By Adam Pigott 

Dublin Bus services are set to see another revamp to bus routes as Phase 7 is set to be unveiled on Oct. 19. 

Phase 7 F-Spine of the BusConnects Network redesign plan will be one of biggest systematic changes for bus services in decades, with nine new routes set to be introduced. 

The phase brings three brand-new 24-hour bus services with the introduction of the F1, F2 and 80 bus routes. 

The other six routes include the new formation of buses such as the F3, 23, 24, 73, 82 and L89. 

Routes F1, F2, F3, 23, 24, 80, 82 and L89 will be operated by Dublin Bus and route 73 will be operated by Go-Ahead Ireland, on behalf of Transport for Ireland (TFI). 

“The new routes are going to take some getting used to, it’s going to be very weird not driving down the likes of busy areas such as Phibsborough anymore,” Paul Egan, a driver for Dublin Bus for over 20 years, said. 

“A lot of people have already been asking me about the bus route changes, especially the likes of the elderly, when they have been stepping on the current routes I drive such as the 9 and 83,” Egan added. 

Controversially, the new routes unveiled by the TFI will bring the destruction to popular bus routes such as the 9, 26, 40, 40b, 49, 54a, 83/a 123, and 140.  

Dublin Bus Route 9 parked outside Charlestown Shopping Centre. Photo Adam Pigott

“The new routes are going to take some getting used to, it’s going to be very weird not driving down the likes of busy areas such as Phibsborough anymore,” Paul Egan, a driver for Dublin Bus for over 20 years, said. 

“A lot of people have already been asking me about the bus route changes, especially the likes of the elderly, when they have been stepping on the current routes I drive such as the 9 and 83,” Egan added. 

Existing Bus routes that are set to be removed. Photo Adam Pigott

Controversially, the new routes unveiled by the TFI will bring the destruction to popular bus routes such as the 9, 26, 40, 40b, 49, 54a, 83/a 123, and 140.  

“These bus routes have been here for decades, and they are getting ripped away, they shaped communities and help people who lived here get from place to place. With these new routes, them people are getting left behind,” Conor Reddy, Dublin North-West correspondent for People Before Profit (PBP), said. 

It’s going to be chaos, come Oct. 19, it is an absolute mess. These changes are not there to serve the likes of; elderly people, schoolchildren, disabled people and families without a car. It is driven by the parties in power to make it a money society,” Reddy added.  

Phase 7 will bring changes to North Dublin areas such as Ballymun, Finglas and Glasnevin. The new routes will mean that many people in these areas will have to get two buses to get the basic necessities. 

Secondary school students that attend Beneavin De La Salle College, and those who have family in nursing care in the Beneavin Nursing Homes, will have to find an alternative route as no bus will go down Beneavin Road, as the 83 and 9 bus routes did previously. 

“It is a real shame, that our students will be affected by these new changes. I do not think enough information was given out about the changes,” Ann Marie Leonard, Principal of Beneavin De La Salle College, said.Controversially, the new routes unveiled by the TFI will bring the destruction to popular bus routes such as the 9, 26, 40, 40b, 49, 54a, 83/a 123, and 140.  

“These bus routes have been here for decades, and they are getting ripped away, they shaped communities and help people who lived here get from place to place. With these new routes, them people are getting left behind,” Conor Reddy, Dublin North-West correspondent for People Before Profit (PBP), said. 

It’s going to be chaos, come Oct. 19, it is an absolute mess. These changes are not there to serve the likes of; elderly people, schoolchildren, disabled people and families without a car. It is driven by the parties in power to make it a money society,” Reddy added.  

Phase 7 will bring changes to North Dublin areas such as Ballymun, Finglas and Glasnevin. The new routes will mean that many people in these areas will have to get two buses to get the basic necessities. 

Secondary school students that attend Beneavin De La Salle College, and those who have family in nursing care in the Beneavin Nursing Homes, will have to find an alternative route as no bus will go down Beneavin Road, as the 83 and 9 bus routes did previously. 

“It is a real shame, that our students will be affected by these new changes. I do not think enough information was given out about the changes,” Ann Marie Leonard, Principal of Beneavin De La Salle College, said.

Front of Beneavin De La Salle College, Finglas Dublin 11. Photo Adam Pigott

The TFI began distributing information booklets to homes that will be affected by Phase 7 changes on Oct. 6. 

“It’s simply not good enough and too late […] People deserve more than wordy booklets to explain how they’re going to get to work, college and school,” Reddy said. 

The TFI 90-Minute Fare is still available on all Dublin City Bus services and all bus routes included in Phase 7 are eligible for the TFI 90-Minute Fare, as well as daily and weekly fare capping when you travel using a TFI Leap Card. 

The people from the areas of Phase 7 are clearly unhappy with the new layout and, according to Reddy, the TFI have been “unreachable” when these opinions have been highlighted. 

For more information on Phase 7, people can visit the TFI website.