Port Tunnel Petitioners
November 5th, 2007
There was a petition during the summer regarding express bus services in the Dublin Port Tunnel (see this news report). Does anybody know who organized this petition? I am trying to track them down so that I can get their feedback about our new service.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Presumably you will be accepting the Dublin Bus annual tickets?
November 15th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
We won’t get any payment for Dublin Bus for accepting them, so we can’t, sorry. We would very much like to be able to do this.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Think it was the Holywell residents committe
November 19th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I’m afraid I won’t be using your service. €3 one way is rather steep.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
As a commuter who lives in Swords I feel that Dublin Bus should be able to use the tunnel on all of it’s Swords, Balbriggan etc. routes. This would benefit the public in general - not just those who are willing to pay that bit extra for a private service.
The route of this new services will only benefit those living close to the village. The majority of people commuting live in Applewood, Glen Ellen, Brides Glen, Bunbury Gate, Swords Manor, Lios Cian, Cian Lea & River Valley etc. i.e. a good walk away from the Village - I can’t see myself trying to get to the Pavillions to avail of this when I can get the 41X around the corner.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
The Socialist Party (Dublin North Branch) organised petitions at the bus stops in Swords and in the City center. Petitions were also carried out door to door, the findings were that most people agreed that the port tunnel should be used for buses, but that it should be the a publicly owned service. The signed petitions were copied and sent to local and national governments.
The port tunnel was built with public money, our money paid to the government through taxes, I think that it is wrong that a private company should be allowed to run a service on a route that we paid for. The public transport that we have got is by no means perfect, but if it was properly funded and free to use it could be a better service.
I worked on public transport for ten years as did my father and brother, and we’d agree that the CIE group of companies are not the best places in the world to work and there is so much money wasted on just counting the money, checking tickets, fixing ticket machines. But public transport is a service not a license to print money where routes are profitable and not operate services where profits can’t be made.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Donal, good to hear from you! Surely the important thing here is to concentrate on the quality of the service? Why does it matter if it is publicly owned? We depend on the private sector for essential items like food, what’s wrong with having the private sector involved in transport?
This is a good service. Bringing the price of the service down lower or making it free is no problem if the money is made available. I agree that transport sector should be a better sector to work in. Just because the road networks were built by public money shouldn’t mean that no one but the government should be allowed provide services on them.
This is not a licence to print money. We are a long way from making any money on this route. We provide an all-day express service, which is a business the public sector is just not interested in.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Admin, you ask Why does it matter if it is publicly owned?
you would want it publicly owned to control it. our taxes went into the tunnel, we waited and watched as the most ‘efficient’ of funding approaches on infrastructural projects ran over budget & over time and under clearance height. Now running a public bus service into it will ensure the service is run for the public good and not squatted on like the A1 bus service from Howth Junction to the airport. Details here http://url.ie/48t
I even read in the Northside People the journal of all authority in these matters, that Michael Kennedy TD of Fianna Fail (yes FF) from Swords is lobbying to get Dublin Bus on the route as well. Its a very hot potato. He must have seen the Socialist Party petition.
Admin is the Public route 128 from the currently unbuilt Baldoyle DART to Rathmines every 10 minutes not express?
just two questions.
Have you received undertakings that public routes will not be allowed use the tunnel. And have you any issue competing with a similar or complimentary service on the same route.?
December 9th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
You make good points about the problems of other transport companies and major projects which are state-owned.
Providing a good transport service in Swords is certainly a hot potato and is one we are working hard to get a grasp on.
Have you tried our service? What do you think of it yourself?
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I haven’t tried it yet, but as I am in swords once a week every week I will find myself in town some day & I will aim to try it. happy new year.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I’m furiuos with Swords Express! Was delighted when a private service started up and wanted to back yous all the way, however living in Rivervalley the route doesn’t serve me. Instead I take the 8.05 41x that comes up through Rivervalley and uses the tunnel. However we were told this morning that it was the last morning that it would be possible to do this as the 41x was banned from using the service due to Swords express and licencing issues around the same route! Swords Express does not service Rivervalley and by preventing Rivervalley residence from availing of the tunnel is only serving to turn the public opinion against you. Additionally the morning Swords express buses(8.09 & 8.25) are 9 times out of 10 full and if I were to drive to airside I’m not guaranteed a seat. This is not helping your business, it just means those that were served in Rivervalley by the 41x tunnel bus are now going to be sitting in traffic in Ballymun or Whitehall, and the likelihood is that there frustration will be directed towards Swords Express!!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I feel the express bus should not be used by residents of swords until there is a dublin bus service also, giving the people of swords the option of paying €3 per trip or using the cheaper dublin bus service.
Private operators have looked for the right to provide bus services, but the people of swords have a right to a full bus service serving the community and not just a shopping centre.