Bus Eireann, Ireland's national bus operator won the tender to operate the 4 Park N Ride services in Waterford for the Tall Ships Races 2005.
Along with Bus Eireann's own fleet of buses, a variety of private operators were subcontracted. Also included in the hire in was 15 double decker Volvo B7TL's supplied by Dublin Bus. Donnybrook Garage supplied all 15, fleet numbers AV 259- 264 & 387-395. AV 259- 264 had recently been resprayed from Cityswift livery to the new Dublin Bus core colours, while AV 387- 395 were only delivered last year, both groups turned out in very smart appearance.....
Seen beside, Dublin Bus AV 390 leads the convoy on Friday morning down from Bus Eireann's Waterford Garage to take up service for the day.
Seen alongside is AV 391 seen loading at the Park n Ride site at the IDA Technical Park, known as the RED car park on the south west side of Waterford City.
Buses load & leave on demand with a steady stream of passengers. Its Friday around 2 pm with buses departing every 5 minutes approx.
The dot matrix displays alternate from...
Park & Ride to Red Car Park.
Donnybrook AV 261 is seen on Parnell Street, close to Waterford City Centre. This is the terminus for 2 Park & Rides. The mainly Dublin Bus RED route terminating on one side of the street, while private operators carrying passengers to car park B on the Airport Road on the opposite side.
Parnell Street is long with ample parking for approaching buses, thanks to traffic restrictions in the area & also served by local Bus Eireann services such as the 2 & 610 to Ballybeg/ Waterford Institute of Technology.
Donnybrook AV 392 seen resting at the IDA Technical Business Park, turned into the " A " park & ride car park. Its located along the N 25 towards Cork , past the world famous Waterford Crystal factory, Ballybeg housing estate & by far the furthest away of all 4 facilities, yet thanks to inbound ad hoc bus lanes, the trip time is only about 20 minutes.
With ample parking for both cars on the grass & the Dublin Bus's along the perimeter road, it was well supervised with security & at the bus stop by inspectors.
Donnybrooks AV 260 approaches Parnell Street, which is the city terminus for the Park n Ride buses.
Seen in the background is Waterford's newest nightclub Oxygen.
All 4 routes are free after some controversy by the city authorities trying to charge both car users & residents 5 euros each per day to use the service.
Finally, an impressive view, as AV 387 leads the group, lined up ready to take up service on demand.
The service was flawless, with the Dublin Buses operating through the festival from Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th July 2005. The first shift began around 11 am with the entire batch in service by 2 pm as numbers swelled.
The AV's returned to Donnybrook on Saturday 9th July.
In 2011, the Tall Ships returned to Waterford following the phenomenal success of the 2005. As with traffic restrictions in 2005, a new co-ordination plan was put into action over the period of the event 20th June - 2nd July 2011.
Two park & ride sites were in operation, on the south side at Carrickphierish ( the green car park ) while on the north side at Newrath ( blue & red ). Both sites had both Dublin Bus & Bus Eireann buses operating at very frequent intervals.
Summerhill Garage EV 40 operating the southside park & ride at Carrickphierish, just discharging its passengers on Morgan Street in Waterford City Centre.
30 buses with 50 drivers were supplied by Dublin Bus for the event, with low floor fleet types AX ALX 400's & EV Enviro400's, with their displays showing " Tall Ships 2011 Shuttle ".
Dublin Bus operated to both the north & southside venues.
Ringsend based EV 5, which has just gone through its respray cycle is seen also on Morgan Street having operated in from the green park & ride site. Following alighting, buses proceeded down the hill & into The Glen where buses started boarding again for Carrickphierish. The Glen was the main Bus Eireann city & rural terminus in 2005, but for 2011 was moved up the road to Ballybricken Square.
Harristown Garage EV 68 at the larger blue & red car park site on Newrath Road which took the bulk of traffic arriving in from the M9 & N25 road networks.
Two VC type school buses can be seen in the background, a number of Bus Eireann school buses were pressed into service on the park & ride operation, along with some private operators.
Clontarf EV 83 is seen awaiting in line at the green park & ride site at The Glen in Waterford City Centre, ready to load up again for Carrickphierish.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Losty.
The Dublin Bus fleet supplied to Waterford:
Harristown
AX 505, 509, 550, 552
EV 54, 60, 61, 68
Clontarf
EV 78, 83, 84
Phibsboro
AX 572, 593, 594, 599, 600, 601
Summerhill
EV 22, 37, 40
Donnybrook
EV 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 100
Ringsend
EV 1, 2, 5
As well as the Dublin Bus deckers on the park & ride operation, Bus Eireann had two transfers of deckers from its own fleet.
Cork city Gemini VWD 8 & 10 transferred in to operate the park & ride sites, 7 also arrived but defected & returned to Cork. Originally these were going to operate the busy Waterford- Tramore route 360 but the buses were fitted with Wayfarer2 / TGX ticketing equipment not familiar to Waterford drivers, so VWD 8 & 10 remained on the park & ride.
From Dundalk, DD 23, 24, 25 & 28 transferred down to operate the Tramore route 360, alongside Waterford's own VWL's on the route.
Bus Eireann LC 218, a VDL with route branding for the rail replacement route 370 is seen on Balybricken Square on layover. All expressway & local Bus Eireann routes operated from here, previously from The Glen in 2005, but moved up to Ballybricken to facilitate the park & ride there.
East Lanc Volvo B7 DD 23 from Drogheda is seen having just arrived in from Tramore & terminating at Ballybricken Square, terminus over the festival for all Bus Eireann local & expressway services with the Bus Station on the quayside closed to traffic during the event.
The DD class had their destinations fully programed for the 360 & were usually packed to capacity.
Bus Eireann AM 101, one of the very rare long wheelbase Enviro300's is seen at Ballybricken Square on the local route 5 which operates to Waterford Regional Hospital.
