Unions "puzzled" at call for change

THE reaction of union representatives at Dublin Bus to their special meeting with management yesterday could best be described as puzzlement.

Mr Peter Burning, general secretary of the Dublin Bus and Rail Workers' Union said the situation at Dublin Bus was "still quite good". He felt management was being pressurised from out side "by the Government, EU legislation and the DTI (Dublin Transport Initiative)".

Mr Ken Fleming, branch official with SIPTU, also believed management was acting under pressure, but from the CIE board. He thought yesterday's meeting was about "a definite political attempt" to make Dublin Bus look "shabby", while preparing an argument to justify the proposed Luas tramway.

Both men asked whether the proposal was a viable or efficient public transport service.

"For instance, from Tallaght," said Mr Bunting, "Dublin Bus transports 58,000 people at peak time. The maximum the Luas can carry is 5,000."

Mr Fleming" illustrated how a more efficient bus service had proved to be effective. "The first quality corridor was introduced in Blanchardstown in 1992", he said. "It has resulted in increased revenue of 25 per cent and, of the anew passengers, 40 per cent used to drive their cars into town."

He queried Dublin Bus's policy, of replacing its fleet every 12 years when, with the same Leyland Alexander buses, transport," companies in Britain did so only every 16 years. The Leylands, were, he felt, "good, sturdy buses with a lifespan of 20 years".