Paul Murphy: Calls Bus Connects Rollout a 'Disaster' for Constituency
Paul Murphy criticised the new Bus Connects rollout, saying it has been a disaster in his constituency and that F-Spine routes now take 20 to 30 minutes longer and provide fewer options for commuters. He reported frequent delays and cancellations across Dublin and South West routes and urged engagement with the NTA.
Murphy said constituents are reporting that buses on the F-Spine routes, intended to offer more direct journeys to the city centre, are instead taking 20 to 30 minutes longer and reducing options for people travelling to work or school.
He highlighted frequent delays and cancellations affecting nearly all routes in Dublin and South West, singling out the S and W routes operated by Go Ahead as examples of the wider disruption.
Murphy noted that the NTA has been forced to change routes elsewhere, citing adjustments in Thingless and Chapel Izzard after protests and residents making their voices heard, and asked whether the NTA will do the same locally or if people will be forced to protest.
He acknowledged past issues with Bus Connects, saying initial plans were sometimes overambitious and later rolled back, which built unnecessary heat and eroded services for habitual users. He said lessons could be learned and that engagement with the NTA is necessary while still recognising some progress in the programme.
Murphy concluded by stressing the need for a good, improved bus transport system and reiterated that he and others will engage with the NTA about the current problems and potential fixes.
Local impact
Murphy said constituents are reporting that buses on the F-Spine routes, intended to offer more direct journeys to the city centre, are instead taking 20 to 30 minutes longer and reducing options for people travelling to work or school.
Delays and cancellations
He highlighted frequent delays and cancellations affecting nearly all routes in Dublin and South West, singling out the S and W routes operated by Go Ahead as examples of the wider disruption.
NTA changes and local protests
Murphy noted that the NTA has been forced to change routes elsewhere, citing adjustments in Thingless and Chapel Izzard after protests and residents making their voices heard, and asked whether the NTA will do the same locally or if people will be forced to protest.
Lessons from the rollout
He acknowledged past issues with Bus Connects, saying initial plans were sometimes overambitious and later rolled back, which built unnecessary heat and eroded services for habitual users. He said lessons could be learned and that engagement with the NTA is necessary while still recognising some progress in the programme.
Calls for a better bus system
Murphy concluded by stressing the need for a good, improved bus transport system and reiterated that he and others will engage with the NTA about the current problems and potential fixes.
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Transcript
The new rollout of Bus Connect routes has been a disaster in my constituency. Constituents are reporting that buses on the F-Spine routes, which were supposed to provide a more direct route to the city centre and more connectivity, are actually taking 20 to 30 minutes longer to get into town and providing fewer options for people trying to get to work or school. It is made worse by the frequent delays and cancellations seen across nearly all routes in Dublin and South West, including the S and W routes operated by Go Ahead. Elsewhere, the NTA has been forced to change routes in Thingless and in Chapel Izzard due to protests and people making their voices heard. Will the NTA do the same here, or will people be forced to protest? Bus Connects disaster. That is not a word, that is not uncommon. Anyway, I have had my issues with Bus Connects down through the years. I think there has been issues in terms of both habitual users of bus services who feel the changing of services or reorientation of scheduling and so on like that has damaged or has eroded what they would have had prior to it. And then we had all the issues around, in my view, over the top initial plans which then got rolled back and that seems to have been a pattern throughout the Bus Connects journey and I think lessons could be learned from that. There was a lot of heat built up that perhaps wasn't necessary in the first place because a lot of stuff that was proposed was then taken away. So again, we will engage with the NTA in terms of what's happening. I think they have made a lot of progress now in Bus Connects. We do need a good bus transport system. We do need a better bus transport system.