[ad_1]
The National Union of Buses and Railways has said that the “chaos” on some Dublin Éireann bus and bus routes today “should have been predicted” by the National Transport Authority.
Level 5 restrictions went into effect at midnight, limiting public transport capacity to 25% of its normal load.
As a result, there was “chaos” trying to accommodate passengers on various bus routes this morning, NBRU Secretary General Dermot O’Leary told RTÉ’s Drivetime.
He said the cut in capacity is having a bigger impact now than in the early stages of the pandemic due to the opening of schools, construction and more retail stores.
He said that many buses left at their first stop this morning at full capacity.
O’Leary said there are enough buses in the fleet currently in operation to meet demand, but said the peak period should be extended, through staggered start times for schools and workplaces.
He said the NBRU wrote to the then-Taoiseach and the opposition leader in May about the staggering start times for schools and workplaces and said they both responded positively.
Earlier today, O’Leary revealed that there were several “hot spots” where passengers had tried to board Dublin bus services in large numbers, with increased capacity limitations on various Bus Éireann services “where demand has exceeded level 5 reduced capacity. “
“Fortunately (at least so far) no confrontation or conflict has been reported, although we are well aware that frustration can lead to such a scenario,” he said.
He acknowledged that passengers cannot be blamed for striving to get to work at a time that suits their needs rather than when services “can or can be scheduled.”
He reiterated the NBRU’s call for a clear plan to accommodate those who must travel for essential services and police capacity restrictions.
In a statement, the National Transport Authority said there were capacity problems on some services, particularly buses in the Dublin area.
Last night @dublinbusnews Crews updated onboard signage to reflect the change to 25% capacity on public transportation.
Please remember:
⚠️We are operating a full service, but capacity is limited to 17, so please allow additional time
⚠️Public transportation is for essential workers and essential travel. pic.twitter.com/7ZhHKEQrSS– Ray Coyne (Please wear a face cover 😷) (@ray_dublin) October 22, 2020
The NTA said it was collaborating with the Department of Transportation and operators “to identify particular pressure points with a view to responding to and addressing them where possible.”
“We will continue to ask people to avoid rush hour travel and only use public transportation for essential purposes.
“We continue to encourage people to walk or bike whenever possible.”
[ad_2]