Dublin Bus operates a number of rail feeder routes introduced when the DART
( Dublin Area Rapid Transit ) was introduced 20 years ago. These " DART Feeder " routes operated short stint services from various stations along the DART line inland to various housing estates. Routes like the 102/ 111 & 114 were introduced using KC single decker's & over the years have come & gone. They have generally been loss making routes, merely generating traffic to the DART & creating convenience to commuters.
Route 102 operates from Sutton Station, continuing northwards towards Portmarnock & Malahide Village then terminates at Seabury.
Dublin Bus Volvo Olympian RV 365, operated from Harristown Garage is seen at Sutton Station in May 2005 about to take up service to Malhide. The station is deserted due to Northside rail works & no train service operating this weekend.
Harristown Garage took over the running of the 102 from Clontarf Garage in November 2004 when the route was transferred. Previously Clontarf had operated the route using the Olympian class, but since Harristown began, various Olympians, AV & DT class can been seen on the route.
RV 365 was originally delivered to Summerhill in 1997 for route 41, complete in Final Flyer Cityswift livery. Click here for feature on RV 365 while in Summerhill Garage....Like route 102, RV 365 was transferred from Summerhill to Harristown at the same time as the route transfer.
Route 102 has a trip time of 35 minutes, being operated by 3 buses Monday to Friday & 2 on Saturdays with no Sunday service. Route 102 overlaps with route 230 around Portmarnock & Malahide while there has been plans to amalgamate the two routes for some time.
Sutton Station has previously been home to former route 88 which linked Sutton Station with Howth Station & Summit. Following the withdrawal of route 31A & cutback in route 31B, a new route is to be introduced from Sutton Station retracing the 88 routing after residents complaints with the new 31/ 31B timetable. This service await ministerial approval.
In the above photo, the entrance to Sutton Station can be seen on the right side. Only DART services operate from Sutton Station ( to/ from Howth ).
Summerhill Garage Volvo Olympian RV 365, seen on route 16 on Dame Street 19th July 2004. During its 3 year respray cycle in2003, it returned in Dublin Bus core colours, formerly in Cityswift livery.
Cityswift colours as per the entire Summerhill batch of RV 354-385
This batch were originally delivered during 1997 in Cityswift livery for the Swords 41 group services & most featured " Fingal Flyer " decals on the side, similar to routes 27 & 46A. While some of the earlier numbers were used on the Cityswift 13 route, RV 366 upwards were fitted with an additional luggage rack behind the centre doors for the Dublin Airport requirements.
