The 20-week pilot is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to “creating a safe and welcoming environment for customers and employees”, they said in their announcement today.
The Safer Journeys Team will initially consist of two dedicated mobile units, with one operating on Dublin’s northside and the other on the southside. These teams will operate daily from 2pm to 2am Sunday to Thursday, and 4pm to 4am Friday and Saturday, covering peak hours of travel and late-night services.
Their presence will provide visible, reassuring support to customers and employees, assisting in various situations— ranging from offering guidance to responding quickly to security-related incidents.
“Whether you are heading home after working a late shift or catching up with friends in town, you deserve to feel safe on board our services,” Billy Hann, CEO of Dublin Bus said.
“The team will provide a visible and reassuring presence for both our customers and employees, actively enhancing safety and security across our network.”
Since 2019, the number of reported anti-social behaviour incidents on Dublin Bus services has doubled, reflecting broader societal trends in Dublin.
Dublin Bus has been actively working to address this issue, through increased co-operation with An Garda Síochána and strong community work across the city and county.
However, the rise in incidents underscores the need for additional measures to ensure customers and employees feel safe when using the bus.
Secretary General of The National Bus and Rail Union, Dermot O’Leary and SIPTU, Transport Sector Organiser John Murphy added: “Every driver has the right to be safe and protected while at work and this initiative is a welcome move towards achieving that goal.
“We will continue to work closely with Dublin Bus, Government and all stakeholders to ensure this pilot programme delivers real results for those on the front lines of our transport system.
“However, we want to be very clear in our view, that this is not a silver bullet and the need for a dedicated Garda Public Transport Unit remains”
The Safer Journeys Team will be strategically located in areas identified as priorities based on feedback and data analysis.
Dublin Bus will carefully monitor the impact of the Safer Journeys Team throughout the 20-week pilot, gathering feedback from customers and employees. Metrics such as incident response times, customer satisfaction and overall incident numbers will be reviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless also said: “As a regular commuter, I understand how important it is that all of us feel safe on public transport, whether you’re a passenger or a member of staff.
“I know that all of the public transport operators are expending significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of anti-social behaviour and ensuring the safety and security on board services, and I believe that the launch of the Safer Journeys Team by Dublin Bus is a further positive step in this regard.
“As a former Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, I am aware of the frequency with which this issue arose and the concerns of the travelling public towards anti-social behaviour. It is not acceptable that our public transport routes would be marred by such behaviours.
“The 20-week pilot scheme will not only provide a visible security presence, but it will also give valuable insights into the impact of such an initiative and best practices for the sector as we strive to meet demand for the ever-increasing numbers of people opting to make the switch from their cars to more sustainable transport modes.”
