Dublin Bus launched new route 31C operating from Sutton DART Station via Carrickbrack Road, Howth Summit & Village to Howth DART Station on Monday 11th July 2005.
The new route was a revival of former route 88 which operated until the arrival of route 31B many years ago.
Route 31C was introduced after lobbying by local residents groups who had campaigned though political circles since timetable changes to routes 31 & 31B. The Howth bus service had been pruned back since the cancellation of route 31A to Strand Road in March 2005. Local residents & in particular elderly residents had complained that the 31B around Carrickbrack Road was infrequent & prone to delays. Articles & letters had appeared in The Northside People throughtout the Summer editions,meant that the situation was not going away. Route 31C was introduced on a 3 month trial basis & still continues.
Clontarf Garage operates route 31C, using mainly single decker WV class, Volvo B6BLE with Wright Crusader bodywork. WV 44, delivered originally in City Imp livery for route 130 to Castle Avenue, now in Dublin Bus core colours is seen outside Howth DART Station. Buses used to oeprate into the station grounds just to the opposite side of the footpath but parked cars mean the 31C terminates here on the main road. Buses turn past the Techcrete factory at the entrance to Deer Park & the National Transport Museum.
This stop at Howth DART Station also served as terminus for the short lived route 31D services, another shuttle type service introduced in April 2004 while DART services were suspended between Howth & Howth Junction during platform extensions. Route 31B services also used this stop until most services were terminated at Howth Summit.
The WV class are ideally suited to lower density routes, offering full low floor technology with a wheelchair space & most of the seating within a step free section of the bus. These midi buses also have ramps & full width gangway.
Clontarf Garage now operates 11 of these Crusaders, mainly for routes 53/53A & 103/104.
WV 44 ( 01 D 10044 ) is seen resting at Sutton Station, this time the station forecourt is accessible to the bus. Sutton DART Station is also the terminus for route 102. Route 102 is one of the original DART feeder routes set up to link Malahide with the DART network. In days one by, Clontarf operated the route, using the KC single decker class, complete with the DART logos on the buses. When the KC's were withdrawn from Clontarf, route 102 became decker operated, using mainly Leyland & Volvo Olympians. Route 102 transferred to new Harristown Garage in October 2004 & is now mainly operated by Volvo Alexander ALX400's & Dennis Tridents.
In the above photo, AV 164 is seen behind, formerly spending most of its time on routes 19 & 19A when allocated to Broadstone Garage.
Rear view of WV 44 at Sutton Station.
Route 31C operates 7 days a week, using one bus all day, from Clontarf Garage, with trip time of 30 minutes, with 6 round trips from Sutton Station.
Route 31C at Sutton DART Station
Route 31C at Howth DART Station
3
c
1
3
c
1
3
c
1
3
c
1
The sights & sounds of the Dublin Bus WV class
3
c
1
Clontarf Garage EV 13 operating route 31C on 3rd Feb 2008, seen at Sutton DART.
