Throwback Thursday (430)
This week we are going back twenty-eight years to 1996 and to VA 2 on Abbey Street. It is at the terminus of route 66.
VA 2 was one of 10 VA Class buses delivered to Dublin Bus in 1996. They were similar to the AD Class. Those had an Alexander body on a DAF chassis, whereas the VA Class had the Alexander body on a Volvo chassis. All ten were delivered in CitySwift livery, though did a few years later receive the new yellow / blue Dublin Bus livery. The class was withdrawn by Dublin Bus in 2006, with them transferring to Bus Eireann. Some went to Cork, and some stayed in the Dublin area. They were used on public services by Bus Eireann, sometimes causing confusion. For example they were used on the Balbriggan town service while still wearing the Dublin Bus livery. Eventually they moved to school services and some were sold on to other operators.
Except one bus that did not have this second career with Bus Eireann was VA 2. In 2003 it was the victim of an engine fire and was burnt out while operating a service on route 76 in Neilstown.
The DUTC started running route 66 between the city centre and Maynooth in 1934. Around 1988 some departures started terminating on Straffan Road in Maynooth, but around 1996 it became the full-time terminus for the 66. The route ceased to operate in November 2021 when it was replaced by route C3 under Bus Connects. The C3 still uses Straffan Road as a terminus.
Middle Abbey Street is no longer a terminus for bus routes.
18/04/1996
Throwback Thursday (430)
This week we are going back twenty-eight years to 1996 and to VA 2 on Abbey Street. It is at the terminus of route 66.
VA 2 was one of 10 VA Class buses delivered to Dublin Bus in 1996. They were similar to the AD Class. Those had an Alexander body on a DAF chassis, whereas the VA Class had the Alexander body on a Volvo chassis. All ten were delivered in CitySwift livery, though did a few years later receive the new yellow / blue Dublin Bus livery. The class was withdrawn by Dublin Bus in 2006, with them transferring to Bus Eireann. Some went to Cork, and some stayed in the Dublin area. They were used on public services by Bus Eireann, sometimes causing confusion. For example they were used on the Balbriggan town service while still wearing the Dublin Bus livery. Eventually they moved to school services and some were sold on to other operators.
Except one bus that did not have this second career with Bus Eireann was VA 2. In 2003 it was the victim of an engine fire and was burnt out while operating a service on route 76 in Neilstown.
The DUTC started running route 66 between the city centre and Maynooth in 1934. Around 1988 some departures started terminating on Straffan Road in Maynooth, but around 1996 it became the full-time terminus for the 66. The route ceased to operate in November 2021 when it was replaced by route C3 under Bus Connects. The C3 still uses Straffan Road as a terminus.
Middle Abbey Street is no longer a terminus for bus routes.
18/04/1996