The Dublin Bus Driving School
Dublin Bus has a fleet of over 1,100 buses, operating 189 routes & traveling nearly 60 million kilometers per year.
To operate a large fleet of buses, the Dublin Bus Driving School is located at Phibsboro & Broadstone Garage in Dublin 7.
As well as being responsible for testing new driver candidates, the school is also responsible for continuing good driving practice among the workforce
90 % of all drivers are accredited with the Institute of Advanced Motoring certification ( I.A.M ) & this is carried out by the Driving School.

Safe driving award certificates were presented to over 1,700 drivers in 2006


Following withdrawal from normal service at Donnybrook RA 176, 177, 178, 179, 180 & 181 were allocated to the Driving School from October 2006. These 6 RA's received the Driving School livery in quick succession, while similar older RA 182 upwards ( 14 total ) were offered for sale.

The Driving School has a fleet of specially adapted Leyland & Volvo Olympians for training purposes, most in red & white livery with prominent " L "  signs around the vehicle.

RA 181 of the Driving School is seen heading down the ramp from Phibsboro Garage towards Constitution Hill.

A large recruiting campaign in 2006 meant the Driving School fleet had to be expanded to meet the demand of candidates. RA's class buses being withdrawn from ordinary service in Ringsend & Donnybrook were selected for further service at the Driving School. Donnybrook RH's & RA's along with some Harristown RH's & Ringsend RA's were allocated to the School to swell the fleet.
RA 196 is seen above, a former Ringsend bus. RA 196-198 were transferred, although they have not received the training livery & are unlikely to.
Similar RA 197 of Ringsend Garage is seen outside Phibsboro Garage on driver training duties. RA 196 - 199 had already been stored in Broadstone since May 2006 following service reductions in Tallaght, re entering service briefly during the Ryder Cup & allocation of the AX class to golf shuttles. After the Ryder Cup, the Driving School received RA 196-198.
Originally delivered to Clontarf Garage in 1993 in two tone green, RH 157 & 158 ( above ) ended their days in normal Dublin Bus service in late 2006 before been allocated to the Driving School, not before some long haul shuttle work to/ from Oxegen 2006.
RH 32 was delivered to Phibsboro Garage in 1990 & remained in service there throughout its working life. It still shows signs of route 10 with its " Belfield Phoenix " branding beside the nearside adframe.
Still allocated to Phibsboro Garage as a back up to the Driving School, sometimes used on refresher course training.
RH 141 is a veteran of the Driving School. In a neat batch RH 140- 142 were allocated to the school years ago, following service in Summerhill & Clontarf Garages.
3 RH's were resprayed back from training school livery to the then Dublin Bus core colours as they buses are used on " refresher courses " for drivers. Drivers since the productivity agreements of 1999 are required to attend periodical  " refresher courses " to test their driving skills. Former Ringsend RH 6, Summerhill RH 20 & Donnybrook RH 88 remain in the old Dublin Bus core colours, with modified front destinations ( RH 6 & 20 have " Training Bus " ) signage.
RH 88 is seen on Collins Avenue.
3 RH 141 is routinely seen in Finglas on driver training. RH 141 has a specially modified saloon, including a bench seat for the tester closely behind the driver to monitor progress. There is also a hand brake beside the inspectors seat....just in case its required !!!
RH 142 demonstrates that driving a bus takes allot of practice & skills, as it negotiates a roundabout in Finglas slightly off the mark.
This is a narrow junction between Wellmount Road & Cardiffsbridge Road & trainees must practice this tight left turn many times before success. The secret is to keep right at the beginning, then lock hard but straighten up before the nearside rear wheel kisses the pavement. The front overhang of the Olympian is not the same feeling as your average car.
Former Donnybrook Garage RA 176, joining the Driving School in 2006, thus the first RA class entering the school.
The Driving School Fleet 2007 :


RH 6, 7, 19, 20, 32, 84, 88, 140, 141, 142, 157, 158, 160, 163, 164, 166

RA 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 196, 197, 198


Garage allocations ( for maintenance )
Donnybrook 1 :  RH 157, 158, 176 & 177
Donnybrook 2 : RH 84 & 88
Summerhill : RH 19, 20 & RA 181
Ringsend : RH 6, 7, RA 178 & 179
Clontarf : RH 140, 141, 142 & RA 196
Conyngham Road : RH 163, 164 & RA 180
Harristown : RH 160 & 166, RA 197 & 198
Phibsboro : RH 32

RH 157, 158, 160, 163, 164 & 166 - Dublin Bus core livery
Temporarily transferred to Driving School during driver influx

RH 6, 20 & 88  - old Dublin Bus cream/ blue core livery modified

RH 7, 19, 84, 140, 141, 142
RA 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181
Driving School red/ white livery

RH 32 - old Dublin Bus cream/ blue core livery unmodified