Dublin & Ireland

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
The latest phase of Bus Connects went ahead last weekend - 19th of October 2025. Lots of changes including new F Spine routes F1, F2 and F3, revived route numbers 23, 24, 80 and 82 but usually with no connection to their old routings. Lots of famous routes gone including the 9, 40 and 54A. lots changed but as usual there is a shortage of drivers and many services were cancelled this week. A couple of pictures here.


PA259 South Bank Road 25 October 2025 - Picture taken in the South Docks near the terminus. The photo is misleading as on the other side behind me is a very large apartment development under construction. The 82 and the Orbital S2 will move into this development in the near future.


SG247 South Bank Road 25 October 2025


GT122 Rathmines Road Upper, Rathmines 25 October 2025 - The 80 replaces the 140 from Rathmines to the City Centre and then the 26 to Liffey Valley - this is a 24 hour route with hourly services throughout the night, a welcome addition along its route.

More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...tober-2025

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
As part of the last round of Bus Connects, the 123 was renumbered to 73 and operations taken over by Go Ahead. This is the first time that they have operated into the City Centre.

11663 turns into Beresford Place 1 November 2025
!
Meanwhile the first of the daa itrams has gone into service on a staff shuttle. Work on the chargers is ongoing.

242D21349 Dublin Airport 2 November 2025

I have photographed similar before!:

IE16 East St, Bromley 16 September 2025

and even further back in Orleans in France:

8018 Orléans 23 May 2022

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Took a trip to Athlone today, always something to see there. The town service has seen a significant improvement over the years but oddly services finish at 20.00 or so, most Irish towns with a bus service have scheduled services after 23.00. The Local Link and regional bus service network continues to grow here, with Bus/ Train service the focal point for services.

EA47 John Broderick St, Athlone 8 November 2025


EA8 crosses Athlone Town Bridge 8 November 2025


EA54 Southern Station Road, Athlone 8 November 2025
A quick explainer here. Athlone was first town to have an all Electric Urban fleet, Limerick is the second, on a much larger scale. Sligo should be next but the charging infrastructure has been delayed. As a result the Sligo fleet (SO registered EAs) are currently operating in Athlone. I only saw two of the native WH registered EAs out, but they rotate them through the day/ week.


VB515 departs Athlone Station 8 November 2025 - Years ago route 70 operated a couple of times a day between Dundalk, Drogheda and Galway. That route has declined in importance but the 190 is every two hours (hourly between Trim and Drogheda) with journey lengths of up to three hours.


VB444 Southern Station Road, Athlone 8 November 2025


232LD249 Athlone Station 8 November 2025

More here:
https://transportsceneireland.smugmug.co...ember-2025

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RE: Dublin & Ireland
Hello, Sorry I haven't posted in a while, this and last month were spent on a tour of European cities. I did manage to get a few pictures recently.

171D2634 Guild St 28 December 2025 - Changes are afoot again with Aircoach, the ex Glasgow E400MMCs are due to enter service soon on a revised 700 route.


151G4375 Burgh Quay 28 December 2025 - Dublin Coach were put out of their misery and taken over by Callinan Coaches who operate the Citylink service in Ireland. Dublin Coach trading as Big Green Coach are to be 'improved' and secondhand coaches from Callinans are already improving the fleet profile, though not old just run down. This will result in interesting coaches in green in 2026.


32411 Aston Quay 28 December 2025 - Go Ahead operated route 126 is due to be revamped in 2026, with a number of variations of the 126 to be merged into a single route 126, with 24 hour operation. It is not sure if these B8s will be replaced with more VDL LFs though it is known that TFI have ordered 60 more LFs for 2026.


EW45 Patrick St 28 December 2025 - The rollout of the electrics has stalled recently, resulting in more AXs coming back from store, the Dublin Bus fleet profile is stretched with a significant number of 2006 buses whilst a significant number of electrics are in store due to delays in charging equipment.


PA163 St Stephens Green 28 December 2025 - Bus Connects will continue to be rolled out in 2026 with the D and A spines next to come and perhaps inner orbital route O using the stored EA single deckers. Significant infrastructure works has started on one corriodor with the second due to start in early 2026.


VH2 Custom House 28 December 2025 - Meanwhile the bus network in Dublin continues to operate on a daily basis fighting traffic but carrying more people year on year.

Wishing everyone a happy 2026.