Dublin is a relatively small city, so it's pretty easy to walk around the main city (we can walk into Grafton Street in 30 minutes from our place) but to travel a few suburbs you do need to use public transport - unless you are driving!
Dublin has a rail network (The Dart); a lightrail (The Luas) and buses. When I say rail network, that is probably used rather loosely. The Dart has two main lines; one travels north/south on the coast and the other travels east/west north of the city. I must say I'm pretty impressed with the trains. Maybe it's because they only have two lines, but they run pretty regularly and generally run on time. (all upcoming stations are announced in English and Gaelic) We are a 4-5 min walk from Lansdowne Road Station which gives us a good chance to keep track of the progress of the new Lansdowne Rd. Stadium being built. Three or four stops and we are right in the city, depending if we want to be north or south of the Liffey River.
The lightrail is called the Luas and it travels from south up to St. Stephens Green on the edge of the city and the other line travels from Connolly Station (the 'Grand Central' of Dublin) west; actually running pretty much parallel with the Dart line. There is talk of extending it to the Docklands but I heard on the news yesterday that the cost is reported to be something like 6mil euro per km! (may be higher, but I can't find a direct quote-anyway, lots of taxpayers money!)
So that leaves a big gap in the middle of south Dublin! There is a bus network, but we have only needed to use it once. I think you would need your Scouts Map Reader's badge; a sat nav system and your Gaelic language translation book to get your way around on the buses, but if you know the hood, then it probably seems easier. London seemed easier! The government has poured a lot of money into improving the public transport and this shows in the buses. None are over 4 years old and they are rather attractive double deckers in navy blue with yellow upper decks. The need to improve public transport is due to the increased number of cars on the road and the streets that were just not designed with cars in mind.
Of course like most places the wonderful new ticketing system has its teething problems - Scott buys a weekly ticket and by about day 3 it won't work in the machines, apparently a problem they are 'working on'.
Now where did I want to get that bus too? Was it Ballyboden, or Ballybruck, no maybe it was Ballintyre, or Ballinteer....
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2 comments:
The bus route destinations sound confusing to a novice traveller but I am sure,in time,it will be second nature to you and Scott. Love the economies of only getting 3 days worth of travel out of a weekly pass. Let's hope when our new system is finally operational we get at least 5 days worth of travel!
He only got 2 days this week, but it happens so often they just have to wave it at an official and they let them through. Not very progressive is it, though!
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