In 1987, Dublin Bus took delivery of 5 Metro Cammell Weymann ( MCW ) Metrorider minibuses, its first bus acquisition since the break up of CIE into Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann & Irish Rail earlier that year.
The 23 seater integral Metroriders, with a 115 bhp 6 cylinder 5.9 litre Cummins B series engine with an Allison fully automatic gearbox, short wheelbase 7 meters in length, with a new version of the two tone green livery, now with a cream colour roof, were classified the MB class.
MB 1- 5 were introduced on new Tallaght routes T01 & T02, re numbered 201 & 202 with the Square shopping centre as a hub, called a new brand " Localink " in December 1987, operating from Donnybrook Garage. These two routes allowed the minibuses to enter smaller housing estates in Tallaght unsuitable for single/ double decker buses & featured a " Hail & Ride " for customers.
MB 13, a long wheel version Metrorider is seen on rote 201 ( the original T01 route ) at the special Localink terminus at The Square Shopping Centre in March 1994.
Ten more Metroriders were ordered in 1988, MB 6-15, seating now increased to 29 seats ( with 12 standees ) , interior seats now in standard Dublin Bus green moquette, with dark brown upholstery on the seat backs, side & ceiling panels.
With the extra minibuses, a new City Centre " Nipper " route was launched for Christmas 88, operating from O'Connell Street, Trinity College, Georges Street, St Stephens Green, Westmoreland Street & back to O'Connell Street. The Nipper service had a flat fare of just 25 pence & proved so popular that was subsequently introduced over Christmas 89, 90 & 91, with additional post Christmas dates into January every year. The service was free for 1991.
During the Nipper operation, the Metroriders were garaged at Summerhill.
Metrorider MB 11 seen at The Square terminus set down stop in October 1992.
Following the ending of the Christmas 1988 Nipper service, there was a re shuffle of the MB class so that new Localink routes could be introduced elsewhere in Dublin.
MB 1 - 7 were allocated to Phibsboro Garage for new routes 210 ( Crumlin Road to Clondalkin ) & new route 220 ( Finglas to Blachardstown )
MB 8- 15 were allocated to Donnybrook Garage for original routes T01, T02 & T03 ( routes 201/ 202 & 203 )
December 98 saw the introduction of route T03 in Tallaght operating from Carriglea to Kilnamanagh.
MB 11 is seen above at The Square in March 1994 on route 203.
Routes 210 & 220 commenced operation on the 8th January 1989 from Phibsboro Garage, while route 230 was launched from Dublin Airport to Portmarnock was also introduced at Summerhill using MB 1, 9 & 11
The Metroriders also introduced a new radial route in Blanchardstown, the 250 which operated from Ashtown to Clonsila replacing former route 80.
MB 6 had the honor of operating the first 250 service.
Phibsboro Garage MB 6 is seen at The Coombe Hospital in May 1991.
To the left, a Dublin Bus flyer for Localink route 210. Originally from Crumlin Road ( Errigal Gardens ) to Clondalkin, the route was extended to the Coombe Hospital shortly afterwards.
The photo shows MB 2, a short wheelbase Metrorider. As well as the shorter wheelbase, their front destination box was much smaller than the regular fitted to the 2nd batch of Metroriders.
MB 10 spent some weeks in Ringsend Garage in Winter 1992, following fire damage to Mercedes Wright bodied MW 7. MB 10 operated City Imp route 83, in full two tone Dublin Bus green alongside the Imp Yellow & Red minibuses.
The MB class operated some free supermarket shopping services :
MB 7 operated for Crazy Prices in Lucan / MB 4 for Superquinn in Finglas
Specialized ads were placed in the side & rear adframes promoting the services, bringing customers to & from the supermarkets, usually free.
Disposal arrangements for the MB class had begun as early as Spring 1992, however the introduction of the first City Imp route 83 ( City Centre to Kimmage ) 21st Aptil 1992, transferred 9 of the 10 strong MW class ( excluding executive MW 5 ) from Phibsboro & Summerhill to Ringsend, allowing the whole MB class to be kept in service.
By Autumn 1992, route 230 was so successful with the MB class, KC's were allocated to the route from the 17A, to cope with demand.
Route 210 was also a victim of its own success for the MB class, by Christmas 92, the MB class were ousted from the route being replaced with Phibsboro's KC fleet.
By mid 1994, new generation Mercedes minibuses from Alexander, Eurocoach & Leicester Carriage Builders were swamping all garages for various new routes, including Imps & Localinks in Bray & the MB class were in storage.
The MA class was already operating the Tallaght localinks, routes 210 & 220 were upgraded to KC class single deckers.
Summer 94 seen the entire MB fleet moved to Inchicore pending sale, except for MB 8 which transferred to Bus Eireann in Galway ( June 94 ) to operate a hotel shuttle in the City, while Summerhill retained solitary MB 9 in service.
Bus Eireann MB 8 subsequently moved to Cork where it operated a new inner city shuttle from North Main Street to Blarney Street. The service didn't last long & MB 8 was sold to Barry's of Cork for use on their Cobh Town service, operating there until 2001 before being stored at Bernard Kavanagh's yard in Kilkenny.
By Winter 1994, 9 MB's had been sold to Strathclyde Buses in Scotland ( MB 6, 7 & 9-15 ), all the long wheeled version & were off the fleetlist by the end of 94 & some weeks later MB 1 to 5 had been sold off to Strathclyde as well thus the beginning of the end for the pioneering minibuses in Dublin Bus.
MB 6 returned from Strathclyde in June 2000 being sold to Arklow Cabs, being re registered 88 WW 3327.
Donnybrook Garage MB 15, with its matching fleet number 89 D 15, first introduced from MB 12, so from 1989 to 2009, all fleet & reg numbers were in sequence.
MB 15 is seen at The Square. There would eventually be 4 Localink routes operating in the Tallaght area when the concept was at its peak.
Interior of MB 4
Standee straps full length of bus
The Two nearside bench seats replaced with single seating later on
Luggage pen beside door
( Photo : Nigel O'Connor )
Cab area of MB 4
( Photo : Nigel O'Connor )
( Photo : Darren Hall )
( Photo : Darren Hall )
( Photo : Darren Hall )
( Photo : Patrick Losty )
( Photo : Darren Hall )
Interior of MB 4
MB 1 to 5 were delivered with a generic blue/ grey seating fabric interior, later replaced to Dublin Bus green trim.
MB 6-15 delivered with green seating & dark brown interior
Have you any more info on the Dublin Bus Metrorider that could be added to this page ?
Evening Press December 1988
210 flyer ( Nigel O'Connor )
MB 6 seen on O'Connell Street in January 1989 on the Dublin City circular " Nipper " service for the Christmas seasom complete with Nipper logo in the destination box & note the Nipper logo on the bus stop side plate.
Photo Shane Conway
MB 8 seen on O'Connell Street in January 1989, along with the Nipper logo on the front destination, some additional promotion on the front bonnet & side windows.
Photo Shane Conway
Summerhill MB 9 seen at Dublin Airport on route 230 in April 1992 on a much quieter arrivals ramp.
Photo Shane Conway
Donnnybrook MB 12 on route T02, with a T03 in the background, in the Kilcarrig/ Firhouse area April 1989
Photo Shane Conway
The route maps & timetable for Metrorider route 210 when introduced in August 1989.
Services were split evenly operating from The Coombe Hospital to either Neilstown ( red route ) or Bawnogue ( blue route ) Monday to Saturday, while 1 bus operated the mamoeth task of operating both routes as one journey on a Sunday.
The dotted lines indicate services via " Woodford ".
( thanks to Nigel O'Connor for these flyers )
( Photo : Shane Conway )
( Photo : Shane Conway )
( Photo : Shane Conway )
( Photo : Shane Conway )
( Photo : Fred Dean )
MB 8 in full Bus Eireann " chevron " livery, the first Bus Eireann minibus to wear this new livery at the time, seen at Deerpark in Cork in August 1995. This new inner city route was launched using MB 8 operating via Main & Blarney Street.
The route operated on a " hail & ride " basis, similar to some minibus routes in Dublin, a concept introduced by the Metrorider. The Deerpark shuttle didnt last long, there was also difficulties with MB 8 negotiating along narrow Blarney Street.
( photo Joe Lawton )
( Photo : Joe Lawton )
Phibsboro's MB 8 seen ni 1991, long gone relics of the past, the no smoking signs on the windows & the original cream coloured Wayfarer 1 ticket machine
Photo Fred Dean
( Photo : Fred Dean )
MB 8 seen in summer 2000, by now sold to Barry's of Cork & used on their Cobh town service which operated there until 2001.
Photo Fred Dean
( Photo : Fred Dean )
MB 8 seen in July 1994 while with Bus Eireann Galway, following transfer from Dublin Bus, used as a hotel shuttle in Galway during Summer 1994.
87D 20541 
