PUBLIC TRANSPORT

All Photographs Supplied By William Murphy

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REBRANDED DUBLINBIKES BIKES AT DOCKING STATION 04

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PEDAL POWER AT THE FOUR COURTS TRAM STOP

PHOTO COLLECTIONS: PUBLIC TRANSPORT

This docking station serving the Four Courts Tram Stop is on Greek Street across the road from the Hampton by Hilton hotel,

It seems that DublinBikes has rebranded with the new “Pedal Power” logo, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they have a new sponsor.

Here’s what I understand: JCDecaux, the French outdoor advertising giant, is seeking a new brand to take on a €750,000-a-year contract to sponsor the Dublin Bikes scheme. The managing director of JCDecaux’s Irish business, said the company will be going to market this month seeking a “strong partner” for the Dublin Bikes Scheme, which currently has close to 30,000 annual subscribers.

SO I PHOTOGRAPHED THE SPIRIT OF THE DOCKLANDS TURNING ON THE RIVER LIFFEY

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I HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO

The bright red “Spirit of the Docklands” is a familiar sight gliding along Dublin’s historic River Liffey. Here’s a look at this popular river tour:

What It Is:

Purpose-Built Tour Boat: The “Spirit of the Docklands” is a modern vessel with glass roofing, specifically designed for sightseeing along the Liffey.
Departure Point: It departs from a landing stage at Bachelor’s Walk, a central location in Dublin.
The Route: The cruise takes you from the city centre, downriver past landmarks like the Custom House, under famous bridges, and into the heart of the Docklands area. Then, it turns around at the Grand Canal Basin before returning upstream to its starting point.

The Experience:

History and Sights: Throughout the tour, a guide provides commentary about Dublin’s history, the significance of the Liffey, and specific landmarks and buildings you pass.
Dublin Perspective: It offers a unique view of Dublin from the water, allowing you to see familiar sights from a new angle.
Accessibility: The “Spirit of the Docklands” is wheelchair-accessible and has facilities to accommodate visitors comfortably.

Why It’s Special:

Docklands Focus: This tour is especially interesting for those interested in Dublin’s Docklands area. This once-neglected district has seen major revitalization, and the cruise showcases its transformation into a hub of modern architecture and business.
The Liffey’s Story: The River Liffey is Dublin’s lifeblood. This tour lets you connect with the city’s history through its waterway.

How to Find Out More:

Dublin Docklands Website: https://www.dublindocklands.ie/living-docklands/things-do/sightseeing/liffey-river-cruises
Dublin Discovered Boat Tours: https://dublindiscovered.ie/
Whether you’re a Dublin local or a visitor exploring for the first time, a cruise on the “Spirit of the Docklands” adds a special dimension to your city experience.

ABOUT THE BOAT

Builder: The “Spirit of the Docklands” was built in Sweden by Westers Mekaniska, a reputable boat manufacturer.
Arrival in Dublin: It came to Dublin in June 2005, specifically commissioned for these Liffey tours.
Design: It features a low-profile design with a glass roof that maximises panoramic views for passengers.
Capacity: The boat can carry 50 passengers comfortably.
Accessibility: It’s designed to be wheelchair-accessible.
Semi-Submersible?: Initially , I couldn’t find any information to confirm that the “Spirit of the Docklands” has semi-submersible capabilities. That feature is more common in dedicated underwater touring boats. After further research I obtained the following information:

Here’s how those features enhance the cruise experience:

Variable Ballast Tanks: By adjusting the water in its ballast tanks, the boat can control its buoyancy. This means:

Low Tide Accommodation: The boat can “float high” in shallow waters during low tide, ensuring the tour doesn’t get disrupted by the changing water level.
Passing Under Bridges: At high tide, it can lower its profile significantly, allowing it to navigate under the Liffey’s historic bridges, some of which have a low clearance.
Exceptionally Low Air Draught: This term refers to the vertical space the boat occupies above the waterline. The “Spirit of Docklands” is designed to be as low as possible. This, combined with the ballast tanks, maximises its ability to pass under even the lowest bridges.

Similar Boats:

While the “Spirit of the Docklands” is tailored to Dublin’s Liffey, similar sightseeing boats can be found in other cities with rivers or canals. Here are some types:

Glass-Roofed Boats: Many cities offer river tours on vessels with large windows or glass roofs to provide unobstructed views.
Hop-On, Hop-Off Boats: Some cities operate water-based sightseeing systems where the boats stop at various points along the river, similar to bus tours.
Historic Vessels: Occasionally, refurbished historic boats offer a unique sightseeing experience combined with a connection to the city’s past.

What Makes “Spirit of the Docklands” Special:

Even without the semi-submersible feature, it’s special because:

Docklands Focus: The route highlights Dublin’s Docklands transformation, an area not always covered by other river tours.
Tailored Design: The boat’s design is well-suited to navigating the Liffey, including its lower bridges.
Historical Commentary: The guided commentary adds a layer of depth and historical context to the visual exp

CONNOLLY TRAIN STATION [REF-226008-1]

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DECEMBER 2023

Connolly Station, also known as Dublin Connolly, is the busiest railway station in Ireland, serving as a vital hub for both domestic and international travel [is a train every two hours to Belfast international travel?]. Situated in the heart of Dublin city centre, the station is a bustling gateway to Ireland’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty.

MY FIRST DAY WITHOUT THE 17 BUS SERVICE REF-225557-1

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WALK FROM S4 BUS STOP IN UCD TO ROEBUCK ROAD

As already mentioned I visit my mother, 104 in May, every Tuesday and Saturday and this means that I need to travel to Roebuck Road in Clonskeagh. For the last two years I have travelled to Windy Arbour by tram and the by bus (17 route) to Roebuck Road. Yesterday the 17 route was discontinued which complicate my life to a certain degree.

Before I begin to complain I should mention that the 17 was a very unreliable and that I frequently walked from Windy Arbour and Roebuck Road.

Anyway, today, I travelled by tram to Milltown and used the new bus stop to catch the S4 to UCD but I it took me another 15 minutes to walk to my final destination. As the S4 passes along Bird Avenue it might have made more sense to get of at the Clonskeagh end. I got off the first stop at the University Campus but I suspect that the second stop might be closer to Roebuck road. For my return journey I went to the Bird Avenue stop but the first bus was an 11 which travels direct to the city centre. In general, based on experience, I avoid the 11 as it is infrequent, often full and very slow as it gets stuck in traffic.

The introduction of these new routes is being promoted as a major improvement for south Dublin residents, but there’s a downside for certain commuters, as bus services 18, 17/d, 61, 75/a, 76/a, and 175 will came to a halt on November 26.

According to TFI, the specific details of the new routes are as follows:

  • The S4 will travel from Liffey Valley Shopping Centre to Ballyfermot, Crumlin Hospital, Terenure, and conclude at UCD.
  • The S2 will link Heuston Station with St James’s Hospital, Rathmines, Sandymount, the RDS, and Poolbeg.
  • The S6 will connect Tallaght with Rathfarnham Shopping Centre, UCD and Blackrock Station.
  • The S8 will establish a connection between Dun Laoghaire, Sandyford Luas, Tallaght and Citywest.
  • The 74 route serves Dundrum Luas, Marlay Park, the Coombe Hospital and Eden Quay.
  • The L25 will form a link between Dundrum Luas, Stillorgan, and Dún Laoghaire.
  • The L55 will connect Palmerstown Village, Ballyfermot and Chapelizod.
  • Route W2 will link Tallaght, Newlands Cross and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

Buses from the S and W series are anticipated to run frequently, ranging from every 10-20 minutes during peak hours, with the S8 operating every 30 minutes on weekends.
On weekdays, the L25 runs every 15 minutes, and the L55 operates hourly. The 74 route is scheduled to run every 30 minutes on both weekdays and weekends.

AS THE BUS AND TRAM SERVICES WERE SUSPENDED IN THE CITY CENTRE

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I WENT TO CONNOLLY STATION AND TRAVELLED BY DART

My plans on Thursday and today were disrupted so I decided that I would travel to Bray by train but I decided to get off at Sandymount Station and explore the immediate area.

When I arrived at the station it was full of vert confused travellers and tourists who had arrived in the city centre only to discover that many bus and all tram services within the city centre area had been suspended … much to the delight of local taxi drivers.

Connolly station or Dublin Connolly is one of the busiest railway stations in Dublin and Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. On the North side of the River Liffey, it provides InterCity, Enterprise and commuter services to the north, north-west, south-east and south-west. The north–south Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Luas red line light rail services also pass through the station. The station offices are the headquarters of Irish Rail, Iarnród Éireann. Opened in 1844 as Dublin Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre.