Photo of the Week - Week 43:
DM1 is seen on McKee Road while operating Phibsborough's Route 9 on the 19th June 2014 during its trial with Dublin Bus.
It has been quite sometime since the last update on these pages. Things have got real busy, and time in Dublin is pretty minimal. This should continue for quite the distant future, however, there are always the archives to keep the pages going. But even updating these pages over the last month has been impossible. So what have we missed. Well the SGs are still coming, with Clontarf putting their first into service on the 15th October 2014. Interestingly Harristown still haven't, though as of this weekend a sizeable quantity are in the depot. In any case, no new SG photos, though I do hope to get a few photos when they finally do enter service in Harristown.
DM2 is seen on the Rosie Hackett Bridge operating Route 151 on the 7th October 2014.
Other important news relates to DM1 which was withdrawn from operation with Dublin Bus on the 17th October 2014. DM1 was noted as required for the Bus Expo which occurs this week. Confusion had existed about DM2, given it had been in Broadstone at the same time, however it has once again reappeared in Conyngham Road. It was put into service on Wednesday 29th October, though unfortunately did not see a full day's service due to technical difficulties. DM2's time with Dublin Bus was plagued with troubles, the bus spending a lot of time out of service like WH1. DM2 does seem to be a much superior product than WH1, especially from a passenger perspective.
Finally, some route changes effect Route 38D, a new route, which operates from Burlington Road to Damastown (as per Routes 38/A/B), however it is much more direct. It operates as per Route 38B from City to the Blanchardstown By-Pass, continuing along the N3 to the Damastown/Clonee interchange, heading directly into the Business Park. It is a very direct route for the employees of IBM and was observed to be very busy. The timetable change is minimal, the 38D replacing regular 38/A departures, with minor adjustments around this time. The 236 has also been ammended to terminate in Damastown. Interestingly the route is no longer circular, instead in the morning it operates from Blanchardstown Centre to Damastown. It then operates special to Blanchardstown Centre, doing the reverse in the evening. Both of these changes were effected on the 6th October 2014.
Phibsborough's GT143 is seen on O'Connell Street on the 2nd day of Route 38D, the 7th October 2014.