Sir, - Dublin Bus driver, John White, asks (June 12th) if commuters on the 46A route would be happier if the Quality Bus Corridor service were privatised?
Well, this one would be. The morning rush hour, which Mr White seems content to serve as a driver, is a disgrace. Constant undercapacity means constant overcrowding. If drivers took a moment to step out of their booths they might realise how hard it is to enjoy a morning commute while one's face is in another's armpit. In addition, Mr White must surely have noticed the crowds of people his bus passes at stop after stop because it is full.
This shortage of buses arises out of age-old under-investment, a comical shortage of garage space and because of drivers' trade unions insisting on rigidly inflexible contracts. The latter prevent more drivers being available to meet excess demand at peak times. Privatisation and sensible re-regulation would give us a first-world service that is geared towards catering for as many passengers as possible.
Dublin's bus system would then become a real public service, rather than a workers' co-operative: perhaps this is what Mr White and other drivers really fear. - Yours, etc.,
Kevin Ryan, Foxrock, Dublin 18.