Dublin's central bus station, Busaras, was very busy yesterday evening as extra passengers took advantage of the "No Fares Day" protest.Bus Éireann said they had not made any provision for extra buses and priority was being given to ticket holders.
Ms Fiona Cunningham was worried she would not get a seat on a bus to Enniskillen. "It has been madness," she said. "The one day I have to go home and it's like this." There are no trains to Enniskillen, she said, so she had to take a bus.
There was general support for Bus Éireann workers yesterday. Passengers said, however, that an all-out strike would have been more effective. Irish and foreign passengers took advantage of the Dublin Bus open-top bus tours of the city, which normally cost €12.50 and €6.00 for a child.
One Irish passenger said he has been living in Dublin since November and took the tour to see some of the city. "If it's good, I'll recommend it to some of my friends," he said. "But they'll be paying."
David and Anne-Marie, from Stoke-on-Trent, England, said they had confidence in the Irish public transport system and copying the British model would spell disaster.
"We would never take a bus at home," said Anne-Marie. "I haven't been on a bus in 15 years," David added.
Mr Michael McKeown, a Bus Éireann driver said he hoped yesterday's action "knocks a few heads together".
"People are sympathetic," he said. He felt an all-out strike would have cost the taxpayer a lot more than a "No Fares Day".
Some passengers, however were happy to avail of the free service on Bus Éireann.
Ms Emer Finlay from Meath was travelling to Donegal for the weekend.
"We had it planned," she says. "But since it was free we took it, I figured it would be crazy but the public get their service."
