Go-Ahead Ireland

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Go-Ahead Ireland
Go Ahead Ireland logo.jpg
20190523-GO-AHEAD-IRELAND-11525 (cropped).jpg
A Go-Ahead Volvo B5TL at the Blanchardstown Centre
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded9 September 2018; 3 years ago (2018-09-09)
HeadquartersBallymount, Dublin
Service areaDublin
Service typePublic Transport Operator
Routes43
DepotsBallymount, Naas
Fleet140
Chief executiveAndrew Edwards
Websitewww.www.goaheadireland.ie

Go-Ahead Transport Services (Dublin) Limited, known as Go-Ahead Ireland is a bus operator in Dublin that commenced trading in September 2018. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group.

History[]

With the aim of improving efficiency, in 2015 the National Transport Authority put the operation of 24 Dublin Bus routes out to tender.[1] In August 2017 the contract was awarded to the Go-Ahead Group.[2][3][4] This represented 10% of the incumbent operator Dublin Bus existing monopoly operated network.

Go-Ahead Ireland commenced operating one new route, 175 from Citywest to University College Dublin, on 9 September 2018.[5] A further four transferred from Dublin Bus on 7 October, then another three on 21 October, four on 2 December, nine on 20 January 2019 and a final three transferred on 24 March 2019. By this time the fleet had grown to 125 buses after taking over all the services that the company was scheduled to commence operation on.[6][7][8][9] The contract is for five years with an option for a two-year extension.[2][10][11]

On 26 July 2019 a second depot was opened in Naas in County Kildare. This depot is being used to manage a number of Dublin commuter coach routes which the company won the tender to operate, formerly operated by Bus Éireann, which were transferred to Go-Ahead between December 2019 and January 2020.

Routes[]

Dublin routes[]

Route Origin Destination Notes Start Date
17 Blackrock Rialto 20 January 2019
17A Kilbarrack Blanchardstown 2 December 2018
17D Rialto Dundrum 20 January 2019
18 Sandymount Palmerstown 24 March 2019
33A Dublin Airport or Swords Skerries or Balbriggan 2 December 2018
33B Swords Portrane 2 December 2018
33S Route 1 : Skerries - Lusk 30 August 2020
Route 2 : Donabate - Portrane
Route 3 : Donabate - Lusk
45A Dún Laoghaire Kilmacanogue 7 October 2018
45B Dún Laoghaire Kilmacanogue As route 45A, but via Shanganagh Cliffs 7 October 2018
59 Dún Laoghaire Killiney 7 October 2018
63 Dún Laoghaire Kilternan 7 October 2018
63A Dún Laoghaire Kilternan As route 63, but via Foxrock Village 7 October 2018
75 Dún Laoghaire Tallaght 7 October 2018
75A Dún Laoghaire As route 75, but via Sandyford Industrial Estate 7 October 2018
76 Chapelizod 24 March 2019
76A Tallaght Blanchardstown 24 March 2019
102 Sutton Dublin Airport 2 December 2018
102/A/C/P/S Rathingle Road (Pavillion) St Fintans Road 30 August 2020
104 Clontarf Road DART Station DCU 20 January 2019
111 Dalkey Brides Glen Luas stop 21 October 2018
114 Blackrock Ticknock Hill 20 January 2019
175 UCD Citywest 9 September 2018
184 Bray Newtownmountkennedy 21 October 2018
185 Bray or Enniskerry Services leaving Bray Station at xx:30 go via Palermo. Ones leaving on the hour terminate at Palermo. 21 October 2018
220 DCU Ladyswell Road 20 January 2019
220A DCU Coolmine 20 January 2019
220S Finglas Collins Avenue 30 August 2020
236 Blanchardstown Damastown Operates as Route 236A when operating back from Blanchardstown in afternoon and from Damastown in the morning. 20 January 2019
236A Blanchardstown Damastown As route 236, but not serving Ballycoolin 20 January 2019
236S Coolmine Community School (CCS) Tyrellstown 30 August 2020
238 Tyrellstown Ladyswell Road 20 January 2019
239 Blanchardstown Liffey Valley 20 January 2019
270 Blanchardstown Dunboyne 20 January 2019
270S Littlepace Road Diswellstown Road 30 August 2020

Dublin Commuter routes[]

Go-Ahead Ireland took over the operation of a further six routes from Dublin to Offaly, Laois, Kildare and Meath from Bus Éireann between December 2019 and January 2020. These are the 120, 120C, 123, 124, 126 and the 130. They started operating the 126 and 130 on 1 December 2019 which coincided with the introduction of new route 125 from Newbridge to UCD. They took over the 120 and 120C on 19 January 2020.[12][13]

Route 197[]

On 24 November 2019, Go-Ahead Ireland started operating route 197. This route is part of a separate contract with the NTA. It uses Alexander Dennis Enviro 200MMCs owned by Go-Ahead rather than the NTA as is the case on the Dublin city and commuter routes.

Fleet[]

Go-Ahead Ireland commenced operations with nine buses.[14] By the time it took over its final routes from Dublin Bus in early 2019, the fleet was scheduled to expand to 125 buses comprising 24 new Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TLs and 40 Wright StreetLites, with 12 Wright Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs and 49 Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TLs to transfer from Dublin Bus. It was later decided that an extra 12 double decker buses were required in order to be able to fulfill the full quantity of routes due to transfer. These buses were diverted from an order of Wright Gemini 3 Volvo B5TL buses originally meant for Dublin Bus bringing the fleet up to 133 buses. Go-Ahead Ireland use a five digit number for fleet numbering with their 80 B5TLs being numbered from 11501 to 11580, 12 B9TLs are numbered from 11901 to 11912 and the 40 Streetlites are numbered between 12101 and 12140.[15] 9 former Dublin Bus AX class Volvo B7TL buses with Alexander ALX400 bodywork have been added to the fleet as additional buses.[citation needed] Ten Mercedes-Benz Citaros and five Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs were transferred from Oxford Bus Company and Go-Ahead London as driver trainers.[16][17]

The Dublin Commuter routes are operated by a mixture of double deck VDL Futura coaches and Sunsundegui SB3 bodied Volvo B8RLE interurban buses.

Go-Ahead Ireland's Dublin City fleet is managed from its primary depot on the site of a former DHL Express depot in Ballymount. A second depot in Naas where the Commuter routes are based opened on 26 July 2019.[18]

In August 2020 Go-Ahead Ireland began operation of 8 new routes in North and West County Dublin. The fleet they use on these routes are eight Ex- Dublin Bus 2006 ALX 400 class buses formerly AX497-505 now they are numbered 11701-11709. They are currently operating on route 33S,102A/C/P/S,220S,236S&270S

References[]

  1. ^ NTA to put bus routes to tender Dublin Gazette 5 February 2015
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b NAT Announces Go-Ahead as preferred bidder for bus routes in Dublin National Transport Authority 10 August 2017
  3. ^ Go-Ahead Group awarded Outer Dublin, Metropolitan Area bus contract Go-Ahead London August 2017
  4. ^ Dublin Bus loses control of 24 bus routes serving suburbs The Irish Times 10 August 2017
  5. ^ First buses in Ireland run by British firm begin services
  6. ^ "Go-Ahead set to run two dozen outer Dublin routes" Buses issue 751 October 2017 page 7
  7. ^ Go-Ahead Ireland Opens New Depot in Dublin Go-Ahead Ireland 9 July 2018
  8. ^ This is what buses will look line on 24 Dublin bus routes later this year TheJournal.ie 9 July 2018
  9. ^ Go-Ahead gears up for Autumn schedules Go-Ahead Ireland
  10. ^ Dublin Bus loses control of 24 bus routes serving suburbs Irish Times 10 August 2017
  11. ^ Go-Ahead awarded outer Dublin metropolitan area bus contract Coach & Bus Week 10 August 2017
  12. ^ "Go-Ahead awarded Dublin Commuter Routes" Coach & Bus Week issue 1334 20 March 2018 page 8
  13. ^ Go-Ahead wins second Dublin contract Route One 20 March 2018
  14. ^ "Go-Ahead Ireland starts operating service 175" Coach & Bus Week issue 1359 11 September 2018 page 12
  15. ^ "Go-Ahead Ireland to use Wrightbus fleet" Coach & Bus Week issue 1349 3 July 2018 page 7
  16. ^ "Fleet News" Buses issue 760 July 2018 page 91
  17. ^ "Fleet News" Buses issue 762 September 2018 page 91
  18. ^ UK bus group Go-Ahead gets green light for depot Irish Independent 16 February 2018
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