Introduction:
We all appreciate that public transport is a good thing. However when we have a system that is very badly run and we have to finance it with tens of millions of our taxes we need to take a look at how we can both improve the service while we also reduce the waste. The good news is its possible.
Using this example you should going forward be more aware of similar wastage in your area and hopefully some of you will measure it and like us propose a solution which is to the benefit of all including those working in the business being examined.
With many experts saying that its inevitable that by 2030 Ireland will be subject of up to €30bn penalties due to our emissions taking action now has never been more important. There is an enormous environmental impact caused by transport waste and we must look for solutions to fix this waste both in private and in public transport.
With a bus weighing 13.8 to 18 tonnes unladen and running as poorly as 2km for one litre of fuel it’s very important that they are used efficiently. We can perhaps appreciate that a single occupancy car is not good both from an environmental but also from a congestion (traffic) point but a bus with just three 256km or four (even 10) passengers is no better.
Our last government was instrumental in increasing the number of buses on our roads and while the numbers using buses is up, mostly in line with population increase, the number of cars on our roads continues to grow. One has to accept that the Car is King. It makes sense. Who apart from idealists can expect people with a car outside their door to take a bus if it involves a long walk at one or both ends. Ironically many who drive and don’t use buses are the first to object when a service is questioned. That said we do need to make public transport the preferred option in places like cities.
This project will look at one bus as an example and propose how we can make massive savings while still providing the service.
The bus we have chosen to start with is the 236 which operates from Cork to Castletownbere. Not all of the 236 buses go all the way to Castletownbere. Some end in Glengarriff and some in Bantry. Like wise not all start from Castletownbere.
The main bus used on this route is a 79 seater double decker.
One of these buses is parked in Glengariff each evening.
At 6.40 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday it leaves Glengariff empty, is driven 32km to Castletownbere on a road that is not suitable for such a long tall bus.
It returns to Glengariff with 2 to 5 people at 8am….64km travelled and almost 1.5hrs since the driver arrived in Glengariff. The driver will often have travelled up to 2hrs+ in their car/van to arrive there for 6.30
The bus heads to Bantry and picks up a few along the way.
However 25mins later another TFI bus arrives from Castletownbere (the 232 from Allihies).
The 236 arrives in Cork bus station at 10.27 A private service 231 (again subsidised by TFI) also goes from Ardgroom and takes in Castletownbere and Glengarriff (@8.25) This arrives in Cork by a different route after Ballylickey @9.50
In the evening the 236 bus that left Castletownbere at 7.20 am leaves Cork at 14.30 and arrives back at Castletownbere at 17.30 practically empty. The driver must then drive it empty back to Glengariff another 32km before driving himself home (up to 2hrs +). The safety of all this driving also needs to be questioned. The bus is not used for public transport from 17.30 until 8.00 the next day
There are a number of other services to Glengarriff and on some days to Castletownbere (again most often using an unnecessary 79 seater)