Until the opening of Harristown, these 20 Volvo artics were used on high profile cross city route 10 from Phoenix Park to UCD Belfield. While being a superb crowd carrier, their long proportions lead to them being unsuitable on Dublin's narrow streets.
Now in Harristown, the AW's are returning to their original " euro " status, operating peak time Monday to Friday suburb to city " xpresso " services.
The Volvo AV class is now established as the Dublin Bus front runner vehicle. While it has yet to catch up with the quantities of former Olympians purchased, its low floor capabilities & greater passenger comfort mean that the AV class will be in the fleet for some time.
Harristown received various batches of AV's from Clontarf & most of Broadstone original allocation.
Dublin Bus purchased the more powerful Cummins engined Dennis on the traditional ALX400 body, allocating all 10 to Broadstone & used exclusively on cross city routes 19/19A.
The DT class are very similar in design to the Volvo AV class with just a few minor bodywork changes as well as the Dennis chasis & Cummins engine.
The DT's are also being noticed on euro duties & rail replacement duties since arriving at Harristown.
Dublin Bus opted for the then Leyland Olympian in 1990 & purchased 640 such vehicles until 1999. Allocated to all garages, the Olympian is still the workforce of the Dublin Bus fleet. While not offering low floor technology, Dubliner's have appreciated this fine & reliable bus. Harristown received a sizeable batch of Olympians, the former Broadstone fleet, used on euro duties, some Clontarf examples for transferred route 27B, Summerhill based Leyland examples for former routes 13/13A & 17A. Phibsboro also donated some Olympians for transferred routes 40 to Finglas.
Dublin Bus launched the DAF SB 220 on Alexander bodies in 1994, following on from Plaxton Verdes bodies received in 1993. 2004 saw significant changes to the AD fleet as the early examples passed to Bus Eireann for their schools fleet.
Harristown received its batch from Summerhill, a batch originally from Donnybrook & former " airlinks " at Summerhill. The AD class at Harristown will now be used for both routes 17A & 33B.
Dublin Bus has been gradually ending its relationship with the humble minibus with only 6 in active service now, 5 in Harristown & one at Phibsboro for route 172.
The Harristown allocation will be used for the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre " localink " routes 237-239 & 270.
Dublin Bus opened its new garage facility at Harristown, close to Dublin Airport on the 31st October 2004.
The new garage replaced the temporary Dublin Bus garage at Broadstone located at the rear of Bus Eireann's compound. As well as taking over many of Broadstone's " euro " peak time extra services, some north Dublin routes also transferred from Clontarf
( 27B & 102 ), Summerhill ( 13, 13A, 17A & 230 ) & Phibsboro ( 40 group, 83 & 237-239 group) , leading to a number of route & vehicle re shuffles.
Here is a list of the vehicles at Harristown, transferred over two weekends, Sunday 31st October & 7th November 2004.
AW
AV
DT
RA
RH
RV
AD
MV
* During December 2004, AV 1 & RV 575 transferred from Harristown to Ringsend Garage for euro duties on route 38 switched to Ringsend. RV 575 then quickly transferred to DK, RA299 DK to RG in return.
