Dublin Bus has announced that its enhanced Christmas Nitelink service commences this Thursday 15 December on 18 routes from the city centre to take party goers and late night shift workers home safely this Christmas. The Nitelink service has been running since 1991. Not only is it one of the best value options to get you from the city centre to the suburbs, it’s also one of the safest, with up to 12 on-board CCTV cameras, and fastest; Route 39N takes just 25 minutes to get to Blanchardstown. We surveyed a selection of our drivers to find out about their experiences driving the Nitelink during the festive season. Here’s what we found out …
Christmas miracles really can happen on the Nitelink. When asked about their favourite memory during the festive season one driver told of seeing the kindling of a couple’s romance aboard his Nitelink route; a year later he was driving the wedding bus and when he arrived at the wedding venue, he realised it was the same couple’s special day! Seasonal cheer and goodwill is one of the drivers’ favourite things about driving on the Nitelink service at Christmas, with most asked commenting on how customers’ good humour and the ‘banter’ they have with them cheers them up, including seasonal sing-songs with a full bus of customers joining in. One driver recalled a customer who was obviously very late getting organised for the festive season trying to convince him to allow them bring a Christmas tree home on the bus one Christmas Eve.
The song drivers hear the most on board is the Pogues and Kirsty McColl classic Fairytale of New York, and they must really love it because two thirds of drivers asked included it in their top three all-time favourite Christmas songs. Other festive favourites in the top three include Wham’s Last Christmas and Chris Rea’s aptly named Driving Home For Christmas.
Festive Dubliners are a generous bunch who don’t forget that drivers get them home safely after a night out with a majority of drivers asked receiving a gift from a customer. Chocolate, sweets and biscuits are the most popular presents.
When it comes to the most random things left on a Nitelink bus, Christmas hats and jumpers are the most common items and some Dubliners are getting their present unwrapped with lots forgetting to take their wrapping paper with them. One forgetful customer even left their tinsel-covered crutch behind!
Nitelink drivers are a diplomatic bunch too. When asked about which part of Dublin has the best Christmas lights and really gets into the Christmas spirit, it was a 50/50 split between north and south of the Liffey.
This Friday 16 December looks set to be the busiest night for the Nitelink service with most Christmas work parties taking place. The majority of drivers asked said one of the things they liked most about driving the Nitelink at Christmas is getting people home safely from their night out, and also those people working late. Chief Inspectors are on the street are always on hand to help get people onto the correct Nitelink bus. Nitelink pick up points are in the heart of the city centre at Westmoreland Street and D’Olier Street.
Using the Nitelink to get from the city centre to suburban areas is still one of the cheapest options with fares costing €6.50 and €5.20 using Leap Card.
Christmas services are as follows:
• Thursday 15, Friday 16 & Saturday 17 December 2016
All Nitelink routes will operate as per normal weekend service.
• Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 & Friday 23 December 2016
All Nitelink routes will operate as per normal weekend service.
• Saturday 24 to Thursday 29 December 2016 Nitelink
Service will not operate.
• Friday 30 and Saturday 31 December
All Nitelink routes will operate as per normal weekend service.
Check here for details on the best route to get you home this Christmas.