[Article] Bus service hopes are firmly dashed

[Colm Moore]

http://www.fingal-independent.ie/new...d-1758672.html

Bus service hopes are firmly dashed
JOINT TICKETING RULED OUT
By Robin KIELY

Wednesday June 03 2009

HOPES of improved bus services in the Fingal capital have been dashed after a plan to allow Swords Express to accept Dublin Bus tickets was rejected. The private operator had proposed a jointticketing arrangement earlier this year. However, Dublin Bus and the Department of Transport turned the scheme down. 'We contacted Dublin Bus to see if we could find some way to work with them to improve bus services in the Swords area,' Swords Express managing director, Antoin O'Lachtnain said. ' What we suggested was that we would be willing to accept Dublin Bus pre-paid tickets - for example, the prepaid travel-90 ticket, which costs € 1.80 per trip - on Swords Express services.

' We believed this would be in the interests of all parties, especially commuters in Swords. It would mean Swords commuters would have access to a comfortable express service to the city at all times of day, in both directions, at a low price. 'Swords Express has considerably lower costs than Dublin Bus, and so Dublin Bus would actually save money through this arrangement. We hoped this would also be a means to bring an end to expensive and timeconsuming litigation for all parties.'

It's understood Dublin Bus were initially open to the suggestion and discussed the concept with the department. However, there have been no further negotiations with Swords Express.

'Dublin Bus told us the integrated ticketing system and the Dublin Transport Authority might provide a solution to the problems we had outlined, but this could take years,' Mr O'Lachtnain said.

'It will be at least 18 months, and probably longer, before integrated ticketing is in place. It could be years before there is any conclusion that is in any way helpful to the people of Swords. We are very disappointed at what has happened.

'In the meantime, Dublin Bus are cutting back services in the Swords area and Swords Express are facing ongoing delays in getting permission to extend the service to that area.' A Dublin Bus spokesperson said the company had consider the suggestion 'in detail' and had given a 'practical proposal' to Swords Express.

'Dublin Bus informed Swords Express that the most constructive approach to their suggestion was to consider joining the Integrated Ticketing System,' they said.

- Robin KIELY

[sean]

times like this I really despair at the way we do things in this country.