About route 17A...
Route 17A is a radial route operating from Kilbarrack Industrial Estate, close to Howth Junction railway station heading straight towards Coolock, Ballymun & over to Finglas. It operates every 15 minutes during the peak. When Dublin Bus was formed in 1997, the KC single decker class were allocated to the route, operating at the time from Summerhill Garage. Many scrolls on Summerhill buses continued to have route 17B when selected services were extended down to the Bull Wall in Dollymount in the summer months. When Harristown Garage was opened in October 2004, the route was moved there along with some of the AD & RH's that had already been operating the route.
Route 17A continues to operate in 2008 using mostly Volvo Olympians, with some low floor ALX400's appearing on the route.



About the Alexander Setanta SB220...
A 70 strong fleet of the AD class was originally delivered to Dublin Bus in 1994 based on the DAF SB220L, ZF 4HP500 Auto 4-Speed transmission , built on the Alexander Belfast Setanta body, with a seating capacity set at either 37, 39 or 43 seats depending on operational requirements. A further 10 Setanta's were delivered to Dublin Bus in 1996, however built on the Volvo B10B chassis/engine, known as the VA class.
Most of the AD & VA class passed to Bus Eireann for further use as school buses also known as " Bus Scoile ",  with their centre doors sealed & seat belts fitted, although a few of the VA class seen town services in Drogheda/ Dundalk & Cork, with limited AD use at Waterford.
Dimensions :
11.6 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, 3.1 meters high with a maximum laden weight of 17,600 kgs


Mellows Road
Finglas Village
Ballygall Road
Ballymun
Centre
Santry Avenue
Coolock Lane
Northside shopping centre
Kilbarrack Road
Oscar Traynor Road
Malahide Road
Tonglegee Road
Kilbarrack Industrial Estate
Route
17A
Alexander Setanta DAF SB 220

AD 69 - Harristown Garage

July 2006
Harristown Garage AD 69 at route 17A terminus in Finglas
Harristown was the last Dublin Bus Garage to operate the AD class, exclusively using them on route 17A.
The last batch comprised AD 66, 67, 68, 69 & 70 having being inherited from Summerhill & Donnybrook originally. AD 69 & 70 were originally delivered to Dublin Bus in Airlink livery for the 747 express service in a yellow/ green with grey skirt livery.
The AD's worked the 17A along with a veteran batch of Leyland Olympians, also used exclusively on the route, including RH 138, 139, 159, 160 & 166.
The AD batch were first to be withdrawn in July 2006 with the Olympians shortly behind.
AD 66-68 were originally delivered to Donnybrook Garage in 1994 & would have spent their time on Bray routes & the 54A. When AD 69-70 were cascaded down from Airlink duties, they remained in service there on route 17A which at the time was Summerhill operated.

The AD class had a typical seating capacity of 43 ( although altered on some of the class for operational issues ), with a standing capacity of 28 giving a total of 71 passengers. The AD class followed on from the P class delivered to Dublin Bus earlier in 1993, which were also DAF SB220's although on a Plaxton Verde body.

standee area to right,
luggage area behind centre doors
Lazzarini individual bucket seating, continous strip lighting, gloss roof panels & grey/ blue trim
Dublin Bus DAF SB220 Alexander Setanta - sights n sounds...