Last 53A runs, but dockland service improves [21April2012]

It was the end of an era today (21st April 2012) as the long-established 53A bus service ran for the final time in Dublin’s docklands,  bringing to a close a once frequent service which had dwindled in recent years to just a handful of isolated journeys. However daytime service in the North Wall area is set to improve, with the introduction of an all day projection of sister route 53 into the area, rather than a handful of extended trips operated at present.

Under the new regime route 53 will run through Alexandra Road in North Wall hourly from 7am to 7pm, and for the first time will be projected eastwards to provide a link to the Irish Ferries Terminal, which until now has only been serviced by premium-priced special buses (numbered 53B) timed to connect to ferry arrivals and departures.

Overall the 53 is losing half its daytime frequency and its evening service, but gaining the extension to the Ferry Terminal and will now have a standard hourly clockface timetable whereas before departures were timed at different random intervals.

Route 53A, which ran via North Wall Quay (rather than via the East Wall 53 route) ran for the last time with the 1305 departure from Alexandra Road, and a number of transport enthusiasts and local residents were there to commemorate the passing of this little piece of local history.

Volvo B7TL / ALX400 AV37 operated the final journey, and is pictured above.

Below, from an earlier era, we see KC138, one of the Irish built GAC single-deckers used on the route from 1984 to the turn of the century.

Quick-Pic – Stillorgan Tesco Shuttle (13Apr2012)

The Tesco supermarket at Stillorgan Shopping Centre in south Co. Dublin is currently closed for refurbishment, and for the duration of the works a free shuttle bus is being provided to bring customers to the nearest alternative store at Dundrum.

Seen on Friday 13th April, the shuttle is being worked by Eirebus.

Quick-Pic: AV1

Dublin Bus AV1 is seen in the south city docklands. The company bought 185 of these buses in 2000,.

Quick Pic: Olympian Twilight

Dublin’s once vast fleet of Volvo Olympians is dwindling rapidly, and the 64 or so still in service represent just 10% of the original Olympian numbers. All are due to be withdrawn this year, in order to reach a promised target of having a fully lowfloor accessible fleet by the end of 2012.

Those remaining are split between Harristown, Summerhill, Donnybrook and Ringsend depots, and can most often be seen on routes such as the 17, 44, some peak-hour 16s and 41s, and as seen here, all-day service on the 15A and 15B routes.

RV603 is seen on a winters evening approaching The Ferryman public house on the south quays.

Quick-Pic: Red on White. (05/Feb/2012)

London’s bus operations kept going for the most part with minimal disruption following a snowfall that saw up to a third if flights cancelled at Heathrow.

Main routes were kept clear by TFL’s gritters as seen here at Hatton Cross.

NEWS: Record Year For Volvo Buses In 2011 (03/Feb/2012)

 

Volvo Bus has reported a record year for sales worldwide in 2011, despite difficult market conditions.

The manufacturer’s end of year sales report states::

Deliveries were up 29%, which means 4200 units delivered in the fourth quarter. Volvo Buses  delivered almost 1000 more units  than the same quarter of 2010, though hard market conditions. Net sales increased by 19% in Q4, mainly due to South America.

Weak markets in North America and Europe, growth in South America

During the fourth quarter, the European bus market was at the same low levels as in 2010. In North America, the total bus market remained weak. The city-bus market declined 17% in 2011, when cities’ investments in new buses were very restricted. The coach market in North America increased 25% from an exceptionally low volume in 2010.

In South America, demand remained strong, with approximately 30% higher volumes in heavy buses, compared with 2010. In Mexico, the total bus market increased from very low levels in 2010.

The market for heavy buses in China grew 13% in 2011, compared with the year-earlier period.

Record deliveries in fourth quarter

Deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled 4,172 buses, up 29% compared with 3,230 in the year-earlier quarter. South America accounted for the largest increase. Order intake for the fourth quarter amounted to 3,941 buses, up 7% compared with 3,677 in the year-earlier period.

During the quarter, Volvo Buses signed its largest order ever in Columbia, 688 buses for Bogota. A new bus range, consisting of one city bus and two coaches, was launched in India.

Sales and earnings increased

Net sales for the fourth quarter increased 19% to SEK 6,680 M (5,602). Adjusted for currency fluctuations, net sales rose 22%.

Operating income improved to SEK 295 M (221). Compared with the year-earlier period, operating income was positively impacted by higher volumes, and improved market mix. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, operating income was negatively impacted by changes in currency exchange rates in an amount of SEK 22 M. The operating margin increased to 4.4% (3.9).

• Deliveries increased 29%

• Continued negative market trend in North America and Europe, but growth in South America

• New bus range launched in India

Net sales by market area				Fourth quarter				Year
2011		2010		Change in %		2011		2010		Change in %
Europe	2,225		1,581		41		7,009		6,242		12
North America	2,167		1,885		15		7,541		7,200		5
South America	1,001		582		72		2,721		1,737		57
Asia	833		947		(12)		3,027		3,299		(8)
Other markets	454		607		(25)		1,991		2,038		(2)
Total	6,680		5,602		19		22,289		20,516		9

NEWS: Prepaid Fare Increase For Dublin Bus Gets NTA Approval (03/Feb/2012)

 

The National Transport Authority has today approved Dublin Bus’ application to increase prices on its range of pre-paid tickets (eg Travel 90, Rambler), by an average of 5.6%.

These price rises will be effective from February 19

Quick-pic: Bus Eireann 133 Double-deck working 01/Feb/2012

Bus Eireann have recently added a double-deck working to their busy east coast commuter service 133 from Dublin Airport to Wicklow.

Seen here in the N11 at Loughlinstown.

2012 ITH Rally Confirmed For April 28th

IRISH TRANSPORT HERITAGE LIMITED have announced as follows:

The Annual Bus & Coach Rally, the 40th since inception in 1972, will take place on Saturday 28th April 2012
at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra, Holywood, Co. Down. The Rally will commence at 09.30.

The event will include judging of vehicles and a timed Road Regularity Run around parts of Belfast and North
Down. A Parade Ring focusing on a little of the history of some of the vehicles attending the day’s events will
also feature.

The Road Regularity Run will cover approximately 40 miles starting in the mid-morning with details of the
route together with maps being distributed to drivers on the morning of the event. Entrants participating in
this part of the day are strongly advised to bring someone along to assist with navigation, as due to
very limited staff availability Irish Transport Heritage (ITH) will be unable to provide any assistants. On return
to Cultra following the Road Run vehicles will be on display to the public until approximately 17.00.

In the afternoon a number of heritage vehicles will operate free journeys to Bangor and Holywood to give
visitors and enthusiasts the opportunity to sample vehicles no longer to be seen in normal public passenger
service.

A range of cups and trophies will be presented to winning entrants, the presentation of which will take place
at the conclusion of the Rally. A “Finishers Award” will also be presented at the conclusion of the Rally to all
entrants who attend for the whole of the day.

In line with recent practice ITH will continue the policy of making no competitive distinction between
professional and non-professional drivers. This reflects present day licensing requirements for drivers to
have professional qualifications to drive most types of public service and former public service vehicles.
Also in the interests of fair competition an independent judge will be appointed on the day. Their role will be
to observe the day’s proceedings and to penalise any entrant who does not follow the rules or acts in an
irresponsible or unacceptable manner.

The Rally is the only event of its type in Ireland and Irish Transport Heritage strives to make it an interesting
and memorable day for the professional and enthusiast alike. Everyone is welcome.

Celtic Travel Opt For Irish-built Volvos 31/01/2012

 

Celtic Travel have recently purchased three new Volvo B7RLE buses with Wrightbus Eclipse 2 bodywork.

Celtic Travel have recently purchased three new Volvo B7RLE buses with Wrightbus Eclipse 2 bodywork for use on their first ever bus service, the X75, running from Rhayader to Shrewsbury and back.

The family run firm, based in Llanidloes, Powys in Wales, have successfully run coach services for many years, but their new X75 bus route is an exciting new string to their bow. They decided to specify Volvo having experienced the Volvo service and technology on their coaches and after having consulted with their customers and other operators.

“They all said the same thing – you can’t go wrong with the Volvo Wrightbus combination,” explained Celtic Travel Transport Manager, William Davies. “Added to that is the tremendous backup and support you get with Volvo and the endorsement of larger operators, such as National Express, also specifying Volvo Wrightbus.”

With 14 Volvo coaches in their fleet, Celtic Travel are no strangers to the Volvo chassis and the reliability of their current vehicles played an important part in their decision to also specify Volvo for their new bus requirement. “These new Volvo B7RLE buses will each end up covering around 70,000 miles per year,” continued William Davies. “We can’t afford for them to be off the road and with Volvo, we know we are paying for the best.”

The single deck B7RLE has a light weight chassis frame and is powered by the D7E 7.1 litre in-line common rail fuel injection engine. The quality and durable components, fitted as standard, help promote high reliability, low fuel consumption and long service life.

Celtic Travel’s new B7RLEs are specified with 44 e-leather seats, with three point safety belts.

Fitted to the latest DDA specifications and featuring 44 e-leather seats with three point safety belts, the new buses are built with passenger’s comfort and safety in mind. Other internal features include Hanover audio visual equipment and Synetics CCTV.  

William Davies continued “The whole process of purchasing our new buses was extremely professional from our liaison with Volvo Bus Sales Manager, Phil Fletcher and Steve Jackson at Wrightbus, through to our continued relationship with Hartshorne’s Dealership, in Shrewsbury. I’d certainly specify the Volvo Wrightbus combination again if I was to buy more similar sized buses.”

(left to right) Darren Green (Area Service Manager, Volvo Bus), Colin Organ (Depo Manager, Hartshorne) Phil Fletcher (Sales Manager, Volvo Bus) , William Davies (Celtic Travel), Kathryn Davies (Celtic Travel), Phylip Davies (Celtic Travel).

Volvo Bus Sales Manager, Phil Fletcher, explained “We have always had a strong relationship with Celtic Travel on the coach side of our business, so when we had the opportunity to specify three new buses for their first ever bus route, we were obviously very keen to seal the deal.”

“Reliability and low fuel consumption are crucial factors for Celtic Travel and the B7RLE buses offer that in abundance,” he continued. “I look forward to working with them again in the future.”

London MEP Visits Ballymena To See New Bus In Build 30/01/2012

MEP Marina Yannakoudakis on the platform of the New Bus For London at the Ballymena factory

 

PRESS RELEASE

London MEP visits factory building New Bus for London and other hybrid buses

Ballymena, 30 January 2012 – “Green transport will help London meet its obligations on EU air pollution regulations,” said London Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis on a visit to the Wrightbus factory today.

Marina visited the vehicle factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland which is currently constructing the New Bus for London, inspired by the iconic Routemaster. The bus, as well as being a new design classic for London, will use some of the most advanced hybrid technologies in the world making it more than twice as fuel efficient as conventional diesel buses and 25% more fuel efficient than even other London hybrid buses.

Marina said: “Standing on the platform of the New Bus for London today gave me a real thrill. The bus is a beauty and I’m pleased to be here in Northern Ireland to see how the best of British engineering can deliver a first-rate, hi-tech new vehicle for the 6.5 million passengers in my London constituency who travel by bus every day.”

“The bus doesn’t just look good, it will also emit less than half the NOx (oxides of nitrogen) levels of a conventional diesel double-decker. Costs of the bus are comparable to another hybrid double-decker, yet the technology used is extraordinary; this is the first British bus to use fibre reinforced plastic normally used in yacht racing.”

Marina Yannakoudakis upstairsin the new bus.

“I have also seen other green buses being put together here in Ballymena. Hybrid buses not only improve fuel efficiency making them cheaper to run, but they are also less polluting. Green transport will help London meet its obligations on EU air pollution regulations.”

“I look forward to seeing the New Bus for London on the streets of the capital later this year. Mayor Boris Johnson has kept his promise to deliver a 21st Century version of the Routemaster while improving air quality for Londoners.”

Wrightbus supplies approximately one-third of the double-deckers in London. In 2002 the Wright Group received £680,000 of EU funding from the PEACE II programme to back a dedicated automotive centre of excellence, focusing on Research and Development activities. The project allowed Wrightbus to improve its R&D capacity over the past decade.

Fare Glitch Hits Some Dublin Buses 27/01/2012

DUBLIN BUS reported this morning that due to a software glitch on their ticketing system, some buses operating from Donnybrook and Ringsend depots were unable to accept cash fares this morning, Friday 27th Jan 2012.

Passengers affected by the problem, which followed an overnight software upgrade, are being allowed to travel for free, and the company says it is working to resolve the problem.

The two depots between them amount to around a third of the overall fleet of just under 1,000 buses operated by DB, however not all buses were affected by the problem, and a company spokesman has confirmed that in total less than 50 buses were affected.

The affected systems were resolved by the end of the day.

RV on route 61 25/01/2012

An unusual RV working today, RV596 on route 61, which has been fully lowfloor since its launch last year.

VCs on service work in 2012

Some of Bus Eireann‘s VCs survive into 2012 on regular service work, despite their age.

VC109, seen here in Kenmare, is nominally a school bus, but works a once-a-week public service (route 282) from Ardgroom to Kenmare on Fridays.

RA257

Spotted former RA257 outside the polling station in Ballinteer today – it used to frequent this area on the 14s about 10 years ago.