Go Ahead Ireland’s 33B route continues to cause difficulties for North Dublin commuter following the reported cancellation of four services on Tuesday.
Labour Party representative Corina Johnston said that the failure to address the disruption to the bus service is causing families undue stress. She has heard countless complaints over the past week from students, workers and pensioners who rely on the service due to the persistent cancellations.
Go Ahead Ireland previously addressed complaints over irregular buses by adding in an additional morning service. However, Cllr Johnston said this measure has done little to assist commuters due to the continued complaints she receives regarding cancellations.
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She told Dublin Live: "It’s appalling how many people are ringing us every day at their wits end. There are people actively considering moving homes due to the complete unreliability of the bus service.”
The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed to local representatives that Go Ahead Ireland had been issued fines exceeding €500,000 between mid-2021 to early 2022 in relation to cancellation of services. Go Ahead Ireland has recently experienced difficulties with staff retention and is currently in the process of training new drivers to resolve the issue.
Cllr Johnston added: “I think the situation is getting worse. I have people telling me that they suffer from anxiety and stress as a result of this problem. It has to be addressed at a national level and the NTA. We haven’t seen any lasting improvements in services.”
Go-Ahead Ireland have acknowledged the recent difficulties but say that the service has made substantial improvements in its operation in recent weeks overall. The transport provider confirmed they had faced difficulties retaining staff following the pandemic.
A Go Ahead Ireland spokesperson told Dublin Live: "The 33B is not as frequent when there is a trip missed so there is subsequently a longer wait. We’ve been monitoring the 33B route and are doing everything we can to get more drivers out on the road. "
There were several cancellations of the 33B route last Friday, during a time period where an hourly service would normally occur. The news follows criticism of several no-show buses in Finglas and Ballymun.
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