UK firm to take over 10% of Dublin Bus routes
UK bus company Go-Ahead has been announced as preferred bidder for 10% of Dublin bus routes after winning a tendering competition by the National Transport Authority. The company is expected to begin operating some of the 24 routes by the end of November 2018 and all routes by February 2019.
Dublin Bus also submitted a tender but was unsuccessful. Contracts have yet to be signed but Go-Ahead will have 12 months to provide a depot. The firm will operate 23 existing routes that serve outer suburbs of the greater Dublin area. Among them are the 185, which connects Bray with Newtownmountkennedy, the 76a, which connects Blanchardstown and Tallaght shopping centres, and the 220, which travels from Ballymun to Mulhuddart.
NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham said that cost savings are envisaged and that there will be increased frequency of services as well as a 35% increase in kilometres covered. She added: “This is ultimately about improving bus services for Dublin and NTA is confident that passengers will benefit from this decision.
“We believe that a new operator in the market will bring a fresh dimension to the way that services are offered. Introducing new providers encourages everybody to focus on their customers’ needs and it encourages innovation and improvements to service quality.”
