Wheeling In The Years 2006 by Patrick Losty

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Picture 1 – April 2006 Dublin City Council, Dennis Refuse Collection Truck, (05-D-20053) was one of a fleet of new trucks brought into service following the phased introduction of wheelie bins for domestic waste in 2005/2006.

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Picture 2 – April 2006 Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 333 (97-D-333) in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) for ‘Adamstown’, a new large scale residential housing development located between Lucan and Clondalkin which includes its own ‘Irish Rail’ Commuter rail station.

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Picture 3 – April 2006 Brand new Bus Eireann, Scania K114/Irizar PB, SP 44, (06-D-31523) was photographed while parked at Wilton Terrace beside the picturesque Grand Canal, Dublin. 60 brand new SP’s were bought/registered by Bus Eireann in 2006, SP 31 (06-D-20995) to SP 90 (06-D-59023), SP 89 and SP 90 are ‘Eurolines’ liveried tri-axles which are utilised on the Ireland – UK services.

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Picture 4 – April 2006 Dublin Bus, Conyngham Road, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 353 (03-D-50353) was painted into overall white wedding livery in April 2006 and is seen here operating the route 92, Wilton Terrace to Heuston Station. AV 353 was delivered new to Conyngham Road Garage in 2003 in Cityswift livery and was generally utilised on the route 79, Aston Quay to Spiddal Park.

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Picture 5 – April 2006 Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Volvo B9TL, Alexander (Falkirk) Enviro 500, VT 20, (05-D-70020), tri-axle, photographed on Upper Leeson Street operating the route 46A from Mountjoy Square to Dun Laoghaire. A total of 20 VTs were delivered in 2005, VT 1 (05-D-70001) to VT 20 (05-D-70020), for use on the busy 46A route, all based at Donnybrook Garage. Notice the Centralwings advert highlighting flights available from Dublin to Polish cities of Wroclaw and Lodz with fares from as little as € 1. Centralwings was a subsidiary of LOT – Polish Airlines. Donnybrook’s ALX400, AV 149 (00-D-70149) operating the route 145 to Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow follows behind.

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Picture 6 – May 2006 Dublin Bus, Harristown, Volvo B7LA, Wright Fusion, articulated bus, AW 10 (00-D-65010) photographed on Dawson Street while operating Donnybrook’s route 46A. Twenty brand new AW’s were delivered in 2000, AW 1 (00-D-65001) to AW 20 (00-D-65020), initially to Broadstone Garage and then in late 2004, all twenty moved to the newly commissioned Dublin Bus, Harristown Garage.

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Picture 7 – May 2006 Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander Dennis ALX400, AX 454 (06-D-30454) was brand new when photographed on O’Connell Street operated the newly re-introduced Dalkey route 8. Notice the innovation of the driver/garage traffic office, while awaiting route programming for the electronic destination display (dmd), passenger information was given by way of the large hand drawn 8 and ‘Dalkey Shuttle via Blackrock’ display. The original route 8 was withdrawn and replaced by the route 7D routing via Stillorgan QBC (Quality Bus Corridor) to Dalkey. The route 8 operates seven departures each way (Monday to Friday only) reaching Dalkey by a more direct route via Ballsbridge and Blackrock.

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Picture 8 – May 2006 Paris, Orly based, Corsair. 1985 vintage, ex. Singapore Airways, Boeing 747-312, (F-HJAC) flight number CRL 088 from Orly photographed about to land on Dublin’s runway 28 was destined for maintenance at SR Technics, Dublin. Earlier in the day Corsair, Airbus A330-243 (F-HCAT) had departed Dublin after maintenance returning to Orly as CRL 079.

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Picture 9 – June 2006 Ringsend’s Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 168 (93-D-10168) and ex. Phibsboro/Driving School Leyland Olympian, RH 32 (90-D-1032) photographed at the route 65 terminus at Ballymore Eustace, County Wicklow while taking part in the final ‘RH’ commemoration run on 11 June 2006.

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Picture 10 – June 2006 Bus Eireann, Cork, Volvo B10L, Wright Renown, VWL 140, (03-C-3934) operating the route 140 to Mahon Point about to turn right onto Parnell Bridge from South Mall, Cork. VWL 140 was one of seven VWL’s registered in 2003, VWL 137 (03-C-1770) to VWL 143 (03-C-21635).

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Picture 11 – June 2006 Guide Friday’s newly commissioned Cork City Tour open top ex. Dublin Bus, Summerhill Garage Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 128 (92-D-128) was photographed on South Mall, Cork.

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Picture 12 – June 2006 Guide Friday’s Cork City Tour open top ex-Dublin Bus, Donnybrook Garage Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 41 (90-D-1041) in Beamish Irish Stout, AOA livery was photographed beside the Bus Eireann, bus station at Parnell Place, Cork.

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Picture 13 – June 2006 Bus Eireann, Cork, East Lancs, (98-C-24747), OT 1, awaiting it’s 14:45 departure time from the bus station at Parnell Place for the 1 hour long city tour and trip to the picturesque village of Blarney. OT 1 replaced the previous open top Bus Eireann Cork City Tour bus, ex Dublin Bus, Conyngham Road, Leyland Atlantean, AN68, Vanhool, DF 795 (795 BIK).

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Picture 14 – June 2006 Bus Eireann, Cork, Optare Excel, OP 2, (97-D-68189) operating from Parnell Place, Cork city to Midleton and Ballinacurra was ex. Go North East (Tynemouth & District, P 925 ACU, ‘8125’). Bus Eireann bought thirty four 1997 – 1999 vintage ex. Go North East Cummins powered Optare Excels for the school fleet, OP 1 (97-D-67771) to OP 34 (99-D-85543). All arrived from the UK in Bus Eireann school bus red/white livery, some made it to regular duties as illustrated in picture.

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Picture 15 – June 2006 Maynooth, Kildare based, Bartons, Vanhool Alizee, DAF, 06-KE-666 photographed unloading tourists at the very popular and picturesque Blarney town/Blarney Woollen Mills, County Cork.

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Picture 16 – June 2006 Bus Eireann, Cork based, Volvo, Caetano, VC 45 (96-D-51793) photographed in Blarney village, Cork loading up with passengers bound for Cork City and points in between. VC 45 was one of 35 registered in 1996, VC 23 (96-D-20466) to VC57 (96-D-51789).

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Picture 17 – June 2006 Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Volvo B7LDD (Mark II), Alexander Dennis ALX400, AX 488 (06-D-30488) was brand new when photographed on O’Connell Street operated the route 38A, Hawkins Street to Damanstown. 200 brand new (Falkirk, Scotland) built AX’s were delivered/registered to Dublin Bus during 2006, AX 449 (06-D-30449) to AX 648 (06-D-30648).

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Picture 18 – June 2006 Dublin Bus, Summerhill ex. Phibsboro Leyland Olympian, RH 31 (90-D-1031) was painted into Ghost Bus AOA livery combined with special ghostly/spooky interior joined the existing Summerhill based, Leyland Atlantean, DF 450 (450 ZD) also painted in similar Ghost Bus livery. The ever popular Ghost Bus has a tour time of two hours with one departure at 8pm, Mon to Thursday, two departures on Friday at 8pm and 8:30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 7pm and 9:30pm, on-line booking advised.

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Picture 19 – June 2006 Go-North East (Go-Ahead Group), (G 183 WGX), fleet 3950, was ex. Dublin Bus, Phibsboro Garage, Leyland Olympian, RH 1 (90-D-1001) was photographed in June 2006 at Stanley Bus Station, about one hour south of the Metro Centre, Gateshead, UK.

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Picture 20 – June 2006 Ten of these New Zealand built, Designline Olymbus, electric hybrid buses, low emission, accessible buses, constructed on a MAN chassis are operated by Stagecoach North East branded as ‘Quaylink’ on services between Newcastle and Gateshead. Bus fleet number 61005, (NK 05 OFM) was photographed parked on the Newcastle side of the river Tyne.

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Picture 21 – July 2006 Dualway/McConns of Rathcoole open top Routemaster RML 2621 (ZV 7747/NML 621 E) parked on Parnell Square, East, the English hen party girls were delighted to have discovered the Routemaster and have their photograph taken in front of a much loved London icon so far from home.

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Picture 22 – July 2006 Bus Eireann, Broadstone, Mercedes 0404, Hispano Vita, MH 28 (99-D-58114) with original wheel trims and Mercedes badge still in place when photographed on Ushers Quay, Dublin. A total of 33 MHs were delivered during 1999, MH 1 (99-D-58122) to MH 33 (99-D-58123).

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Picture 23 – July 2006 Newly launched ‘Spirit of Docklands’ river cruise boat was photographed on the river Liffey cruising downstream towards O’Connell Bridge with the Ha'penny Bridge and Ormond Quay/Bachelors Walk boardwalks forming the backdrop.

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Picture 24 – July 2006 Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, DAF SB220, Alexander Setanta, AD 48 (94-D-33048) was photographed northbound on O’Connell Street operating the route 122, Drimnagh to Ashington. The AD class was phased out of Dublin Bus service by October 2006, with most transferring to Bus Eireann for conversion into school-bus configuration.

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Picture 25 – July 2006 Dublin Bus, Summerhill, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 421 (05-D-10421) loading up with passengers overseen by Inspector Hilary Dempsey on Parnell Square West destined for Oxegen 2006 (Irish Music Festival) which was held at Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare. Donnybrook’s ex.Clontarf, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 157, (93-D-10157) emerges fully loaded from behind. Over the two hour period between 12pm and 2pm on that Friday 7 July, over forty Dublin Bus buses departed Parnell Square using a combination the oldest up to the newest in the fleet: Leyland/Volvo Olympian RH/RA/RV classes and Volvo ALX400’s AV/brand new AX’s plus one Volvo B6BLE, Wright single deck, WV 2. Most liveries were represented, old core navy/cream livery, Cityswift, Airlink and new core navy/yellow. The headline acts at Oxegen 2006 were The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Artic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand.

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Picture 26 – July 2006 Aircoach, Setra S415HD (04-D-22821) in newly applied Vodafone Roaming Rates (AOA) livery and was photographed unloading passengers outside the Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street, Dublin.

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Picture 27 – July 2006 Citylink, Scania Irizar, (05-G-8887) photographed on Burgh Quay operating the 15:00 service Dublin to Galway city. Citylink is part of the Metroline Group, a major provider of bus services in London. Notice the heavy goods vehicles (HGV) behind the coach on Burgh Quay, HGV traffic disappeared from Dublin’s quays some five months later when the new twin bore, € 750m, 4.5km, Dublin Port Tunnel opened to traffic on 20/12/06 linking the Dublin Port to the M1/M50 motorways with toll free passage given to HGV and coaches with over 25 seats.

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Picture 28 – July 2006 2005 vintage Pakistan International Airways (PIA), Boeing 777-240 (LR), (AP-BGY) passes the aviation viewing park at Manchester Airport, UK. The aviation park is a superb facility for families and aviation enthusiasts, with specially constructed viewing decks to ensure uninterrupted photo opportunities of passing aircraft, plus the added attractions of ex. British Airways Concorde, (G-BOAC), Avro RJX (G-IRJX), ex. British Airways Trident (G-AWZK), nose section of Monarch DC-10 (G-DMCA), plus catering and parking facilities and frequent bus services to/from Manchester Airport.

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Picture 29 – August 2006 Dualway/McConns of Rathcoole open top ex. Dublin Bus, Summerhill, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 131, (92-D-131) passes through College Green on its tour of Dublin City.

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Picture 30 – August 2006 Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Volvo, Olympian, Alexander, RV 350 (97-D-350) in Heinz Beans/Tomato Ketchup AOA livery was photographed on Oxmantown Road while operating the route 172, Kildare Street to Dunard (Blackhorse Avenue).

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Picture 31 – September 2006 Dublin Bus, Summerhill, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander, ALX400, AV 120 (00-D-70120) operating the route 747, Busarus (Central Bus Station) to Dublin Airport sporting the new Airlink livery developed by UK based transport design specialists, Best Impressions/consultant, Ray Stenning under the direction of Dawn Bailey, Dublin Bus Marketing Manager.

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Picture 32 – September 2006 Ulsterbus Ayats, Bravo AXI 283 (2003) and AXI 299 (2009) photographed outside The Gresham Hotel, Dublin loading up with passengers/golf fans destined for the 36th Ryder Cup, golf tournament which was held at the K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare between 22 and 24 September 2006. Brand new Dublin Bus ALX400’s, AX types, Ulsterbus Scania Irizars, plus many privately operated coaches were used over the period transferring golf fans from their hotels/park and ride sites to the event venue. Team Europe won the competition by a score of 18 ½ to 9 ½, giving Team Europe three successive victories. Non playing captains were: Team Europe, Ian Woosnam, and Team USA, Tom Lehman.

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Picture 33 – September 2006 Conyngham Road’s Volvo B10B, Alexander, VA 7 (96-D-2007) operating the route 78A, Aston Quay to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre looking very smart in the new navy/yellow core livery. VA 7 was one of a batch of 10 buses, VA 1 (96-D-2001) to VA 10 (96-D-2010) delivered brand new 10 years earlier to Conyngham Road Garage, all in Cityswift livery.

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Picture 34 – September 2006 Dualway/McConns of Rathcoole open top ex. Dublin Bus, Clontarf Garage, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 55, (90-D-1055) makes slow progress through heavy traffic on O’Connell Street, Dublin in newly applied Padraig Harrington, Ryder Cup partial AOA livery complete with mock grass!

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Picture 35 – September 2006 Dualway/McConns of Rathcoole, ELC, (05-D-28851) waits its 17:15 departure time from College Green on the route 505 Rathcoole Express.

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Picture 36 – September 2006 Dublin Bus, Ringsend, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 107 (91-D-10107) in old core blue/cream livery operating the 16:15, Xpresso route 49X from University College Dublin (UCD) to Tallaght.

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Picture 37 – September 2006 Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander, ALX400, AV 177 (00-D-70177) operating the route 39A, Hawkins Street to Ongar. At the time of the photograph, AV 177 was one of the last remaining AVs in the Cityswift livery.

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Picture 38 – September 2006 Ballymena built Wright, StreetCar, Volvo B7LA, (YK 06 EKT), 19029, was photographed at Showbus 2006, Duxford in September 2006. The ‘First’ operated StreetCars or ‘ftr’ went into service in York only four months previously in May 2006. The Streetcar design on a modified Volvo articulated chassis are marketed by Wrights as a low cost alternative to the on-street tram.

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Picture 39 – September 2006 Conyngham Road’s, Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 532 (99-D-532) photographed on College Green with Trinity College in the background operating the 10:15 departure from Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot to Aston Quay, minutes later it departed on the 10:55 from Aston Quay to Drumfinn Road. The route was a Monday–Friday service only, with two departures inbound to Aston Quay at 10:15 and 11:35 with one outbound to Drumfinn Road at 10:55. After being truncated during 2008 to operate between Drumfin Road and Chapelizod, the service was finally terminated on Friday, 10 April 2009.

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Picture 40 – September 2006 Donnybrook’s Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AX 455 (06-D-30455) in ‘Ryder Cup/Radio One/Failte Ireland’ AOA livery photographed on College Green operating the route 7 to Loughlinstown.

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Picture 41 – October 2006 Gary Manahan’s ex. CIE Ringsend, 1956 vintage, Leyland Titan OPD2/10, R 686, (BIK 286) was 50 years old when photographed in Kells while participating in a relay rally on Saturday 1 October 2006. The rally participants comprised Gary’s, ex. Phibsboro, Bombardier, KD 199 (199 JZL), ex. Bus Eireann, Galway, Bombardier, KE 35 (35 VZJ) and Kenneth Flynn’s ex. Bus Eireann, Vanhool Acron, CVH 5 (SI 2005). The relay rally offered participants the opportunity to travel on the four different bus types with the final leg of the rally to the Transport Museum Society Ireland (TMSI), Howth where a presentation was made to the Museum’s President, Michael Corcoran, celebrating the 50th year of preservation of ex. DUTC/CIE, Leyland Titan TD4, R1 (ZC 714), star of the Museum’s vehicle collection.

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Picture 42 – October 2006 Gary Manahan’s ex. Bus Eireann, Galway, 1981 vintage, Bombardier, KE 35 (35 VZJ) was 25 years old when photographed in Kells while participating in a relay rally on Saturday 1 October 2005. The relay celebrated the 25th anniversary of Bombardiers into CIE service, R 686’s 50th anniversary and R1’s 50th anniversary into preservation.

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Picture 43 – October 2006 Gary Manahan makes a presentation to Michael Corcoran, TMSI President, marking the 50th anniversary into preservation of Leyland Titan, TD4, R1, (ZC 714), included in the picture is Michael’s wife, Nellie and grandson, Mikey. For this most historic occasion, R1 (ZC 714) was joined by Museum preserved buses Leyland Titan PD2/3, ‘Bolton’, R 389 (ZH 4538) and Leyland Atlantean, D 44 (VZI 44).

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Picture 44 – October 2006 Conyngham Road’s, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AX 521 (06-D-30521) in Failte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board) advert livery photographed outside Conyngham Road Garage operating the 11:10, route 69 from Rathcoole to Aston Quay. The ‘Ryder Cup/Radio One’ back and nearside advert had at that stage been removed leaving just the Fáilte Ireland on the offside.

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Picture 45 – October 2006 Demonstrator, Volvo, Wright Eclipse, Commuter, (BP 54 WYH) photographed while in service/evaluation with Bus Eireann inbound to Busarus (Central Bus Station) on the Navan Road from Trim, Co. Meath.

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Picture 46 – November 2006 Brand new, Bus Eireann, Mercedes, Eurocoach, ES4, (06-D-73200) photographed at ‘Coach and Bus 2006’ held at RDS, Simmonscourt in November 2006. Five new ES’s were purchased/registered by Bus Eireann in 2006, ES1 (06-D-71402) to ES 5 (06-D-73198) and a further nine in 2007, ES 6 (07-D-49390) to ES 14 (07-D-59127).

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Picture 47 – December 2006 Qantas Foundation Museum, 1959 vintage, Boeing 707-138B, (VH-XBA) photographed on the 8 December, 2006 about to land on Dublin’s runway 28. The restored aircraft had departed Southend, UK with a technical/fuel stop in Dublin on the first sector of its delivery/ferry flight on its way to Australia via Tenerife, Bermuda, Orlando, LA, Honolulu, Nadi, Sydney. The aircraft was delivered new to Qantas in 1959 and registered VH-EBA operating its final Qantas service in August 1967, passing to Pacific Western of Canada, staying in service until 1978, shortly afterwards it was converted into VIP configuration becoming part of the Royal Saudi Air Force as HZ-123 when it was replaced by new Airbus A340 whereupon the B707 was sent to Southend for storage. In June 2006 ownership passed to the Qantas Foundation Memorial Ltd, over the following months the aircraft was returned to airworthy condition.

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Picture 48 – December 2006 Malahide Coaches, 1985 vintage, Birmingham, UK, built, MCW (Metro-Cammell Weyman) Metrobus, (85-D-8281) photographed in Smithfield, Dublin on a foggy 19 December 2006, was fleet allocated number M 1255 when new to London Transport in 1985.

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Picture 49 – December 2006 Nestor Air Link, Volvo, Sunsundegui, (05-G-10420) was photographed passing alongside Dublin Airport’s runway 28 on 30 December 2006 operating an express service from Dublin Airport to Galway City. Nestor Air Link was owned by Veolia Transport Ireland and Galway businessman Jim Burke and was run by the Galway based Nestor family. The red liveried Sunsundegui coaches had commenced operations four weeks previously on 1 December 2006 offering seven departures in each direction seven days a week. Nestor Link was wound down and its services were replaced in early March 2009 by Jim Burke’s ‘Go-Bus’ using a fleet of 2006–2009 Wi-Fi equipped white liveried Volvo coaches, some of which are tri-axles.

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Picture 50 – December 2006 Brand new, yet to be fleet-allocated/registered, Bus Eireann, Iveco/Irisbus school-bus. Five new IS types were purchased/registered by Bus Eireann in 2006, IS 1 (06-D-73414) to IS 5 (06-D-73422) and a further seven in 2007, IS 6 (07-D-13401) to IS 12 (07-D-21773).

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We hope you enjoyed this look back at 2006!
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