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    Re: Swapping Buses / Drivers

    Posted by Paul K on May 1, 2001, 11:58 am , in reply to "Re: Swapping Buses / Drivers"
    143.117.11.17

    That's all really interesting. I have never been on a bus where there was a change of driver. I suppose it's for long-distance routes that are shown in the timetable as through services even though they aren't in terms of drivers and depots. For a while there was a regular service from Downpatrick to Dundalk; I'm not sure but I think it only goes as far as Newry again now. This would have been the longest Downpatrick service and there wasn't any bus swapping. Belfast to Kilkeel is a very long service; perhaps there is some scope for bus swapping there but as as Kilkeel is a sub-depot of Newcastle it wouldn't be very noticeable if it did happen.

    Much more common is long services that are through services (i.e. you can sit on the bus and go on to the next place with the same driver) even though they aren't shown as that in the timetable. The 14:25, 16:05, 16:40 and 17:15 services from Belfast to Downpatrick all go on to Ardglass or Ballyhornan and the driver usually changes the destination when stopped at the traffic lights somewhere in Downpatrick, then calls into the bus station to pick up more passengers before going on to Ardglass. It is all shown as one service in the fares book.

    Buses coming from Belfast to Ballynahinch and extending to e.g. Drumaness or going to Newcastle and extending to Kilkeel always show their final destination when leaving Belfast; maybe it is all just things being done the way they always have been done in different areas?

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