In a meeting with Deputy Joan Burton, Dublin Bus have revealed that commuters travelling from Blanchardstown are facing the longest journey times in the city.

Dublin Bus admitted that there is insufficient capacity on the network and that congestion and increasing distances are extending journey times to unacceptable levels.

However the government is continuing to stall on whether or not to invest in extra buses for the Dublin Bus network. Currently Dublin Bus need 100 buses this year to replace worn and clapped out buses in the Dublin area and a further 200 buses immediately to bring the service on existing QBC’s and in developing areas to an acceptable level. In addition they need 225 additional buses over the next 3 years to expand services in areas like Blanchardstown.

“It’s a shame” said Deputy Burton, “that Minister Cullen seems unable to make a decision either because he wants to privatise part of the network or because he simply doesn’t want to give extra resources to Dublin Bus”.

Dublin Bus’ latest figures show that average journey times from Blanchardstown are now between 90 to 110 minutes because of delays at different pinch points along the way including Blanchardstown Centre, Manor Street, Prussia St. and the Quays. They predict that journey times will increase further unless major improvements are made to the existing QBC.

Dublin Bus have advised Deputy Burton that they have applied for a €30million investment from now to 2008 specifically to improve the Blanchardstown services and QBC. They plan to put 28 more buses (+37%) on the route, allowing buses to operate every 60 seconds on the trunk section. They hope to increase bus speeds to 18kph and estimate that customers could save up to 35 minutes on a QBC journey with these improvements. They hope to carry 2.3 million more customers (+24%) after the improvements are completed.

Deputy Burton said, “Bus journey times for residents in Dublin 15 have become completely unacceptable. Dublin Bus acknowledged at the meeting that journey times from Blanchardstown to the city centre continue to increase despite the apparent availability of Quality Bus Corridors and have now become the longest journey times in the country”

“I welcome the announcement of a €30million investment programme for the Blanchardstown QBC and I urge the County Councils, the Transport Authority and Dublin Bus to co-operate fully in order to allow the desired improvements to be made. Difficult decisions must be made urgently to find a way around the existing pinch points on the route. In a wealthy country it is unacceptable that Dublin residents are forced to suffer a daily trip of up to 4 hours just to get to their place of work”.