DublinPortTunnel, Dublin Bus enter the Dublin Port Tunnel

With the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel on this coming Wednesday 20th December 2006, a special guided tour of the tunnel was organised for residents of the affected area's, such as East Wall, Fairview, Marino & Santry.

Dublin Bus operated the transport, with double deckers, mostly the tri-axle VT class from Donnybrook Garage.

Here is a photo feature from Sunday 17th December 2006 when Marino residents were invited to a pre launch tour of the tunnel.

Local residents gather at Croydon Park Avenue, known locally as the

" D walls " at VT 6 is the first bus to arrive @ 1.15 pm. Already, VT 4 followed by ALX 400 type AX 391 line up behind & its not long before all buses are full, before they depart through the narrow, ramped roads of Marino, via route 123 to Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview Park, Alfie Byrne Road & East Wall Road.

The narrow roads of Marino & Fairview are barely suitable for the usual single deckers on route 123 which meanders around the Marino " scheme ".

Here Summerhill Garages WV 23, a regular on route 123 gives way to bigger brother VT 6 further down Croyden Park Avenue.

Route 123 from Marino via O' Connell Street & St James's Hospital to Kilnamangh is mainly operated by a 19 strong fleet of the " WV " class, along with some Volvo Olympians during peak times.

VT 6 followed by VT 4 arrive at the Dublin Port Tunnel offices just off the East Wall Road where a buffet lunch is provided. Santa was on hand with plenty of selection boxes for the kids while there was plenty of mulled wine for the grannies.

The 20 strong VT class is all based at Donnybrook Garage & allocated to route 46A.

After lunch, the residents reboarded the buses for a trip in the new Dublin Port Tunnel traveling from the Port to Santry. A new road system is in operation around the main port gates, with a new toll plaza located at the southern end of the development. Full details of the Dublin Port Tunnel are available here.

VT 6 enters the Dublin Port Tunnel. For most people on the bus, this is their first trip in the tunnel as its hasn't been opened to traffic as yet. There is two tunnels in each direction with twin lanes incorporating various safety systems.

Its exactly a year since VT 1 operated the first ever tri-axle for Dublin Bus, when on Sunday 18th December 2005, it departed from Dun Laoighaire Station on route 46A on the first ever VT in service. Now the following year, VT 1 completes another historic milestone by being one of the first Dublin Buses to enter the Dublin Port Tunnel. VT 1 is seen above on the return trip from Santry, seen above in Marino.

Finally, VT 1 meets WV 31 at Marino, not your normal Dublin Bus ramble......

In December 2007, a further 50 Volvo Enviro500's entered service at Phibsboro Garage, featuring Euro4 engines, see feature click here

Volvo tri-axles VT 6 & 4 arrive at the Dublin Port Tunnel offices, with the Poolbeg chimneys in the background...

The massive gantry signs at the southern end of the port tunnel with the Eastpoint Business Park in the background to the right of the picture. The tunnel sinks in the background close the main Dublin to Belfast railwayline at Fairview Park.

View from the top deck of the tri-axle Dublin Bus Enviro500 along the M1 motorway at the Coolock interchange. In the distance, the overhead gantry & two green arrows pointing traffic into the new Dublin Port tunnel.

Even the largest Dublin Bus is no match for the Dublin Port construction project.

Here Dublin Bus VT 4 is dwarfed by the toll plaza at Dublin Port. The 10 lane toll plaza charges cars while trucks & buses can use the tunnel free of charge.

Dublin Bus VT 5 drops off some passengers on Griffith Avenue, Marino. This is route 123's terminus, usually occupied by the WV midibus class. Route 123's terminus was redesigned during the minibus era to accomadate more buses parked at the terminus.