Improved bus services bring better integration with Dart
Three more bus routes are to switch from Dublin Bus to Go-Ahead Ireland from Sunday 24 March in a move that will see improved services, across the Transport for Ireland bus network in the capital. This marks the final phase of the changeover of routes in the capital that commenced in September 2018.
From Sunday, routes 18, 76 and 76A 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 final 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.
“This is part of the single 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 Go-Ahead Ireland said: “We’re delighted to expand the Go-Ahead Ireland bus service across the capital with the introduction of these additional 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 Sandymount and Palmerstown with the 18; and Tallaght, Chapelizod and Blanchardstown with the 76 and 76a.
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.
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, MARCH 24
GO-AHEAD IRELAND
Route 18 Sandymount to Palmerstown
- The routing of the 18 remains unchanged from that operated by Dublin Bus.
- Route 18 will operate at a similar frequency on Monday to Friday.
- Weekend timetables have been significantly increased with additional services operating on both days.
Route – 76 / 76a – Tallaght to Chapelizod / Blanchardstown
- The routing of the 76 and 76a remains unchanged, however, to assist passengers a joint TFI timetable has been produced including both services.
- Route 76 Monday to Friday timetable will operate with an additional 6 departures.
- Saturday and Sunday timetables will operate with a significant increase in frequency.
- Route 76a operating from Tallaght to Blanchardstown will have an improved frequency with an additional four services added to the timetable to provide a total of seven departures Monday to Friday in both directions
- The new 76a timetable has been re-designed to better integrate with Route 236 at Blanchardstown Town Centre.
DUBLIN BUS SERVICES
Route 155
- This new route will operate 7 days a week from IKEA (Ballymun) to Bray Rail Station, serving Dublin City University, Phibsborough, the city centre, Donnybrook, University College Dublin, Stillorgan Road, Cabinteely, Shankill and Bray.
- Route 155 will extend cross-city services between north Dublin and County Wicklow, bringing people, business, universities and communities together.
Furthermore, the following routes will all benefit from enhanced timetables.
- Route 13
- Route 25
- Route 25a
- Route 25b
- Route 38
- Route 38a
- Route 39
- Route 39a
- Route 70
The routes will collectively benefit from enhanced reliability and improved journey times as a result of improvements including:
- Extra departures throughout the week
- Earlier start times in the morning (especially on Sunday)
- Improved weekend services