Improved bus services bring better integration with Dart
Nine more bus routes are to switch from Dublin Bus to Go-Ahead Ireland from Sunday 20 January in a move that will see improved services, across the Transport for Ireland bus network in the capital.
From Sunday, routes 17, 104, 114, 161, 220, 236, 238, 239 and 270 will be operated under the ‘Transport for Ireland’ brand by Go-Ahead Ireland, and passengers on these routes will see immediate improvements in frequency and service levels.
In addition, the switchover of routes will free up resources which has allowed the National Transport Authority to approve a programme of service improvements and modifications on Dublin Bus routes across the network in the weeks ahead.
NTA Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham said:
“This latest phase of changes being introduced this coming weekend are part of an overall process of increasing frequency and improving services on about 50 bus routes in Dublin, operated under the Transport for Ireland brand, by both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland.
This process which got under way in September will be the biggest programme of service improvements that the NTA has ever approved and it is an indication of the level of commitment we have to making the bus service better for more passengers across the network in Dublin.”
Ed Wills, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland said:
“We’re delighted to expand the Go-Ahead Ireland bus service across the capital with the introduction of these additional nine routes.
We look forward to continuing to work with the NTA on improving transport for customers in Dublin and beyond.”
This rollout represents good news for customers in areas such as Blackrock, with the 17 and the 104; Dublin 15 with the 220, 236, 238 and 239; and Maynooth and Leixlip with the 26, the 66 and the new 66E.
If you regularly travel on these routes your bus now has a brand new look, but there are no changes to fares and ticketing:
- Fares remain unchanged
- TFI Leap Card and Free Travel Pass accepted
- Dublin Bus Rambler as well as Annual and Monthly TaxSaver tickets are valid on these routes
- Daily and weekly bus fare capping will apply
The change in operator on these Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes is as a result of a public tender process undertaken by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2017. The competitive tender saw Go-Ahead Ireland being awarded the contract to operate 10% of routes previously operated by Dublin Bus, primarily in the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area.
Full details of all the service changes are available from the www.transportforireland.ie, www.dublinbus.ie and www.goaheadireland.ie websites.
Real time information is available via the TFI Real Time Ireland App. Customers can download for free through the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices.
CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES, JANUARY 20
GO-AHEAD IRELAND
Route 17: Blackrock to Rialto via University College Dublin (UCD) & Dundrum
- There are additional morning peak departures on Monday to Friday and one additional morning and evening departure on Sundays.
- The routing of the service remains unchanged from that operated by Dublin Bus, however for clarity new route numbers have been introduced as follows:
- 17 – Blackrock to Rialto Via UCD
- 17C – Blackrock to Rialto Not Via UCD
- 17D – Dundrum to Rialto
Route 104: Clontarf DART Station to Dublin City University (DCU)
- Route 104 has a minor route change and will terminate at Clontarf DART Station rather than Clontarf Bus Garage.
- The timetable has been re-designed to better integrate with Route 220.
Route 114: Blackrock DART Station to Rockview
- Some additional peak and off peak services have been added to the timetable with departures every forty minutes.
- The timetable has been re-designed to better integrate with DART Services at Blackrock DART Station.
Route 161: Dundrum to Rockbrook
- The number of weekday departures has been doubled from 4 to 8.
Route 220: Dublin City University (DCU) to Lady’s Well Road
- The routing of Route 220 is to be extended from Ballymun to serve the DCU Campus.
- One journey per day will continue to operate via Coolmine Fire Station, this will be renumbered 220A for clarity.
- Route 220 operates hourly.
Route 236: Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to Damastown IBM
- An additional three departures have been added to make a total of six departures daily in each direction, Monday to Friday.
- Services will now be designated distinctly as 236 and 236A, with the 236A operating a more direct route which does not go through Blanchardstown Corporate Park.
Route 238: Lady’s Well Road to Tyrrelstown
- Route 238 will continue to operate an hourly service seven days a week.
- The routing of the 238 remains unchanged.
Route 239: Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
- Route 239 has an improved timetable. There will be additional departures with hourly weekday operations. Saturday service will commence operations earlier in the day and will run until later.
- The routing of the 239 remains unchanged.
Route 270: Dunboyne to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre
- There have been a few minor timetable changes to better integrate with Dublin Bus Route 70 between Dunboyne and Littlepace.
- Two additional services in each direction have been added on Sunday mornings.
DUBLIN BUS SERVICES
Route 11: Wadelai Park to Sandyford Business District via City Centre
- Extra morning peak hour service from Wadelai Park
- Extra service from Sandyford on Sundays
- Earlier morning services from Sandyford on Monday to Friday and Sunday
Route 26: Palmerstown to Merrion Square via Chapelizod Village and City Centre
- All services extended to Liffey Valley
- Sunday services to commence earlier at 0810 from Merrion Square and 0935 from Liffey Valley
- Frequency doubled from 2 hourly to hourly
Route 54a – Kiltipper to Pearse Street via Tallaght and Harold’s Cross
- Additional morning and evening peak journeys to meet increased demand on Monday to Friday
- Evening frequency doubled from hourly to every 30 minutes
Route 66 – Maynooth to Merrion Square via Chapelizod Village and City Centre
- Sunday daytime frequency doubled from hourly to every 30 minutes
Route 66a – Leixlip Captain’s Hill to Merrion Square via Chapelizod Village ad City Centre
- Sunday services to commence earlier at 0740 from Leixlip and 0840 from Merrion Square
- Frequency doubled from 2 hourly to hourly
Route 66b – Leixlip Castletown to Merrion Square via Chapelizod Village and City Centre
- New hourly service introduced on Sundays commencing at 1010 from Leixlip and 1110 from Merrion Square
NEW Route 66e – Maynooth to Merrion Square via Glen Easton, Chapelizod Village and City Centre
- New hourly off peak service on Monday to Friday to provide services via Green Lane/Easton Road area of Leixlip
- Peak services to this area are already provided by Route 66x