 419 Galway-Clifden (20.4 per cent). Go Ahead Ireland – a third large bus operator with NTA contracts – recorded some of the highest non-compliance rates with fares across its network of 34 routes within the Greater Dublin Area in 2024, resulting in a €1.3m loss in revenue. [ Construction contract for first BusConnects corridor to be signed next month Opens in new window ] [ Dublin traffic changes: Pearse Street 'noticeably quieter' since left-turn ban Opens in new window ] The company had an average fare-evasion rate of 6.2 per cent on its 'outer metropolitan' services in Dublin and a 5.4 per cent rate on its commuter route in greater Dublin including services to Tullamore, Newbridge, Kildare, Naas and Athy. The rate on its W4 (The Square-Blanchardstown) and W6 (The Square-Maynooth) routes was 6.9 per cent, far exceeding the recommended 3.9 per cent target rate. Like Bus Éireann, Go Ahead Ireland was hit with deductions last year – more than €121,000 – over failure to meet targets. Commenting on the findings of last year's reports, a spokesman for the NTA said: 'We believe that progress is being made in tackling fare evasion and NTA will continue to work closely with transport operators to further address this issue.'
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Dublin Bus mechanic caught stealing diesel and handing it over to roadside motorist
Eugene Nolan (30) was one of several workers charged A DUBLIN bus mechanic was caught stealing diesel from the company's vehicles and handing stolen fuel over to a motorist on a roadside. Eugene Nolan (30) was one of several workers charged after surveillance cameras at a city depot revealed that they were siphoning off fuel from buses. Adjourning the case for a restorative justice report, Judge Treasa Kelly said it was a 'complete breach of trust' to steal from an employer. Nolan, a father-of-two from Rathleash in Portarlington, Co Laois admitted handling €110 worth of stolen diesel at Killeen Road, Dublin 12 on June 10 last year. He also pleaded guilty to three thefts of fuel at the Conyngham Road bus depot, on July 4, 8 and 9 last year, totalling €772. Dublin District Court heard a bus inspector was driving on Killeen Road when he saw a bus parked at the side of the road and a plastic drum. He became suspicious and CCTV showed the accused driving it from the garage before meeting a Mercedes car. Nolan took three plastic barrels from the bus containing 75l of diesel worth €110 and handed them over to the driver of the Mercedes, who filled his car. Dublin Bus undertook an internal investigation into fuel theft at the depot, the court heard. A private investigation company was hired to carry out covert CCTV surveillance between July 4 and 11. Three people were seen siphoning diesel from buses and on three dates, Nolan loaded barrels into his car. Eugene Nolan News in 90 Seconds - May 28th A number of co-accused had since been before the court over the thefts and Nolan was one of the first to be caught, his solicitor Paddy McGarry said. It 'became known to Dublin Bus that it was something that was ongoing,' he said. Nolan had been working at the company for 12 years and lost his job as a result of the thefts. He had a cocaine problem at the time but was now clean, Mr McGarry said. His only prior offence was holding a mobile phone while driving and Mr McGarry asking the judge not to convict Nolan of the thefts. He brought €800 in compensation to court. Judge Kelly noted the accused had already paid a high price for his actions. She was not sure that she could leave him without convictions but deferred finalising the case and ordered a restorative justice report. Nolan was remanded on continuing bail to appear in court again on July 14.
