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Dublin Buses: Ghosting Commuters, Stressed Drivers
28 Feb
Summary
- Bus information screens often show errors or disappear entirely.
- Driver training in Dublin is significantly shorter than in Germany.
- Commuters and drivers face confusion from conflicting transport apps.
In Dublin, a ghost bus incident last January highlighted systemic issues within the public transport network. Digital displays vanished, showing '40 minutes' after previously indicating 'three minutes', a common symptom of the city's bus service disruptions.
Behind these disruptions are drivers facing a challenging system. While Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland recruit extensively, offering six weeks of training for new drivers with a car license, this contrasts sharply with Germany's three-year vocational apprenticeship for bus drivers.
The pressure on drivers includes managing passenger issues, antisocial behavior, and split-second decisions in dense traffic. Compounding this, commuters often rely on conflicting information from various transport apps, adding to the overall chaos.
Despite efforts to improve driver recruitment and support, issues like traffic congestion, rigid timetables based on outdated data, and insufficient training contribute to driver fatigue and passenger frustration. The system remains stressed, with drivers caught between management expectations and the unpredictable reality of the street.
