Go-Ahead Ireland
| File:Go-Ahead Ireland logo.jpg | |
| Parent | Go-Ahead Group |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 2017 |
| Headquarters | Ballymount, Dublin |
| Service area | Dublin |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Routes | 23 |
| Depots | Ballymount |
| Fleet | 133 |
| Chief executive | Ed Wills |
| Website | www.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 when the fleet grew to 125 buses after taking over all its services that were scheduled to commence operation on.[6][7][8][9] The contract is for five years with an option for a two-year extension.[10][11][12]
Routes
Dublin routes
Note: The origin and destination routes are reversed on the return journey
| Route | Origin | Destination | Notes | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Blackrock | Rialto | 20 January 2019 | |
| 17A | Kilbarrack | Blanchardstown | 2 December 2018 | |
| 17C | Blackrock | Rialto | As route 17, but not serving UCD | 20 January 2019 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | Tallaght | As route 75, but via Sandyford Industrial Estate | 7 October 2018 |
| 76 | Tallaght | Chapelizod | 24 March 2019 | |
| 76A | Tallaght | Blanchardstown | 24 March 2019 | |
| 102 | Sutton | Dublin Airport | 2 December 2018 | |
| 104 | Clontarf Road DART Station | DCU | 20 January 2019 | |
| 111 | Dalkey | Bride's Glen LUAS Station | 21 October 2018 | |
| 114 | Blackrock | Ticknock Hill | 20 January 2019 | |
| 175 | UCD | Citywest | 9 September 2018 | |
| 184 | Bray | Newtownmountkennedy | 21 October 2018 | |
| 185 | Bray | Enniskerry | 21 October 2018 | |
| 220 | DCU | Ladyswell Road | 20 January 2019 | |
| 220A | DCU | Coolmine | 20 January 2019 | |
| 236 | Blanchardstown | Damastown | 20 January 2019 | |
| 236A | Blanchardstown | Damastown | As route 236, but not serving Ballycoolin | 20 January 2019 |
| 238 | Tyrellstown | Ladyswell Road | 20 January 2019 | |
| 239 | Blanchardstown | Liffey Valley | 20 January 2019 | |
| 270 | Blanchardstown | Dunboyne | 20 January 2019 |
Former Bus Éireann routes
Go-Ahead Ireland is scheduled to take over the operation of a further six routes from Dublin to Offaly, Laois, Kildare and Meath from Bus Éireann in mid 2019.[13][14]
Fleet
Go-Ahead Ireland commenced operations with nine buses.[15] By the time it takes over its final routes from Dublin Bus in January 2019, the fleet is 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 8 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 orginally 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. [16] Ten Mercedes-Benz Citaros and five Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs were transferred from Oxford Bus Company and Go-Ahead London as driver trainers.[17][18]
Go-Ahead Ireland's fleet is managed from its primary depot on the site of a former DHL Express depot in Ballymount.[19]
References
- ^ NTA to put bus routes to tender Dublin Gazette 5 February 2015
- ^ NAT Announces Go-Ahead as preferred bidder for bus routes in Dublin National Transport Authority 10 August 2017
- ^ Go-Ahead Group awarded Outer Dublin, Metropolitan Area bus contract Go-Ahead London August 2017
- ^ Dublin Bus loses control of 24 bus routes serving suburbs The Irish Times 10 August 2017
- ^ First buses in Ireland run by British firm begin services
- ^ "Go-Ahead set to run two dozen outer Dublin routes" Buses issue 751 October 2017 page 7
- ^ Go-Ahead Ireland Opens New Depot in Dublin Go-Ahead Ireland 9 July 2018
- ^ This is what buses will look line on 24 Dublin bus routes later this year TheJournal.ie 9 July 2018
- ^ Go-Ahead gears up for Autumn schedules Go-Ahead Ireland
- ^ NAT Announces Go-Ahead as preferred bidder for bus routes in Dublin National Transport Authority 10 August 2017
- ^ Dublin Bus loses control of 24 bus routes serving suburbs Irish Times 10 August 2017
- ^ Go-Ahead awarded outer Dublin metropolitan area bus contract Coach & Bus Week 10 August 2017
- ^ "Go-Ahead awarded Dublin Commuter Routes" Coach & Bus Week issue 1334 20 March 2018 page 8
- ^ Go-Ahead wins second Dublin contract Route One 20 March 2018
- ^ "Go-Ahead Ireland starts operating service 175" Coach & Bus Week issue 1359 11 September 2018 page 12
- ^ "Go-Ahead Ireland to use Wrightbus fleet" Coach & Bus Week issue 1349 3 July 2018 page 7
- ^ "Fleet News" Buses issue 760 July 2018 page 91
- ^ "Fleet News" Buses issue 762 September 2018 page 91
- ^ UK bus group Go-Ahead gets green light for depot ''Irish Independent 16 February 2018
