Dublin Bus launched its new two tone metallic green city tour livery into service on Saturday 17th November 2007.
Volvo Olympian RA 250 ( 95 D 250 ) is the first bus into service sporting the livery.
Recently converted open toppers ALX400 AV 22-24 have received the livery have also been sprayed in a similar livery but require further attention including the installation of a new multi-lingual system.
The new city tour livery, now rebranded as " Dublin Bus Tour " is an off-shoot of the new Dublin Bus Airlink livery, created by Ray Stenning of Best Impressions ( UK ) & the application was by Freenys Graphics, Dublin.
RA 250 heads down O' Connell Street on the start of its 75 minute tour of the Capital, heading towards Trinity College, Merrion Square, Dame Street, Guinness Brewery, Heuston Station & the Phoenix Park.
Even on a cold Winters day in November, with a high frequent 10 minute departure, the upper deck is packed. The tour operates in competition with worldwide brand Citysightseeing franchised to Dualway Coaches, along a similar route.
RA 250 pictured at Suffolk Street outside the Dublin Tourism Office & close to
Grafton Street.
Old & new liveries together at the tour terminus at Cathal Brugha Street.
History of the City Tour livery :
Former VanHool McArdle D685 ( 685 ZO ) with the yellow/ green Dublin City Tour pictured in 2002, the first fleetwide livery for the dedicated tours open toppers
Following in D685's footsteps, operating from Summerhill Garage & then the tours fleet, RH 130 joined the City Tour fleet in August 2006 & at the time the tour livery.
RA 219 is the third open top Olympian to receive the new Dublin Bus tour two tone green livery, following on from RA 250 & 260, seen on O' Connell Street Saturday 19th January 2008, just back from the paintshop. The text decals has been changed again, most notably the language flags have been replaced with a new yellow box " live commentary " around the bus.
Following closely behind on RA 219 into the new livery, AV 398 joined the tour fleet in January 2008. Previously in standard Dublin Bus core livery, usually allocated to cross city route 746 ( Dun Laoghaire - City Centre - Dublin Airport ), seen here at Malahide Castle on Sunday 20th January 2008. The luggage racks were removed from 398 & fitted to 395 ( AV 396-398 usually allocated to the 746 ). AV 398 is the first AV into active service with the new Coastal Tour two tone green livery ).
Donnybrook based AV 328 pictured at Malahide Castle on the Coast & Castle tour, 11th March 2007 in " Coastal Tour " livery, an offshoot of the City Tour livery, with picture postcards plastered on the bus, based on venues & sights along the route.
