Dublin & Ireland

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Another new type recently entered service - the LF400s. Similar to the LF300s but apparently a different sized engine, revised interior and the now standard TFI livery, these are meant to operate the NX between Dublin and Navan, but I am sure they will wander.


LF426 St Stephen's Green 29 July 2021

Another change is the LE class (1 to 8) have been cascaded down to the 100X (Dundalk to Dublin). These operated the 1, X1 for years and routes to Donegal.

LE1 St Stephen's Green 29 July 2021

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Hi, I have a pile of photos to upload and I will put up some links here to recent visits to Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Back home, Dublin Express have restarted their Airport to City Service, now extended to Heuston Station. This service, notionally operated by National Express but using Bernard Kavanagh vehicles, started last March, which was unfortunate. No bus stops and very little info at the city end to date, but loads on the Sunday looked good.


171D51762 Heuston 22 August 2021


161D58282 Heuston 22 August 2021

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Following on from my last posting, it was announced yesterday that Dublin Bus would not be resuming the 747/ 757 Airlink services. These were withdrawn last year at the start of the Covid lockdown and have not resumed. Dublin Express have moved in on their patch, operating to Heuston and Aircoach operate the 700 from O'Connell St to the Airport. The Airlink was part of the commercial arm of Dublin Bus, they will continue to operate the PSO 16 and 41 routes, which continued to operate through 2020 and 2021. Not sure what happens to the dedicated airlink Geminis. These were part of the problem, they date from 2009 and were probably due to be replaced. Sad to hear this, it was always interesting sitting upstairs at the back of the bus going through the Port Tunnel.
Picture taken of the 757 in March 2020:

VG32 Custom House Quay 21 March 2020

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Good evening.

Bus Éireann Expressway route X8 finished operating from yesterday and was taken over by Bus Éireann PSO route 245X from today. Obviously a downgrade in bus type but not as bad as it could have been!


LC311 Beresford Place 5 September 2021
First working of the 245X ex Cork.


LC309 Busáras 5 September 2021
12.00 ex Busáras to Cork

https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...mber-2021/

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Hello.
Two pictures from a recent trip to Cork.

VWD68 Infirmary Road 10 September 2021 - The 220 was the first of the city routes in Ireland to go 24 hour, even before Dublin - a source of great pride for Cork people... We have had plenty of 24 hour services over the years, mostly operating to and from Dublin Airport. For example Aircoach operated 24 hours between the Airport and the City for years, until Covid struck. In 2019 Dublin Bus started operating the 15 and 41 on a 24 hour basis and followed by the 39A last year.


SL2 South Mall 10 September 2021 - These are unique to Cork and their days are probably numbered. The Cork City fleet has become dominated by double deckers (Geminis of all sorts) and the SLs/ MC (Merc Citaros) make up the single deck component. There may be some VWL - wrights single deckers left, but I haven't seen any recently.
More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...mber-2021/

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
The PA class are now slowly taking over the 122 and 123 routes. PAs in the 180s have arrived, so rapid takeover of routes may occur. However, the next phase of the Bus Connects project is running late and the C Corridor will not start until late November. The PAs may be in store until then.

PA53 College Green 22 September 2021


PA72 College Green 22 September 2021

The following Enviro 200 appeared on the 194X Ashbourne Connect service this evening. I think this is meant to be on a hotel shuttle service between the Airport and Swords.

08D130068 North Wall Quay 22 September 2021

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Two more types have been painted into the new livery, the VG class (Volvo B9TL with Wrights body) but this escaped me today. More interestingly the first of the VT class has been painted. It was expected that these may be withdrawn soon, so thankfully this does not look to be the case.

VT65 Burgh Quay 2 October 2021

Meanwhile the PAs are appearing on more and more routes, wandering in particular at the weekends.

PA53 O'Connell Bridge 2 October 2021


PA49 O'Connell Bridge 2 October 2021

More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...ober-2021/

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Two pictures taken today:


LD303 Eden Quay 23 October 2021 - Operating the PSO 245X service from Cork, nicer journey with this than the usual LC.


PA143 Cabra Road 23 October 2021 - The PA class are rapidly entering service. The initial well planned introduction went well, now they seem to be entering service on a random basis on a multitude of routes. However, the next phase of Bus Connects will commence on Sunday the 28th of November - The C Spine to West Dublin/ Leixlip and Maynooth. There should be a major shake-up of the fleet then.
In other news, the AX class are rapidly been withdrawn and sadly it seems only 10 to 15 VTs will be left in service with the rest going into store. I saw two today heading north and without ticket machines.

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
VT36 has been painted in the new livery.

VT36 Kildare St 31 October 2021

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
The PA class have entered service on a rake of routes including my local number 1, thankfully as the normal SG300s are terrible rattle boxes.

PA273 Ringsend Road 6 November 2021


PA173 Dolier St 6 November 2021


PA168 Merrion Square 6 November 2021

A trip to Dunboyne/ M3 Parkway station today allowed for something different, ex London buses used on an Intel Construction shuttle service, this doesn't operate on Sundays. The T class are new to this, Arriva obviously clearing them out.


08G20166 M3 Parkway 7 November 2021

More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...mber-2021/