‘I’ll have to get three buses each way now’ – Dublin college students say Bus Connects changes will leave them stranded

However, the National Transport Authority insists that although students will now need to change buses, service levels will be greatly improved.

The current 75 route travels from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire Dart station via Firhouse, Knocklyon, Rathfarnham, Ballinteer, Dundrum, Kilmacud and Stillorgan, and passes the Institute of Art, Design, & Technology (IADT), close to Kill Of The Grange and around 3km from Dún Laoghaire town centre.

But from November 26, the 75 route, along with the 175 route which travels from Tallaght to UCD, are set to be scrapped and replaced with the new S6 and S8 routes as part of the Bus Connects plan.

The S6 route will travel from Tallaght to Blackrock, and not near Dún Laoghaire or Kill Avenue where IADT is located. Instead, it will take a route to Dundrum before serving UCD via Goatstown, and then make its way to Blackrock via the Stillorgan dual carriageway to Mount Merrion and then via the N31.

The S8 route will travel from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire, but via Sandyford, Blackrock and Monkstown, but not near Kill Of The Grange or Kill Avenue.

Students and their parents have voiced their concerns. Last week the Knocklyon Network Facebook group posted maps of the new S6 and S8 routes, with a message saying: “From 26th November local buses the 175 and 75 are being replaced by new Bus Connects routes the S6 and S8. What does this mean for local students who attend IADT? The only bus they had was the unreliable 75 and it seems the new route will not go past IADT. Local councillors please advise?”

The National Transport Authority, which is responsible for the ongoing major overhaul of the capital’s bus network, confirmed that a journey from Tallaght to the IADT college will now mean a switch to a second bus to complete the journey, but insisted overall service levels would be greatly improved.

“IADT on Kill Avenue Dun Laoghaire is currently served by routes 46a and 75. From November 26 the 46a will be the only service that runs along Kill Avenue. A bus journey to IADT from Tallaght or Knocklyon will involve taking the S8 as far as the N11 and Newtownpark Avenue junction, and interchanging there to the 46a,” said an NTA spokesman.

“Route S8 will run approximately every 20 minutes on weekdays and the 46a runs approximately every eight minutes,” he added.

“Phase 5b of the BusConnects Network redesign in Dublin will commence on November 26. This involves an increase in the region of 70pc in service levels which makes it one of the most significant changes under the Network Redesign to date,” the spokesman said.

Zoe Doyle is a first-year student in IADT and travels from Rathfarnham to the college and back.

Up until now she has got the 15 to Rathfarnham Shopping Centre and then the 75 to Dún Laoghaire, a trip that takes between an hour and an hour and 40 minutes.

“The overall service of the 75 varies. It has severe issues with reliability and dependability. Sometimes it just never shows up or is extremely late. However, saying this – I would still rather put up with this undeservedly poor service just so I can actually get to college,” she said.

“The changes to the service are extremely negatively impactful for not only me but other IADT students who rely on the bus service as the only transport provided to our areas. I’ll have to get three buses each way now. That’s six buses a day!,” Ms Doyle added.

“I currently don’t drive. I have my lessons completed and plan on trying to get a test as soon as possible,” she added.

Ms Doyle said she is also annoyed at how UCD continues to be serviced by the new bus service, but smaller colleges like IADT are “undervalued”. “It really infuriates me,” she explained.

Fianna Fáil Dublin South West TD John Lahart said he had had contact from a lot of students who are affected by the changing bus service.

“The existing 175 and 75 bus routes serve as a crucial link for UCD and IADT students in areas such as Tallaght, Oldbawn, Scholarstown, Edmondstown, Ballycullen, Woodstown Village and Knocklyon. Under the proposed Bus Connects route changes, this vital connection to UCD and IADT will cease to exist. The proposed replacement routes, S8 and S6, bypass these areas creating a significant connectivity gap,” he said.

“I am concerned especially regarding the safety and convenience of students and commuters who would face multiple connections, often late at night, if these changes proceed. This situation is unacceptable,” he added.

Mr Lahart has set up a petition calling for a return of the 75 and 175 routes and has written to the Transport Minister and the NTA on the issue. To date 2,300 people have signed the petition.