Dublin Bus AD and VA Farewell Run
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The third and fourth vehicles types with Dublin Bus to be withdrawn from service in 2006 are the single decked AD and VA classes.
While initially appearing similar due to the Alexander (Belfast) Setanta coachwork, the ADs were built on DAF SB220 chassis and the VAs on a Volvo B10B. A total of 70 ADs went into service new with Dublin Bus during 1994 and 1995, with 10 VAs following a year later. The vision for many of these buses, along with the P class, was modelled on a continental-style high-frequency service along a dedicated road corridor with systems in place to give buses priority over general traffic.
The logic was sound, but sometimes flawed in practice. The high-frequency aspect of some routes re-launched using these buses under the 'CitySwift' brand was very appealing to the public, so much so that buses became rapidly overloaded at peak times despite a 71-passenger capacity. Past European Union directives on public transport had been to discourage bus companies away from the double-deck model but this policy just did not work for Dublin. The city was continuing to grow and Dublin Bus thankfully continued a policy of maximum capacity by investing more funds back into providing double decks.
Of course, not all bus services were as high-profile as the CitySwift operations and these single deckers slotted in to various other routes performing as well as could be expected with any other type. While the ADs found themselves distributed to various Dublin Bus depots, the VAs were allocated to Conyngham Road Garage only and were initially mostly to be found along the Ballyfermot radial corridor. In later years as the influx of double decks continued the VAs would be seen on almost any Conyngham Road route, while the ADs, most of which had already been withdrawn between 2004 and 2006, were mostly concentrated on Phibsboro Garage's cross-city Route 122, plus a handful in Harristown for use mainly on Route 17A and some local services feeding into Swords and Blanchardstown.
On 2nd of July 2006, Dublin Bus facilitated a final farewell run using AD55 and VA10, running over Routes 10 and 122. The start of the run was at Parnell Square East at 3pm.............
AD55, suitably dressed for the south city destination of route 122.
VA10, dressed for the 78A - one of the routes on which it would have been mostly found.
Above, the two buses at the last set-down stop in Drimnagh, resting before setting off again for Ashington, the northside terminus of the 122 route.
This was the first - and last! - time that Conyngham Road Garage's VA10 would operate a route based from another garage.
Grafitti, one of the scourges of any bus service, but at least this was the official kind. No wonder we were getting
plenty of stares from passers-by!
From Ashington we proceeded to the Phoenix Park to do half a lap on Route 10 and end in Belfield
for a few last photo opportunities.
Exactly the same specifications; the markings in Irish on the AD, however, are very specific referring to standing and seating spaces in the lower saloon.... just as well seeing this is a single decker!
These classes are now consigned to history with Dublin Bus, but likely to see further service in the guise of school buses and other suburban town services for sister operator Bus Éireann.
Thanks as always go to Dublin Bus for making this event possible - and a special word of appreciation to our drivers Aido and Tony from Phibsboro Garage, who gave up some of their free time to facilitate us enthusiasts!