The Dublin Community Blog

This is a bit late, but hopefully it helps someone tomorrow morning. A new rail schedule on all intercity, DART and Commuter services came into effect today.

The new timetables can be found on the Irish Rail website. If you take the DART to work you should check the timetable just in case your usual train has changed. Nothing can mess up a Monday morning like missing the train to work

This may be old news, but it’s new to me since I’ve been away for a while. Last year it was noticed that the new statue of Phil Lynott was missing it’s hand. At first there was fears that this was vandalism, then it was revealed that the hand had been removed because it was attached to the guitar which needed repairs.

The good news is the guitar and the hand are back, repaired strings and all.

I recently spent some time in India and in most towns/cities the primary mode of transport is autorickshaw, aka tuk tuk. Their average speed is 30mph and their triangular shape at the front and handlebar steering allow for easy manoeuvring in traffic. With obvious modifications like doors and seatbelts, I think these could work really well in Dublin, especially on a Saturday night! What do ye think?

AA Roadwatch is reporting that the northbound bore of the Port Tunnel is closed “until further notice” due to a breakdown. This is at least the second time the tunnel was closed this week due to a breakdown, I heard another one reported on the radio earlier in the week.

I have to ask, is this normal? In major traffic tunnels in other countries does the whole bore get closed when a breakdown occurs. Also I realise that the tunnel is for trucks which are big and difficult to move when they breakdown but surely a suitable tow truck could be located at the tunnel allowing them to clear the tunnel quickly so that warnings like “until further notice” would not be needed?

Update: The bore is open again.

Last night we went to the Porterhouse for dinner.  We hadn’t been there in ages since we went home for Christmas.  I was missing the chips and the Koppaberg mixed berry cider so we went out for dinner.  Yummy cider but the chips tasted different.  Anyway, it was about the emptiest I think I have ever seen the place, any time of day, and we were there for dinner.  Luckily for us, we had no problem finding a table, and even really got two (small) tables to ourselves!

My hypothesis as to why the Porterhouse was so empty is that many people seem  to  “go off the drink” during January.  Between my boyfriend and myself, we know about 6 people who are not drinking right now because the drank too much in December.  Is this a common thing, the detoxing, not the drinking too much?

My boyfriend asked one of his coworkers why not just drink 3-4 pints when going out instead of 10?  His coworker seemed agast at this suggestion.  Why is that?  Now, I know Ireland has a significant pub and drinking culture, but why not just drink a few a night instead of going through periods of not drinking because you overloaded your system so much?  Help dear Dub/Irish readers.  :)

Nope, this isn’t a how-to guide, sorry to disappoint! Courtesy of breakingnews.ie comes this story that in a recent scientific survey carried out by PHD Student Jonathan Bones of Dublin City University’s National Centre for Sensor Research, cocaine was found on 100% of all bank notes tested for the substance in Dublin. The sample consisted of 45 notes, made up of all denominations.

Whilst this does not mean that all Dubliners are using cocaine, it is a worrying trend that it is so widespread, and quite a suprise that it was found on 100% of notes.

I have posted about O’Connell Bridge before and here’s another post well a mini photo essay.

Originally named Carlisle Bridge, O’Connell Bridge was built between 1791 and 1794. The original bridge was humped and narrower but was widened in 1879. Those works have afforded the bridge the title of the only bridge in Europe as long as it is wide.

Anyway on to the photos.

Actually a view of the Hapenny Bridge from O’Connell Bridge

Here’s a live view of the bridge as I write this and check out the bridge in real time on the Dublin Weather cam.

The first information on the upcoming Luas price increases is making some headlines. From Monday prices will go up with a special increase for those people using the Luas at peak time.

From Monday, all rush-hour commuters using the trams will have to pay 10 cents extra for their ticket.

The higher fare will operate between 7.45am and 9.30am from Monday to Friday.

The LUAS operators say it is designed to alleviate rush hour congestion by encouraging people to use the service at different times.

In other words please don’t use the Luas to get to work. Just what do those people think public transport is for if not to help people go about their daily lives including getting to and from work?

I wonder what Minister for Press Releases Martin Cullen in the Department of Transport will have to say about this? Lots probably, none of it useful. After all the Luas operators have to get approval for price increases from the Department. Don’t forget the Luas actually operates at a surplus so this price increase is not to cover losses or costs. As they admit in their statement it is purely intended to discourage Dublin commuters from using the trams.

Perhaps this is a sign that despite being only a couple of years old the Luas has already reached peak capacity and can no longer fulfill the role for which it was built at much expense and disruption? More bad planning for Dublin.

UPDATE: You can now let us know your thoughts via our latest poll too.

Did you get everything on your wish list for Christmas? If not or you are just a bargain hunter, now is the time to shop. Most stores have some sort of sale announcement in their windows. Even BT2 has a sale on! On Sunday, I took a stroll down Grafton Street to try to get a feel for the vibe in the post Christmas city. It was quieter than I have ever seen it but at least there were some people out. One thing that I noticed, however, was the lack of shopping bags.

Out with the old in with the new. It’s that time of the year when Irish public transport gets rewarded by the government and are allowed to squeeze a few more cent out of the traveling punters.

Dublin Bus have put most of their fares by 5c, some of the more expensive ones have gone up by 10c.

• 1-3 Stages: 0.95c -> 1.00
• 4-7 Stages: 1.35 -> 1.40
• 8-13 Stages: 1.55 -> 1.60
• 14-23 Stages: 1.80 -> 1.90
• Over 23 Stages: 1.90 -> 1.90
• Outer Suburban 1: 2.10 -> 2.20
• Outer Suburban 2: 3.10 -> 3.20
• Outer Suburban 3: 4.10 -> 4.20

More fares can be found at the Dublin Bus web site.

The Luas web site doesn’t currently have any details of price changes, but they did get approval from the Department of Transport to put up prices so I presume they have or will do so shortly.

Some of you may have noticed I’ve been a bit quiet for the last 3 months, thats because I was traveling around Australia. If anyone wants to see how public transport should be done they should travel to Sydney or Melbourne. Quick, easy, and reliable when compared to Dublin. How come they managed to take a penal colony and in 200 years turn it into a state of the art world capital while we managed to take the second city in the British Empire and turn it into a small outback town?

Update: Luas fares go up next week.