Dublin Bus plans further route changes

FURTHER CHANGES and cuts will be implemented across the Dublin Bus network in coming months, a spokeswoman for the company has confirmed.

Dublin Bus is about a year into the biggest review of its routes undertaken in its history and almost halfway through the implementation of route changes, realignments and redesign, known as the Network Direct project.

The company says it will mean “more direct, regular, frequent and reliable services with a network that is simpler and easier to understand”.

The project has, however, given rise to a citywide campaign, Save Our Bus Services, which says the changes are in fact cuts to services, which will hurt the old, the disabled and schoolchildren most.

Local campaigns are under way in Ringsend, Dundrum, Donnycarney, Crumlin, Ballymun, Whitehall, Finglas, Dún Laoghaire and Clondalkin, while others are emerging as changes are implemented.

Following small local protests last weekend, which organisers declared a “first step” in a concerted campaign, a larger demonstration is planned outside Dublin Bus headquarters at noon on Saturday.

The Network Direct project was announced in April last year and follows the 2008 Deloitte report, Cost and Efficiency Review of Dublin Bus, which was endorsed by the government. It recommended a fundamental review of routes and services given the dramatically changed Dublin city.

The key aims of Network Direct were to make routes more direct with fewer diversions into housing estates, to make them more regular and to simplify the network.

The spokeswoman for Dublin Bus yesterday rejected claims by the campaign that changes were being implemented with little or no consultation. “We have held numerous public information roadshows and public meetings, meetings with residents and with elected representatives as well as dealing on a daily basis with customers and elected representatives either by phone or e-mail.

“Since the public consultation in this area the Network Direct team have engaged almost daily with residents and local representatives regarding their queries, so to suggest that Dublin Bus has not advertised, engaged with our informed people of proposals for this area is unfair and inaccurate.”

Areas that have had service changes – Stillorgan, north Wicklow, Lucan, north Kildare and Blanchardstown – have seen passenger number increase and there has been positive customer feedback.

“The following areas have been through the public consultation process, the feedback and issues raised are being considered and in some areas plans have been revised,” the spokeswoman said.

“They are Finglas south, east and west, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Merrion Road, Malahide Road, Cabra, Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Tallaght, Walkinstown, Crumlin Road, South Circular Road, Pearse Street, Sandymount, Kilmacud, Goatstown, Ballinteer and Dundrum. As yet there are no final implementation dates for these areas.”

She said the Network Direct project was supported by the National Transport Authority and any route changes had to be approved by the authority before implementation.

Bríd Smith, councillor and co- ordinator of the Save Our Bus Services campaign, said the campaign was growing as the public became aware of the changes.

PASSENGERS PROTEST: PLANS TO TAKE 19 OFF ROUTE OPPOSED

A HANDFUL of protesters, members of the Save the Number 19 campaign, boarded the 3.50pm service of the bus yesterday at Bulfin Road in Kilmainham. They were there to carry a petition with 5,000 signatures against plans to eliminate the route to the headquarters of the National Transport Authority in the city.

Organiser Brian Stafford said withdrawal of the number 19 would affect people across the city, from Inchicore, through Harold's Cross, Camden Street, Phibsboro and Finglas.

"This is a unique route," Mr Stafford said. "A significant number of people use it to attend hospital and doctor appointments. Many are elderly and for many the 19 bus is their only realistic option. If it is scrapped, people will be very badly hit here."

Patricia Larkin, an elderly Bulfin resident, said that she used the service "quite a lot". "I want to keep a local service because I use it to go to Camden Street. I volunteer with Alone and if the 19 went I'd have to get two buses."

John Francis Smith, also elderly, said he used the 19 to go to eye appointments in Harrington Street. "I don't know how I'd get there without the 19. I suppose I'd have to walk to Rialto to catch a bus and I have a bad hip."

A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said the 19 route was not being scrapped. "Yes, the route number 19 will no longer be used but the area, route and bus stops that it currently serves will continue to be served – albeit by different bus route numbers . . .

"Route 19 will be replaced on the south side of the city with a realigned route 68. The 68 will operate from Newcastle to Hawkins Street and will serve Clondalkin, Bulfin Road, South Circular Road and Camden Street . . .

"This route will operate via Bulfin Road and then on the exact same route alignment, serving the exact same bus stops as the current route 19 does in south Dublin."