Donnybrook Garage Volvo Olympian RV 412 in full allover advertising for Reebok's latest campaign " I Am What I Am " seen in Bray, County Wicklow 4th June 2005 on route 145.
Route 145 was re launched in October 2004 with a revised routing into Dublin City Centre, replacing its former Bray local routing.
Photo on this page were taken on the first day of rail replacement services on the Southside, as the DART network & suburban services were canceled to allow Irish Rail to carry out final station & rail works on some parts of the network. Additional buses operated on a number of bus routes in the affected areas, such as the 7, 45, 45A, 46A & 145 along with a temporary " Dalkey Shuttle " route retracing the former route 8 to Dalkey service.
Reebok in association with Lifestyle Sports have launched full wrap advertisements on a number of Dublin Bus Olympians, under their current campaign " i am what i am " featuring various celebrities & sporting heroes.
Summerhill RV 515, Donnybrook RV 412, Phibsboro RV 612 & Ringsend Garage RA 294 have so far been applied, replacing their Cityswift liveries.
Here is a feature on Summerhill's RV 515 making a guest appearance on cross city route 123 operating between Drimnagh & Marino, normally operated by Volvo B6BLE Wright Crusader midibuses.
All photos Sunday 27th April 2005.
" Where I am from, there is no plan B, so take advantage of today, because tomorrow is not promised "
50 Cent
Music artist 50 Cent is on the nearside on RV 515 seen alongside at route 123's terminus on the end of Griffith Avenue / intersection with Malahide Road.
" I've had a stress fracture, ruptured my achilles, won two gold medals & had lunch with the Queen. It's been an extraordinary time "
Dame Kelly Holmes
Olympic Gold Medal winner Kelly Holmes is featured on the offside, this view also at the terminus having just arrived from Drimnagh.
" There's gona be a million people that love Allen Iverson. There's gona be a billion people that hate Allen Iverson. Concentrate on the ones that care about you & keep steppin "
Allen Iverson
Basketball champion Allen Iverson is featured on the rear, with full contravision in a colour presentation.
Route 123's Marino terminus was altered some years ago to accommodate the extra volume of buses on the 123 compared to the old days of the 24 when one bus was usually resting at the terminus at any given time.
Finally, Volvo Olympian RV 515, which was delivered to Summerhill Garage originally in Airlink format for express services to Dublin Airport is seen heading down off leafy Griffith Avenue towards Croydon Garden, having just passed over the first of many senseless ramps in the area which make the trip extremely uncomfortable.
Double deckers are even more rare on the 123 since its transfer from Broadstone to Summerhill Garage last year. While a number of Olympians can be seen operating the route, especially Monday to Fridays, the route has its dedicated fleet of Volvo B6BLE's ( WV 22-40 ).
Co incidentally, similar RV 516 in standard livery was also operating the route today !!!
Thanks to the 123 driver at the terminus seen above.
See Reebok press release on ad campaign. Click here.
Continuing the Reebok campaign, Phibsboro Garage Volvo Olympian RV 612 received the allover livery.
RV 612 was traditionally a Conyngham Road bus, in Cityswift livery. During the transfer of the 26/ 66 & 67 group of routes from Conyngham Road to Phibsboro in late 2004, Volvo Olympians RV 611-616 moved to their new home, leaving RV 610 as the only solitary Cityswift Olympian from the batch at Conyngham.
With no adframes, the application of the new allover livery was easier, as with RV 615 also received an advertisement for Today FM around the same time.
RV 612 is seen above about to operate route 120 which currently operates from Parnell Street via Phibsboro to Cabra. It began as a high frequency CityImp minibus route before converting to double decker operation.
Continuing the Reebok I Am What I am campaign, Phibsboro Garage Volvo Olympian RA 2942 received the allover livery.
RA 294 was originallydelivered to Ringsend Garage in a Cityswift batch of RA 284 to 298, in May & June 1995 especially for routes 77 & 77A to Tallaght.
With no adframes, the application of the new allover Reebok vynals was easier.
Unlike the other Reebok campaigns on RV 412, 515 & 612, RA 294 wrap only lasted a few weeks & was mysteriously ended far short of the other buses returning to normal fleet colours.
