New Bus Stop Database for Dublin Bus

PRESS RELEASE FILE

Dublin Bus Goes Live with New Bus Stop System based on eSpatial’s iSMART®
June 27, 2008

Company: eSpatial
Industry: Local Government, GIS Software Products, Geospatial Technology
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland, June 27th, eSpatial, a global enterprise geospatial software and technology company today announced that Dublin Bus, the major public transport provider in the greater Dublin Area, Ireland, has gone live with a new Bus Stop Database system based on the eSpatial iSMART® product suite. The transport company will use the system internally for the data capture, analysis, storage and maintenance of bus-stop information.

Built using eSpatial’s award winning iSMART® technology, the new Bus Stop System (BSS) modernises the processing of bus stop information (information that was previously held in disparate spreadsheets and databases) and enables selected personnel to capture and update of associated bus stop data, bus route information and journey patterns In addition to reference information held in text form, the system holds photographs, GPS co-ordinates and relevant documents associated with Dublin bus stops. The mapping component, based on iSMART, enables users to capture, view and query data in a seamless manner, all from a standard web browser. A planned AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) system will also utilise the information contained within the database.

This is a server centric, integrated system in a standard non-proprietary environment; having a single instance of all attribute, mapping and data stored in an Oracle Database. BSS is built using Oracle 10g Application Server and Oracle 10g. Oracle provides the capability to store spatial data is increasingly becoming the de facto standard for spatial data storage within the GIS industry. eSpatial is at the forefront of delivering sophisticated and powerful applications on this platform.

John Caulfield, Solutions Director, Oracle Ireland said “iSMART, together with the Oracle database, offers Dublin Bus a low cost, multi-user, web application including viewing, editing, analysis and management of its data and we’re delighted to see the Dublin Bus Mapping Solution go live.”

Donal Keating, Dublin Bus Manager Operations Support, “Dublin Bus is excited about the new Bus Stop System built by eSpatial, a global GIS software and technology company, headquartered here in Dublin. We’re particularly pleased with the asset management capabilities this system provides us with, in addition, as everything is now web-based, there is excellent return on investment.”

Philip O’Doherty, eSpatial CEO added, “We’re proud to deliver this solution to Dublin Bus and the capabilities in this application further establishes eSpatial as a market leader in providing on-line mapping and location applications that support and integrate with real-world internal and external business systems.”

About eSpatial
eSpatial is a global software and consulting company specializing in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and Location Services. eSpatial leverages ten years of Oracle Spatial experience to deliver sophisticated and powerful web applications. We have a consistent track record of cost-effective solutions that deliver significant return on investment for our customers. iSMART®, our award winning software suite, is the most comprehensive solution to complement Oracle’s Spatial technology platform and is fast becoming the first choice for Oracle Spatial. eSpatial enables customers to realize the potential in on-line mapping and location applications that support and integrate with real-world internal and external business systems. We have a global partner and customer-base that is growing rapidly. This is testament to our commitment to flexibility and responsiveness in ensuring faster time to market for enterprise grade system deployment.

Butlers choose Volvo/Sunsundegui for first fullsize coach

From the Volvo Bus delivery files: Butlers Buses of Cork have just taken delivery of their first full sized coach – a Volvo B7R with Sunsundegui bodywork. The new coach marks an exciting departure for Butlers who, until now, have only run vehicles with a maximum capacity of 30.

“Our business is mainly private hire with a good mix of contract hire, school services and touring. We were increasingly receiving requests to accommodate larger groups”, explained Managing Director Ian Butler. “We wanted to be able to do that without splitting groups over two vehicles or contracting out, but at the same time we were conscious that investing in a full sized coach was a big step for us and we wanted to make sure we got it right.

“We approached Volvo because they have such a good name in the industry.  We’ve seen plenty of B7Rs in action and knew that operators were happy with them. We also really liked the look of the Sunsundegui body and felt it created the right impression. And when a colleague in the industry took me on a test drive of his own B7R Sunsundegui, I knew it was the coach for us. What’s more, the favourable exchange rate between the euro and sterling meant now was a great time to buy”

Specified with Volvo’s D7C 7.1 litre, 290hp common rail fuel injection engine, coupled to the ZF six speed gearbox, the 12m B7R has 53 seats plus courier seat, double glazing and full air-conditioning. It will be used for a range of work from airport, ferry and train transfers to scenic/golf tours and private hire.

“We’ve already had a great response from customers keen to take advantage of the larger capacity,” added Ian Butler, “and we have plenty of advance bookings for the new coach. I’m now keen to get it out on the road so it can start earning its keep!”

Family run Butlers was established 41 years ago by Ian’s father. Their modern fleet provides a range of services from local coach hire to touring throughout Ireland and into Europe.

Dualway continues to develop

South Co. Dublin independent Dualway continue to expand and develop their fleet, with new service, city tour and coaching vehicles being added. Their older fleet is also of interest.

Above: 08-D-30, the first 08-reg decker to go into service in Dublin. (click on any photo for fullsize version). Dualway were the first to run lowfloor accessible buses on the city tour, and add at least one new lowfloor opentopper per year. This year’s delivery, an East Lancs bodied Volvo B9TL is the first to feature visual commentary for the hard of hearing, and to include Irish in the choice of languages on multilingual tours.

Above: Former Dublin Bus Olympian RA257 is retained in closed-top format for the time being, but may be open-topped later in the year.

Above: ex London United RML2720 is under conversion for special operations / publicity.

Above: 99-D-28988, an East Lancs Volvo Olympian used for private hire and tours, including contract work for Coca Cola.

Above: Dualway’s continued expansion has resulted in a need for further depot space, and a substantial extension to the parking area at the Rathcoole depot has recently come into operation, currently used to store the older “classic” members of the fleet, and recent acquisitions, making space in the main area for regular operational vehicles.

Ex-Dublin Bus RA299, recently acquired and awaiting overhaul or conversion, is currently stored in this new part of the depot.

Circle Line victim of . . who?

The closure of Circle Line this week is making lots of news headlines. But the real issues are not being debated.

Newspapers and radio have been alive with the tale of Circle Line Bus this week, which has gone into liquidation with the loss of 20 jobs, blaming unfair and predatory tactics by the state run Dublin Bus operator.

Circle Line, a joint venture between Mortons Coaches of Rathfarnham and Bartons of Maynooth, operated services from south and central Dublin to Lucan and Celbridge. Originally launched in the late 1990s as a peak hour express service, a move to frequent all-day operation was made in 2007.

According to co-owner Paul Morton, up to 11,000 passengers a week are using the Circle Line service, which will cease after close of business on Friday 27th June. Mr. Morton told AllAboutBuses that it was “impossible to continue operating in the face of saturation tactics by Dublin Bus” who he accused of “flooding the area with buses paid for by the taxpayer, and using these buses to force us off the road”.

“Since we started our all-day service there has been a marked increase in the number of Dublin Bus vehicles running before and after our departures” Mr. Morton said, claiming that surveys conducted by his staff showed the state run operator providing a bus every two minutes along some sections of his routes.

In a muted response, Dublin Bus has said that its services in the Lucan and Celbridge areas are “fully compliant with Department of Transport service authorisations” and that the company remained “fully confident that our actions are entirely lawful”.

Meanwhile a spokeswoman for Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said he regretted the Circle Line decision and that he had written to Dublin Bus on numerous occasions regarding allegations of anti competitive behaviour on some Circle Line routes.

Mr. Morton told AllAboutBuses that all holders of prepaid smartcards for his services would be fully refunded, and that he would be doing his best to offer some of the affected bus drivers alternative employment at his other company, Mortons Coaches.

According to Mr. Morton, in the year to December 31st, Circle Line recorded losses of €160,000. It had invested more than €3.6 million in a fleet of new single-deck MAN buses in April 2007 to increase the frequency of the service and Mr Morton said he was considering legal action to recoup this.

A spokesperson for the Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CTTC) which speaks for private bus and coach operators, told us that the closure of Circle Line was very regrettable, and highlighted the unfair and unequal situation in which private operators found themselves competing with buses which had been supplied with government funding for their state run competitors.

The issue of Government funding for the state run bus operators is currently the subject of a complaint lodged by the CTTC with the EU Commission.

On the face of it, this closure will add weight to the EU complaint, and cannot do anything but make the operational environment more difficult for Dublin Bus when it approaches the Department of Transport for future licence or timetable change requests.

What’s disappointing in all of this is that the role of the Department of Transport has been barely mentioned in the news coverage, despite the fact that their hand lies heavily on the shoulder of both Dublin Bus and Circle Line, controlling what services can be operated by both companies, and crucially, failing to introduce the integrated ticketing promised for all operators long ago, which would have removed at the stroke the single largest disincentive on passengers to use Circle Line buses – the fact that only Dublin Bus offer tickets that can be used on buses throughout the whole of the Greater Dublin Area.

The irritation felt by Paul Morton and many of his colleagues in the private sector about “taxpayer funded buses” is compounded by the fact that every new bus he sees on the local Dublin Bus routes carry stickers asserting that they are funded under the Transport 21 project. In fact, only a small number of buses purchased in recent years are taxpayer funded additional buses, but Dublin Bus is required to display the T21 sticker on all of them, for the greater glory of their political masters.

And so, to Paul, every Dublin Bus is a free bus, whereas in fact, the majority are paid for out of operating revenue – your bus fares and mine.

Denied access to government grants, taxpayer funded bus stations, infrastructure and integrated ticketing, the playing field is indeed stacked against the Circle Lines of this country.

But it is the Department of Transport, not Dublin Bus, who have the real questions to answer . . and those questions are not even being asked.

More Volvo 9700s for Callinans

Callinan Coaches of Claregalway have just taken delivery of five new Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus coaches, two of which are in the 13m tri-axle configuration. So impressed is the Irish operator by Volvo’s flagship vehicle that the longer term plan is for the entire fleet to consist of 9700s!

“We’ve been running 9700s for two years now and as well as being delighted with their performance, we can honestly say that they are the most comfortable coaches on the road,” said Managing Director, Tommy Callinan.

“We’ve had excellent feedback from our passengers who feel they are truly travelling in complete luxury and our drivers love them too. The vehicles have clearly been designed with driver requirements in mind so that everything they need is easily to hand and, of course, the I-Shift gearbox is a real bonus.

“From our point of view, we love the fact that we are dealing with just one supplier and who better than Volvo?”

The new Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus is specified with the popular Volvo DH12E engine – rated at 460hp – and I-Shift gearbox combination. Enhanced safety features include Front Underrun Protection (FUPS) which prevents a car being wedged underneath the coach in the event of a frontal collision, along with Front Impact Protection (FIPS) and Knee Impact Protection (KIPS) which protects the driver in the same. The latest generation Electronic Braking System (EBS) with its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) promote controlled braking and road holding, for a safe, smooth ride.

The 9700’s distinctive and stylish front end and interior detailing create an overall feeling of luxury, space and comfort. The theatre-style flooring ensures that all passengers (53 on Callinan’s tri-axle coaches and 49 on their standard length vehicles) have excellent viewing, while the climate control, servery, toilet and Volvo Sound & Vision entertainment system – comprising CD, DVD player and TFT monitors – mean that every comfort is guaranteed.

The Volvo 9700 driver’s area has been designed to provide an excellent overview and enhanced control, whereby the instruments are easy to monitor with a comprehensive, yet clear, information display panel in the middle of the main instrument binnacle. The instrument panel itself has gently flowing lines and logically positioned controls, whilst large window areas and rear-vision mirrors, with integrated wide-angle mirrors, provide the driver with excellent visibility throughout the vehicle.

All five new 9700s will be used mainly for touring work throughout Ireland, Britain and Europe. In addition to touring, the new coaches will also undertake regular express work on behalf of Bus Eireann.

“We’ve every confidence in the new coaches through our experience with the previous vehicles,” says Tommy Callinan. “Our aim is to provide the best in coach travel, and by investing in the 9700 we have the fleet to ensure we are doing just that!”

Established in 1995, Callinan Coaches specialise in luxury coach travel with services ranging from quality guided tours to golf transfers, corporate travel and UK and continental tours.

Dublin Bus contracts to upgrade radio systems

News on the long-awaited Real Time Passenger Information system, from this press release issued by Tait Europe.

Dublin Bus chooses ground-breaking Tait data communications system.
Dublin Bus, Ireland’s leading public transport operator, has chosen Tait Europe to undertake a major upgrade to its existing communications infrastructure. The new system enhances Dublin’s current multi-site Tait voice radio system by adding digital data channels, which will enable Dublin Bus to implement a real-time passenger information (RTPI) system. The data element of the system is provided by Tait’s ground-breaking TaitNet Data Service (TNDS) data transmission solution.

Dublin Bus has operated a Tait six-site trunked radio system since 2002. This has provided excellent voice communications across Dublin for the company’s 1,200 buses and 3,000 drivers. Dublin Bus identified the need to further improve both its provision of information to the travelling public and the ability to track its vehicles and monitor their performance against timetable. In order to achieve this, they have selected an AVL/RTPI system from INIT the highly-respected German-based supplier. Real-time systems necessitate the frequent transmission of AVL and timetable data between buses, control rooms and information displays at bus-stops. For this vital task, Dublin Bus elected to use Tait Europe’s new, ground-breaking TNDS solution.

Tait has specifically developed its TNDS solution for public transport applications. It provides benefits unavailable from other offerings on the market by virtue of the facts that;

- voice and data are fully integrated within the same system
- it offers much faster polling rates than competing systems
- it sends data over a system which is designed to carry data
- it includes direct RTIG or VDV traffic light control signalling
- it offers direct mode sign clear-down communications, if required

The fact that TNDS functionality could be added to an existing Tait trunked radio system, rather than completely replacing it, made the TNDS an attractive solution for Dublin Bus.

Commenting on the Dublin Bus contract, Paul Gwynn, Business Development Manager at Tait Europe said “We are delighted that Dublin Bus have selected Tait technology for the key communications aspect of their new passenger information system, which will help them to further enhance the service that they offer their customers. TNDS offered them a technologically-advanced, scalable and flexible solution with very low operating costs. It is also compatible with existing RTPI solutions, which will enable it to work seamlessly with Init’s bus hardware and control software”

The Invisible Bus

Government just can’t see the bus as a transport alternative, and often, neither can the travelling public, even if it’s right beside them.

There is quite a debate over on Garaiste at the moment about bus-v-tram choices, especially on the corridor from Heuston station to the city centre. The thrust is that both officials, and often the travelling public themselves, often ignore the bus as a viable alternative for travel.

The picture above (click on it for fullsize version) was taken by me one morning at Heuston, when disruption to the Red LUAS line was causing long gaps in service. Passengers were crowding the platform and had been waiting for nearly 20 minutes, with no sign of a tram coming, and yet buses on the 90, 91 and 92 routes were coming and going behind them almost empty.

Look at the picture closely. See how intently the people are peering up the track, anxiously waiting to see if a tram will appear in the distance. if only there were some other way for them to get into town . . .

I actually submitted this photo to a display at a photo club at work, with the caption “It’s Behind You!!”

There is talk of the bus services duplicating the Red Line from Heuston being cut back, which would be a great pity, because it is always good to have an alternative.

The bus does seem to be almost invisible in the minds of the casual travelling public. I was listening recently to someone who works in a business in Loughlinstown advising someone how to get there from Bray.

“There is no public transport link, so you’ll have to take the DART to Shankill and get a taxi from there” they were told . . .

No mention of the 45, 145, 84 which between them provide direct links from most parts of Bray to outside the door of this business, and which provide a combined frequency of less than 10 minutes from the centre of Bray.

Likewise the oft-heard claim that “there is no public transport link to Citywest” when in fact the business park is linked by more than half a dozen bus routes, including city centre services, local routes, commuter services from Co. Kildare, and LUAS shuttles, operated by a number of different companies.

The bus can be a great transport workhorse, and a vital backup to rail services during times of disruption, but we have to think of a way of opening people’s eyes to the services that are already there.

Any ideas?