Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 414 (98-D-20414) sets off on the route 45 for Oldcourt, Co. Wicklow. In the background Dublin’s new 120 metre high, rolled stainless steel Ian Richie designed ‘Spire’ can be seen, the final section of the eight section Spire was raised into place only two months previously in January 2003 on the site once occupied by the 41 metre high Nelson Pillar destroyed in March 1966.
Bus Eireann, Athlone, Mercedes, 811D, Eurocoach, pristine condition ME 207, (97-G-1867) with Athlone town service branding. Ten MEs were delivered to Bus Eireann in 1997,
ME 201 (97-G-1857) to ME 210 (97-W-714)
Bus Eireann, Volvo, Caetano, Enigma, VC 204 (01-D-60731) was photographed at Galway station having completed the four hour journey from Dublin’s Busarus Bus Station. 15 brand new VC’s were leased during 2001, VC 201 (01-D-60715) to VC 215 (01-D-69365)
Galway’s DAF SB120, Wright Cadet, DWR 13 (01-D-4792) parked at Galway Railway Station.
20 brand new DWRs were delivered to Bus Eireann in year 2001, DWR 1 (01-D-4738) to
DWR 20 (01-D-4804)
Bus Eireann, Volvo B10M, Plaxton Excalibur, VP 110 (01-D-8063) in ‘Eurolines’ livery photographed in Galway Railway Station. Ten brand new VPs were leased during 2001,
VP 105 (01-D-8051) to VP 114 (01-D-8083).
Bus Eireann, Athlone, Dennis Pointer, Plaxton DPC 6, (00-D-84190). 21 brand new DPC’s delivered to Bus Eireann during 2000, DPC 1 (00-D-84187) to DPC 21 (00-D-91442).
Phibsboro’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 607 (99-D-607) in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) for ‘Vodafone’. RV 607 was one of a five bus batch, RV 605 (99-D-605) to RV 609 (99-D-609) delivered new in 1999 to Phibsboro, all in CitySwift livery. Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, RA 279 (96-D-279) received an identical ‘Vodafone’ AOA, see below.
A view of Smithfield, Dublin 7 looking towards North King Street, before the apartment/retail development got under way
Aer Lingus, 1990 vintage, 156 seat, Boeing 737-448, EI-BXD, received this ‘logojet’ livery to promote personal online bookings and other features available on the newly enhanced ‘aerlingus.com’ website. Three other Aer Lingus Boeing 737’s received this style livery, two aircraft CDB and BXK with dark green tail/text colours and CDC with blue tail/text colours
Bus Eireann, ex. Cork city service 1984 vintage Shannon built GAC, KCS 143 (UZG 143) photographed in Broadstone, notice the centre doors/half front door have been removed for schools use
Dublin Bus, Volvo B6BLE, Wright, WV 38, (00-D-70038) was used as an ‘Intervenue Shuttle’ during the ‘Special Olympic World Games in June 2003
Dublin Bus, Volvo B6BLE, Wright, WV 46, (01-D-10046) and WV 41 (01-D-10041) were two of many Dublin Bus/Bus Eireann buses used as ‘Intervenue Shuttles’ during the ‘Special Olympic World Games in June 2003.
Bus Eireann, DAF SB120, Wright, Cadet, DWM 8, (00-D-96294) was one of the many Bus Eireann buses used as ‘Intervenue Shuttles’ during the ‘Special Olympic World Games in June 2003. The DWM class comprises 15 buses, DWM 1 (00-D-96311) to DWM 15 (00-D-96304), all delivered new in year 2000 to Bus Eireann, Limerick
Bus Eireann, Cork, Volvo B10L, Wright, VWL 124, (02-C-1831) and Limerick based Mercedes Citaro, MC 10, (00-D-86365) were two of the many Bus Eireann buses used as ‘Intervenue Shuttles’ during the ‘Special Olympic World Games in June 2003
Bus Eireann, Volvo B10M, Caetano, VC 303, (03-D-46351) in ‘CIE Tours International’ livery was one of a batch of 30 brand new coaches delivered to Bus Eireann in the summer of 2003 comprising VC 301 (03-D-46349) to VC 330 (03-D-59512).
Ex. Clontarf, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 52, (90-D-1052) was converted into the Dublin Bus ‘Uniform Bus’, with passenger seating/centre doors removed and windows blacked out
Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 631 (99-D-631) and RV 633 (99-D-633) were loaned to Bus Eireann in summer 2003 for use on the Dublin – Ratoath route
Dublin Bus Broadstone, ex. Phibsboro, Leyland, Olympian, Alexander, RH 117 (91-D-10117) received this one sided ‘Addidas’ advertisement with 7Up AOA, RH 116 (91-D-10116) parked along side
Ex. Summerhill, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 23, (90-D-1023) was converted into open top format for use as the Dublin Bus ‘Tree Cutter’ vehicle, replacing 1974 vintage Leyland Atlantean, AN68, D635 (635 ZO), see WITY 2001
12 year old Leyland Olympians withdrawn from Dublin Bus service await sale, from left to right, Ringsend RH 95 (91-D-1095), Donnybrook RH 93 (91-D-1093), ex. JVC Adagio AOA & Whirlpool AOA and Ringsend RH 101 (91-D-10101).
Shannon based ‘Skynet Airlines’, 1989 vintage, 150 seat, Boeing 737-4YO, EI-CZK lines up for take off from Dublin’s runway 28. The airline flew the Shannon – Moscow route sometimes transiting through Dublin as can be seen in this late July evening photograph
Dublin Bus Broadstone, ex. Clontarf/Phibsboro, Leyland, Olympian, Alexander, RH 163
(93-D-10163) received this very popular and colourful ‘Smarties’ AOA livery
Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Mercedes O814, Eurocoach, MV 83, (98-D-1083) received this very eyecatching AOA for ‘Western Union Money Transfer’. Notice the ‘1800’ phone number on the side as self service on-line web service was only under development at the time.
Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 279 (96-D-279) received an All Over Advertisement (AOA) for ‘Vodafone’. Phibsboro’s Volvo Olympian, RV 607 (99-D-607) received an identical ‘Vodafone’ AOA, see picture above
Summerhill’s 1972 vintage Leyland Atlantean, DF 450 (450 ZD), in ‘The Dublin Ghost Bus Tour’ livery. DF 450 was previously an open top Dublin City tour bus in 7Up AOA livery, please see WITY 1988
Phibsboro’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 605 (99-D-605) in CitySwift livery and Volvo, Alexander, ALX 400, AV 303 (03-D-20303) in navy/cream livery stop off in the garage.
Donnybrook’s Volvo, ALX 400, Alexander, AV 76 (00-D-40076) in trial/prototype navy/yellow fleet livery. At the time the Dublin Bus city fleet (excluding Airlink/Railink/Tours/Wedding liveries) had three liveries, City Imp, CitySwift, fleet navy/cream, a decision to replace the three liveries with one core fleet livery was to be made and trials were carried out over the summer 2003 with Donnybrook’s AV 76 and AV 84 chosen as livery test vehicles.
Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 187 (94-D-187) with newly applied ‘Calyx’ AOA.
Bus Eireann, Scania Irizar, SI 71, (00-D-83735) photographed at expiry of its three year lease.
SI 71 was one of 23 brand new SI’s leased by Bus Eireann in 2000, SI 49 (00-D-41908) to SI 71
(00-D-83737).
Phibsboro’s DAF, Plaxton Verde, P 10 (93-D-3010) and P 40 (93-D-3040) photographed withdrawn from Dublin Bus service. The P fleet was ousted from Phibsboro service by a combination of transferred 1994 vintage Donnybrook DAF, Alexander Setanta, ‘AD’ class single decks and the delivery of the 10 strong new Dennis Trident 2,ALX400, DT class to Broadstone allowing the transfer of RH buses back to Phibsboro. The full fleet of 40 P’s (all based in Phibsboro from new), P 1 (92-D-20001) to P 40 (93-D-3040) transferred to Bus Eireann for conversion to the school fleet.
Phibsboro’s DAF, Plaxton Verde, P 5 (93-D-3005) was one of the last of the 40 strong fleet still in use by September 2003 and this photograph was taken on one of it’s last days in Dublin Bus service.
Clontarf’s perfect condition Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 156 (93-D-10156) with Budweiser advert photographed near the route 130 terminus on Abbey Street. RH 156 was part of the
RH 154 (93-D-10154) to RH 167 (93-D-10167) delivered new in 1993 to Clontarf Garage, all in green fleet livery except RH 154 which was in white ‘wedding bus’ livery.
Phibsboro’s ex. Donnybrook DAF, Alexander Setanta, AD 21 (94-D-3021) photographed on O’Connell Street northbound on the route 122 to Ashington.
Broadstone’s new Dennis Trident 2, ALX400, DT 8 (03-D-10008) operating northbound on the route 19 to Jamestown Road. 10 DTs were purchased new in 2003, DT 1 (03-D-10001) to
DT 10 (03-D-10010), all based in Dublin Bus, Broadstone.
McConns ex. Dublin Bus, Ringsend, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 11 (90-D-1011) was converted to open top configuration and utilised on the Dublin City sightseeing tour.
Clontarf’s Volvo B6BLE, Wright, WV 18 (99-D-60018) photographed passing Busarus Bus Station while operating the route 53 to the East Wall in Dublin’s docklands pursued by
RV 501 (99-D-501) on the route 27B to Castletimon. 52 WVs were delivered between the years 1999 and 2001, 20 in 1999 and 20 in 2000 and 12 in 2001. Clontarf’s WV 11 to WV 20 were the only batch delivered new in the navy/cream fleet livery as per picture, all other new WVs were delivered in City Imp yellow/red livery.
Clontarf’s Mercedes, Eurocoach, ME 26 (94-D-37026) in Nitelink livery photographed on Abbey Street, notice the ongoing Luas works (Tallaght line) to the left of the picture.
Bus Eireann, Galway, Dennis Pointer, Plaxton DPC 9, (00-D-84197) photographed on Eyre Square. 21 brand new DPC’s delivered to Bus Eireann during 2000, DPC 1 (00-D-84187) to
DPC 21 (00-D-91442).
Galway’s Mercedes Citaro, MC 14 (00-D-91433) photographed on Eyre Square while operating the route 7. 20 MCs were delivered to Bus Eireann in year 2000, MC 1 (00-D-79721) to MC 20
(00-D-98898). MC 1 to MC 12 were allocated when new to Limerick and MC 13 – MC 20 to Galway.
Lally’s of Galway open top 1963 vintage, Leyland Titan PD3/4, Northern Counties, (ZV 1466) photographed on Eyre Square while operating ‘The Original Galway Tour’.
Bus Eireann, Galway, school buses parked in the garage, GAC, KS 60 (EZV 60), Ex. Phibsboro, DAF, Plaxton Verde, P 35 (93-D-3035), Ex. UK. Leyland Lynx, LS 126 (89-D-52389).
Bus Eireann, Galway, ERF E10-325, tow car, RV 14 (89-D-40276) parked in the garage with
MC 19 (00-D-98895) with Guinness super rear advert parked behind.
Citylink Scania Irizar (03-D-26696) was only a few months old when photographed in Galway in October 2003.
Bus Eireann, Dundalk, DAF SB120, Wright Cadet, DWR 3 (01-D-4752) parked at Dundalk’s ‘Long Walk’ bus station. 20 brand new DWRs were delivered to Bus Eireann in year 2001,
DWR 1 (01-D-4738) to DWR 20 (01-D-4804).
Donnybrook’s Volvo, ALX 400, Alexander, AV 84 (00-D-40084) in trial/prototype navy/grey fleet livery. This colour scheme was rejected in favour of the navy/yellow as applied to AV 76, please see picture above.
Greyline operated Volvo, Olympian, East Lancs, 99-D-28988 in Coca Cola AOA livery photographed on College Street while operating ‘The Coast and Garden Tour’.
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2003
photos & text by Patrick Losty
