Dublin Bus will use satellites to track bus fleet

Dublin Bus yesterday shared its vision for the future - a fleet of 1,500 buses and a series of new depots, each bus tracked by satellite as it goes into service. There will also be a new communications system linking drivers to inspectors and "real-time information displays" at each stop.

While some of the strategy is not new, the company yesterday said it was now in a position to give target dates for delivery of the improved services.

The company also announced immediate implementation of its plan for depots, a new ticketing system and commitments to an increasing share of road space from local authorities. Also outlined were 20 Xpresso services from the suburbs to the city centre.

A new depot at Broadstone for 170 buses has recently been developed at a cost of £6 million and plans are advanced for a second depot at Harristown, near the Ballymun junction of the M50, to be completed by 2003. It is expected to cost £40 million and hold 240 buses. According to the company, the fleet will increase from about 1,000 to 1,500 over the next four years. The company said the next in the series of depots to support the enlarged fleet was likely to be close to the M50, most likely near Tallaght.

The real-time information display, which is similar to that in operation in Dart stations, has been on trial in the Lucan area and is being extended to the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot Quality Bus Corridors (QBCs) this year. The company hopes to have it in service across all routes by 2004/5. This system is to be aided by the satellite GPS tracking system.

The number of QBCs is to increase - the company said just 20 per cent of its network was served by QBCs, but since restrictions were placed on private cars at the junctions of Dawson Street and Nassau Street and South Great George's Street and Dame Street, bus journey times through the city centre had improved. The company was working with the corporation on a similar scheme at Parnell Square to restrict cars travelling southbound on O'Connell Street.

Some routes will continue to terminate on city streets, but the Dublin Bus business development manager, Mr Paddy Doherty, said that when the system was working efficiently it should be possible to reduce the amount of time buses idle there.

The company is also reorganising its ticketing system to reduce the number and variety of ticket options, while meeting the demand for weekly and season tickets. It has introduced a "rambler" range of tickets allowing travel between one and seven days. In 2003 the company expects to replace its ticketing machines and will integrate its system with the Luas system, which is expected to come into service that year.

The Xpresso system now operates on a range of routes, the letter X denoting the service has a reduced number of stops. The service was designed to ease overcrowding and speed passengers in and out of the city.