In this latest adventure, I cross the Irish Sea again to check out the latest changes to buses in Dublin, with two more phases of the “Bus Connects” programme having been implemented during 2025 and a choice of 20 new routes to sample!

Phase 7 of “BusConnects” in Dublin was implemented in October 2025 and introduced 9 new routes, as shown on the map. 10 existing services were withdrawn with routeing changes to 2 others. The new “F Spine” routes (F1, F2 & F3) are shown in red, local “L” routes in green and radial services in purple.

*This was the latest in a series of changes which began in 2021 and will eventually see the entire bus network in Dublin restructured.*

Background

In my article Living the Liffey, dated 19/12/24, I reported on my previous trip to Dublin, in which I rode various new routes that had been introduced under the “BusConnects” scheme. Having begun in 2021, the plan is for the entire bus network in Dublin to be restructured, stage by stage, with a series of spine, local and other routes. Two further phases, 6 and 7, were introduced in January and October 2025 respectively, with a total of 20 new all-day routes, of which I covered 12 in this latest visit. Further details of the “BusConnects” scheme can be found in the above mentioned article.

The two operators in Dublin remain the state-owned Dublin Bus and the privately-owned Go Ahead Ireland, part of U.K. Go Ahead Group, with services initially split around 90%/10% between them, although the latter is growing.

In terms of vehicles, a summary of the main types was included in my previous article. Over the last year, Dublin Bus has been taking delivery of more new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners (EW class), but this has been partly offset by the transfer of Volvo B5TL Wright Eclipse Geminis (SG class) to Go Ahead. As a consequence, to cope with PVR increases, around 40 withdrawn buses have been restored to service, comprising “06” reg Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400s (AX class) and “07” reg Volvo B9TL Enviro400s (EV class). Additionally, Go Ahead have received around 10 AXs from Dublin Bus which are normally employed on school services, but occasionally escape onto normal routes during school holiday times.

***Dublin Bus Volvo B5TL SG595 of Phibsborough Garage at Dublin Airport on Route 24, which began in October 2025, before I rode it to the city centre.***

This route replaced parts of Route 9 and 83 on the northside and introduced a new direct link from the Finglas area to/from the Airport. Note the poster in the bus shelter advertising new routes 19 & 24 to Merrion Square which share this stop.

DAY 1

Dublin Bus 24: Dublin Airport - Merrion Square

Arriving into Dublin from London Stansted on the Ryanair flight, I made my way from Terminal 1 to the adjacent Bus Station. Since my last visit, two new routes have been introduced linking the Airport with Merrion Square in the city centre, the 19 and the 24. The former operates via Ballymun and the latter via Finglas, providing these two areas with direct regular bus routes to and from the Airport for the first time.

I began with the 24, which was introduced in October as part of the Phase 7 “BusConnects” changes. A 20 min frequency operates on M-S, 30 mins early & late and all day Sunday. The operating day is very long, with departures from about 03.00 to after 23.00. Dublin Bus run the service out of Phisborough Garage, with a mix of SG, EW and PA types seen. However, I had SG595 for my trip, which left with a few on board, but certainly less busy than the traditional 16 and 41 services between the Airport and the City. To begin with, we followed the main Swords Road away from the Airport, but then turned off around the perimeter road, skirting the runway. After traversing various country roads, we crossed the M50 motorway and arrived at Charlestown Shopping Centre, a new development on the outskirts of Finglas.

A bit busier from here on, as we progressed along Jamestown Road and various estate roads past the Dublin Botanic Gardens to the inner suburb of Phibsborough, serving the shopping centre and then having a driver change near the garage. We then crossed the River Liffey over the Bridge of Dublin, then along High Street past Christ Church Cathedral. Turning right up Georges Street, we avoided the pinch-point at College Green, which is intended to become a pedestrian only zone. Then along Kevin Street to St Stephen’s Green, where we navigated around two sides, before arriving into Merrion Street past the Office of the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and various Government Offices to terminate at Merrion Square, which is lined with Georgian buildings and has a statue of playwright Oscar Wilde in a corner of the park in the centre. Traffic on the central section had delayed us a bit, so we took 1h25m for the trip, arriving some 10 mins down on schedule.

***Dublin Bus Wright StreetDeck Electroliner EW126, also of Phibsborough Garage, at Merrion Square on Route 23 prior to my trip aboard to Charlestown Shopping Centre.***

*The 23 is another new service replacing part of the 83 and running in tandem with the 24 until diverging at the northern end.*

Dublin Bus 23: Merrion Square - Charlestown

At Merrion Square, I switched to the companion route of the 24, the 23. The two routes run in parallel on an integrated frequency from the city centre, before splitting at their outer ends. Like the 24, the 23 operates every 20 mins M-S and every 30 mins early, late and all day Sunday, providing a joint 10-15 min service over the common section. The same mix of types was in evidence as on the 24, but this time I had one of the new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners, EW126, for my trip.

We departed on time with the expected smooth ride and fast acceleration on a modern electric vehicle. Back the way I had come through the city centre, with reasonable usage, but with a pause for a driver change on Constitution Hill, opposite King’s Inn Park, which enabled me to appreciate the Georgian edifice of King’s Inn (Dublin’s oldest law school). This is the closest stop to Phibsborough Garage in this direction.

After this we continued back to the Botanic Gardens and up Glasnevin Hill, parting company with the 24 and instead serving the Tolka Estate, before reaching the Jamestown Road industrial area and then ending at the new Charlestown Shopping Centre. Whilst the 24 basically replaces the old 83 in this area, the 23 covers the former 83A, although with a rerouteing to better penetrate the estate. 1h10m total journey time.

***Dublin Bus Volvo B9TL GT43 of Harristown Garage stands at the southside Rossmore terminus of new Route F2 after I rode it from Charlestown on the northside.***

This is one of 3 new services forming the “F Spine” along the Finglas Road which operate to different points north and south of the city, which were introduced in October. The F2 replaces parts of the former 9, 140 and 150 routes and provides some new links.

Dublin Bus F2: Charlestown - Rossmore

The October scheme saw the introduction of the “F Spine”, a corridor of three services between the Finglas Road on the northside and Kimmage on the southside, but with three separate northern and southern destinations as shown on the map at the beginning of this article.

I chose to sample the F2, which operates from Charlestown Shopping Centre to Rossmore. The frequency is every 15 mins M-S daytimes, 20 mins eves & Sun daytimes, 30 mins Sun eves. An hourly service operates at night, making this a 24 hour service. As the F1 and F3 also operate at these frequencies, a joint 5-10 min headway applies over the “spine” section depending on time of day, with the F1 & F2 running 24 hours providing a joint 30 min night-time service.

All three routes are operated by Harristown Garage, using a mix of SG and PA types in the main, but when I travelled a couple of GT class Volvo B9TLs were out in support and GT43 was on the next departure from Charlestown, which I hopped aboard. We made our way south through the estates of Finglas, before skirting the town centre and onto the main Finglas Road past the vast Glasnevin Cemetery down to Phibsborough and along Whitworth Road beside the canal to Drumcondra Road, essentially following former route 40 over this section. Then into the centre via Parnell Square to O’Connell Street, passing the Millennium Spike and the Central Post Office, still with bullet holes in the pillars from the Easter Rising in 1916.

After disgorging a large number, we continued via O’Connell Bridge over the River Liffey, around to College Green and skirting Trinity College, famous as the place where one can view the Book of Kells, a 9th Century illuminated manuscript. Around the corner to St Stephen’s Green, before traversing a new routeing along Cuffe Street and Kevin Street , before joining the former 54A routeing out of the city to the south. Through Harolds Cross and on to Kimmage, where we were delayed by roadworks and one-way working with “Stop/Go Boards” in operation.

From here, we followed former route 9 to Whitehall Road and Perrystown, from there proceeding via the former 150 routeing to Rossmore, the latter still operating but diverted to Limekiln Avenue. Such are the complications of “BusConnects”! Whilst we had left Charlestown on time, traffic delays south of the river caused a 10 min late arrival at the terminus, taking 1h35m end to end.

I then intended to return to the city centre on the next F2 and go to my hotel for the night, but GT43 then returned to the garage out of service with a faulty ticket machine, whilst the next working arrived 15 mins late and also left empty to make up time further down the route! Luckily, SG174 then showed up from the depot to take up the next duty, which I duly boarded. An interesting chat with the driver before we left, as he explained how the new F routes were still bedding down and would require timetable tweaking once more operational experience was obtained. A reasonable trip in this direction, taking only 35 mins to the centre, where I alighted at the end of my rides for the day.

Go Ahead Ireland Volvo B5TL fleet no 11622 at the Newtownmountkennedy (Newcastle Hospital) terminus of local route L1 from Bray. The bus has gained an amount of road dirt on the lower deck sides from traversing country lanes in the area.

This service directly replaced the former 184 in Phase 6 of “Bus Connects” from January 2025, although with a minor intermediate rerouteing. The bus is a former Dublin Bus SG that was transferred to Go Ahead.

DAY 2

Go Ahead Ireland L1: Bray - Newtownmountkennedy - Greystones

Fortified with a Full Irish Breakfast, I resumed my travels the following day, taking the DART train south along Dublin Bay from Pearse Station to Bray. This is a coastal town in County Wicklow about 12 miles from the city centre and a popular resort for Dubliners in good weather. It is overlooked by Bray Head, about 800 feet high, with a concrete cross at the summit, which can be seen from the town and is a good hike on a fine day.

Bray was one of the few areas to have a network of local buses in addition to links to/from the city centre, but these were subject to a radical shake-up with Phase 6 of “BusConnects” in January. 6 new “L” routes were introduced, which I planned to cover on this excursion. Improved daily frequencies are a feature of the new services.

I began at the beginning, with a trip on the L1, which departs from a new bus interchange outside Bray Station, as do most of the other local services. The L1 is essentially a direct replacement for the former 184 between Bray and Newtownmountkennedy via Greystones, although with a minor rerouteing. Go Ahead Ireland are the operator on the route, which runs every 30 mins daily, although with a later start on Sundays. The timetable is coordinated with the L2 (see later) to provide a joint 15 min frequency over the common section between Bray & Greystones.

Volvo B5TL double deckers are used, including some former SG class vehicles transferred from Dublin Bus, which can often be recognised by their dark blue Dublin Bus moquette inside, the examples purchased direct by Go Ahead having a lighter blue moquette with white motifs, although some former Dublin Bus vehicles have since been retrimmed in the new style. I boarded fleet no 11622, a former Dublin Bus SG, which had somewhat grubby lower panels and windows due to accumulated road dirt, an issue which seemed prevalent on Go Ahead vehicles in the area but not on the Dublin Bus ones - cleaning standards slipping at Go Ahead perhaps? Nevertheless, we made good time with a reasonable load out of Bray, via the Main Street, then up the hill out of town and down the other side, with occasional coastal views to our left, before arriving into the next town of Greystones. After serving some estate roads, we reached the town centre and called at the DART Station, before proceeding onwards with a lesser number of passengers. Making our way out of town via a winding road, we reached the village of Delgany, a pleasant location with stone buildings, lots of trees and a large golf course, but with some sharp turns on the narrow lane through the centre.

Then, a brief burst of speed on a dual carriageway section, before taking the turn off towards our destination of Newtownmountkennedy, another small Wicklow town with a long name, which has a shopping centre, some small industries and is the headquarters of the Irish Forestry business, Coillte. The L1 continues a mile or so beyond the town to the terminus at Newcastle Hospital, where I alighted after a 50 min run.

Surprisingly, it seemed that drivers take their breaks at this remote spot, as another bus was on stand ahead of us and formed the next departure 10 mins later. Thus I boarded fellow Volvo B5TL 11575, retracing my steps back along the route as far as Greystones Station, where I got off 20 mins later.

***Go Ahead Ireland Wright StreetLite 12131 undergoes a driver change at Glenbrook Park on Greystones local route L3.***

*Introduced in January 2025, this route provides new links between estates either side of Greystones Town Centre and covers a section of withdrawn Route 84.*

Go Ahead Ireland L3: Greystones Local

Whilst in Greystones, I took the opportunity to sample new local route L3, which connects estates on each side of the town with the centre. Also operated by Go Ahead, 2 buses provide a decent 30 min frequency daily from early till late, although this drops to hourly on early Sunday mornings. Wright StreetLite single deckers are the habitual fare, although when I travelled, one of the two buses was a Volvo B5TL double decker.

I caught StreetLite 12131 from the station on its next circuit, firstly proceeding north via the Greystones Harbour area, previously served by withdrawn route 84. At the edge of town, the route normally continues via estate roads to terminate at The Nurseries, but due a road closure for roadworks, was operating a different loop via an otherwise unserved road to a temporary stand a couple of stops short of the usual destination. Due to the short route, there are longish 10 min stand times at each end on the hourly cycle, but I rejoined the same bus for the return trip back across the town centre and out the other side to Glenbrook Park, a 20 min run, which included a fairly difficult 180 degree turn at one point! Our driver was a trainee with an instructor on board, who informed me that passenger usage was building as locals got used to the new service and that time-keeping was fairly good due to the short route.

After a driver change at Glenbrook and another 10 min layover, I returned to Greystones Station to complete the circuit - 1 hour in total but only 40 mins moving time.

Another transferee from Dublin Bus to Go Ahead Ireland, this former SG is now fleet no 11604 and is seen at the Newcastle Sea Road terminus of new Route L2 between my rides on it, with evidence of new building going on alongside.

*The L2 replaced the Bray - Newcastle section of the former 84 in January 2025 and operates on a coordinated timetable with the L1 between Bray & Greystones.*

Go Ahead Ireland L2: Greystones - Newcastle - Bray

I concluded my visit to Greystones with a ride on the other new service in the town, the L2. As mentioned previously, this operates on a 30 min daily frequency, providing a joint 15 min service on the common section with the L1. I caught Volvo B5TL 11604 on its southbound trip to Newcastle (one of two places with that name in the Dublin area and not to be confused with the one in North East England!). The L2 replaces former Route 84, which used to continue beyond Bray to Dun Laoghaire (and originally to Dublin City Centre), but now provides a localised service. However, there are two new Express services (X1 / X2), which each provide 3 “with the flow” M-F Peak services between Newcastle & Dublin City Centre.

Back to my trip and we progressed at a good rate out of Greystones, serving the new developments at Charlesland on the edge of town, before entering more open country. At the intermediate village of Kilcoole, a double run is made off the main road in each direction to serve the Sea Road Estate. Our reasonable load had dissipated by this time, with only a handful of us continuing over the country road to Newcastle, the bus doing a “U” turn at the Sea Road terminus after a 20 min journey.

During the break, a quick chat with the driver, who said that she liked driving the route as good time could be achieved on the rural sections, although there could be delays at peak times in Greystones and in Bray Main Street. She quoted a previous trip where, having arrived into Bray on time, it then took 12 mins (rather than the scheduled 2) to travel the last 2 stops to the station due to traffic congestion - not dissimilar to situations I have sometimes experienced in the UK!

The return run was uneventful and fortunately on schedule, back via Kilcoole and Greystones to Bray, arriving at the station after a 50 min trip. The improved daily service now offered on the L1/L2 routes seems to be well used and a definite improvement on the previous provision.

***Dublin Bus Volvo B9TL GT99 on Route L12 at Ballywaltrim after riding it from Bray. The bus is operated by the Bray Outstation of Donnybrook Garage.***

The L12 is a short local linking Bray & Ballywaltrim in tandem with new Route E1, replacing the former 145, except that the L12 deviates via the Herbert Road loop and operates to and from Bray Station, points not served by the E1.

Dublin Bus L12: Bray - Ballywaltrim (& back)

Back at Bray Station, lunchtime provided the opportunity for a quick round trip on the shortest of the new locals, the L12. This runs between the town and the suburb of Ballywaltrim, a corridor also served by new route E1, a replacement for the former 145 to and from Dublin City Centre. However, whilst the E1 proceeds direct along Main Street and takes the direct road to Ballywaltrim, the L12 provides a link to the station and deviates via Killarney Lane, Herbert Road and Kilbride Lane serving intermediate housing areas.

With a mix of SG and GT types allocated, I boarded Dublin Bus GT99 of Donnybrook Garage, although working from Bray Outstation. We left with a load of returning shoppers, depositing them at various stops along the route, which took only 15 mins to complete. At the Ballywaltrim stand, adjacent to a large roundabout, I stepped up a working, boarding GT21 for the return run. 18 mins in this direction, the extra time due to congestion in the Main Street when turning right for the station. A useful and busy little local route, operating every 20 mins M-S daytimes, 30 mins eves & Suns.

Go Ahead Ireland’s Wright StreetLite fleet no 12107 at the remote Enniskerry Golf Club terminus of Route L15, essentially in the middle of nowhere! This is a 1 bus operation between Bray & Enniskerry on an Hourly frequency daily.

*This replaced the former 185 route in January 2025, but without looping through the Palermo Estate, which is now covered by the L14 instead.*

Dublin Bus L15: Bray - Enniskerry (& return)

Before leaving Bray, a treat was in store with a trip on the L15. This is the direct replacement of former Route 185 from Bray to Shop River (Enniskerry Golf Club), although the new route operates direct without the deviation around the Palermo Estate of the old service, which has been transferred to the L14. With a 1 bus PVR, usually a Wright StreetLite, Go Ahead Ireland provides an Hourly service daily, but with a later start on Sunday. However, compared with some of the other routes mentioned, which have generous and even excessive stand times, this one is tightly timed and drivers have to put their foot down when they can - only 5 mins at Enniskerry and 3 mins at Bray Station in terms of layover on the hourly cycle!

I boarded the 1340 departure from Bray, formed of StreetLite 12107, which left 3 mins down after a driver change. This is the quietest of the local routes, but a few shoppers joined us in the Main Street, most of whom alighted on the outskirts of the town in the Dargle area. After this, winding country lanes through woodland to the picturesque village of Enniskerry, also served by Route 44 from the City Centre. This is situated on the Glencullen River in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, with Powerscourt Estate nearby which is a visitor attraction noted for its large house and landscaped gardens.

We continued on to serve a small housing estate on the outskirts of the village, where our final couple of other passengers alighted. Then just me and the driver along the country lane to the middle-of-nowhere terminus at the Golf Club, where there is a bus turning circle amid the trees, with a couple of nearby cottages for company. Although we were still 3 mins late, the driver took his statutory 5 min break, before I reboarded and we returned the way we came to Bray.

The return trip was another delight through the countryside with autumn tints in abundance and single digit passengers throughout. A faster run on the return and despite a traffic queue into Bray Town Centre, we arrived back at the station dead on time. A great rural run and worth a ride if in the area.

The final one of the new Bray locals introduced in January 2025 is the L14, with Dublin Bus Volvo B9TL GT95 seen at the Southern Cross end of the route. This bus is operated from the Bray Outstation of Donnybrook Garage.

The L14 replaced a former private bus company route between Southern Cross & Bray, then the Palermo loop of the 185, before continuing to Cherrywood, providing a link to the LUAS (tram) and serving a new estate.

Dublin Bus L14: Bray - Southern Cross - Cherrywood

It was now late afternoon and time for one more ride, so the obvious candidate was the remaining new route in Bray, the L14, operated by Dublin Bus from Bray Outstation of Donnybrook Garage with a mix of SG and GT double deckers. The route operates from Southern Cross, a shopping centre on the southern edge of Bray, through the town and on to Cherrywood. The route combines the former Finnegan’s 144 service with the Palermo loop of the 185 and a new extension to Cherrywood, thus linking Bray with the LUAS and also serving a new estate which is still under construction. A 30 min frequency operates daily although this reduces to hourly early Sunday mornings.

I caught GT95 on its southbound working from just around the corner to Bray Station, although it was 10 mins late arriving and then delayed a further 5 mins as the route crosses the railway here and we had to await the passing of two trains until the level crossing gates opened. Progressing along the sea front for half a mile or so, we then turned inland and up to the main road out of town, which we followed for a short distance before turning right onto a dual carriageway around the outskirts. We terminated just after the Southern Cross Shopping Centre after a run of 20 mins.

We were now 15 mins down on the schedule, absorbing all the stand time, but our driver took a 5 min break before the next trip, which thus left slightly late. A big crowd joined at the second stop outside the shopping centre, but we made decent time back into Bray, this time following the other part of the one-way loop to the station, as the seafront road is one-way in the other direction. Sticky traffic by this stage in the afternoon in the town centre, with a good number travelling to Palermo, where we described a circuit around the narrow roads of the concrete housing estate.

We had lost more time by this stage, but had a better run from here on, as we made our way along the main road through Shankhill, before negotiating a series of roads across the motorway into the Cherrywood area. Most of our remaining clients alighted at Cherrywood LUAS to interchange with the tram, but a few of us continued up new roads swimming in mud past various construction sites on the new Cornelscourt Estate. Before reaching the final stop, opposite some partly completed flats, a large mechanical digger had to back off to let us through! A 1 hour trip end to end, with a late arrival of around 15 mins or so.

The bus continued to a turning circle a few yards beyond the development, but I crossed the road to await its return on the next working, which I took just a few stops back to Cherrywood LUAS where I alighted 5 mins later. Taking the tram on the LUAS Green Line, it was around a 45 min trip back to St Stephen’s Green in the city centre, where my rides ended for the day.

The Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 has had a surprising resurgence with Dublin Bus, as around 20 withdrawn vehicles have been reinstated in 2025, taking numbers up to about 40 in normal service. That these “06” reg vehicles are still performing well at nearly 20 years old is testament to their reliability and good maintenance.

Whilst normally restricted to M-F Peak Hour duties, the class does pop up on all day service in ones and twos on certain routes. AX598 of Broadstone Garage was the sole example on Route 1 when pictured under the railway bridge at Shaw Street, before my return trip on it.

DAY 3

Dublin Bus 1: Shaw Street - Santry Shanard Road (& back)

After a couple of days of good weather, the heavens opened, with non-stop rain for the next day and a half! As with most cities, in Dublin, such conditions tend to create more car journeys and slower traffic. Not to be put off, I decided to continue my programme of bus rides, although taking a short break from new routes by tracking down an old favourite, the AX class Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400. As mentioned at the head of this article, several withdrawn examples have been restored to service recently to cope with PVR increases resulting from “BusConnnects” changes.

Despite being mainly confined to school services and peak time workings, a handful of AXs can be found out and about on all day service on M-F, although routes and workings can vary. For example, the previous day, there had been 2 AXs out on the 11, but there were none the day after. However, a check on bustimes.org showed single AXs on the 1, 13 and 15 routes on this occasion, so I plumped for the first of these as the vehicle in question was on its way to the city centre and only half an hour away. Waiting under the railway bridge in Shaw Street to shelter from the rain, it wasn’t long before I heard the familiar Volvo engine roar, as AX598 of Broadstone Garage appeared at the stand.

The 1 used to be a longer route, from Sandymount on the southside to Santry on the northside, but the southern leg was replaced by the C1 and C2 in an earlier phase of “BusConnects”, leaving a short rump between the city centre and Santry. This in turn is due to be replaced with the introduction of the “A” spine routes in a future phase, so the current route 1 is on borrowed time. It runs every 12 mins M-F daytimes, every 20 mins eves, Sats & Suns. SGs are the typical allocation, but other types do appear.

After the layover, I duly boarded AX598 at the first pick up stop with a few others and we made slow progress through the city centre, crossing the Liffey and along O’Connell Street to Parnell Square. Then onto the busy Drumcondra Road northwards, where traffic was sticky and we were caught in queues at several sets of lights. Progress became easier on the continuation of Swords Road into Santry, where we hung a left and travelled through the housing estate on the Shanard Road loop, reaching the terminus half way round after a 45 min trip, a few minutes down on schedule.

The late arrival had eaten into our stand time, so it was less than 5 mins before we departed again to continue around the loop and back the way we had come into the city centre. Traffic was a bit easier on this trip and we took only 40 mins back to Shaw Street. Nevetheless, it was a nice surprise to see these superannuated buses still giving good service at nearly 20 years old - every time I visit Dublin I expect it to be the last time I travel on them, only for them to still be there on the next trip!

Dublin Bus operates the new L89 between Broombridge LUAS and Toberburr (Rivermeade Estate), replacing the former 40B with the October 2025 changes. Volvo B5TL SG500 of Harristown Garage is ready to depart from Broombridge in the rain.

2 buses operate on an Hourly Daily frequency with a running time of around 35 mins, resulting in long stand times at each end. The intention had been to extend the route from Toberburr to Swords, but this has not happened, at least for now.

Dublin Bus L89: Broombridge - Toberburr (& back)

After that trip down memory lane, it was time to resume checking out the new routes, so I walked the short distance to College Green and picked up the LUAS at Westmoreland tram stop for a trip out to the end of the line at Broombridge, to the north west from the centre, not much more than 15 mins away. This is where the depot for the LUAS Green Line is situated and is an interchange with Irish Rail services at the adjacent station, plus a couple of feeder bus services.

I was after the L89, operated by Dublin Bus out of Harristown Garage and a replacement for former Route 40B from October 2025. However, unlike the 40B, the L89 operates to a more direct route through Finglas and on a more regular hourly frequency daily, compared with the irregular service with long gaps that operated previously. Unfortunately, the intention to extend the route from the existing terminus at Toberburr to Swords (a nearby town not far from the airport) was not proceeded with at this stage, so the 2 buses allocated have somewhat wasteful stand times of 25-30 mins at each end to maintain the clockface headway demanded.

The friendly driver let me board SG500 10 mins ahead of departure time to shelter from the non-stop rain, but soon we were off and crossing the narrow hump backed canal bridge which is controlled by traffic lights and restricted to buses only. Turning right, we made our way past industrial units and woodland, before emerging onto the main Finglas road. After traversing the outskirts of the town and various estate roads, we entered the country section of route not far from the airport. From here, it was along winding lanes through the tiny village of St Margarets with church, school and a few cottages, before even narrower lanes out to Toberburr. The reason for the route is the Rivermeade Estate, which is a small housing estate in the middle of nowhere that would not be out of place in the city suburbs! Our double decker was more than adequate for the loadings on this quiet route, with passengers on and off in ones and twos throughout.

As we had only taken 35 mins for the trip, I had a lengthy 25 min wait for the return working, being thankful to reboard out of the wind and rain. A few takers from the estate, with a particularly hairy moment on the narrow lane soon afterwards when we met a large tanker coming the other way. Both vehicles had to shimmy past each other very slowly as our bus nearly took out a tree in the entrance to an adjacent farm! After that bit of fun, our driver put his foot down and we continued over the country roads back to civilisation at Finglas and back to Broombridge. Another 35 min run on an interesting route that has much more potential.

Switching back to the LUAS, I returned to the city centre once again.

Route 80 was another new one introduced with the October scheme, operated by Dublin Bus. Volvo Enviro400ER PA239 of Conyngham Road Garage has just arrived at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre after my trip from Palmerston Park.

*The 80 is an amalgam of the southern end of withdrawn route 140 and the western end of the former 26.*

DAY 4

Dublin Bus 80: City Centre - Palmerston Park - Liffey Valley Centre

The final weekend of my visit was largely taken up with meeting friends and sampling the food, drink and nightlife of the city. However, there was time to squeeze in a couple more new bus routes along the way!

Another of the “BusConnects” Phase 7 routes from October was the 80, which passed my hotel in the city centre. Operated by Dublin Bus from Coyngham Road Garage, it replaces parts of former routes 26 and 140, both withdrawn with these changes. This is a 24 hour route, operating every 15 mins M-S daytimes, 10 mins M-F peaks, 20 mins eves and Sun daytimes, 30 mins Sun eves and Hourly all night.

When I travelled, the allocation was a mix of SG and PA types and I caught one of the latter, PA239, an “extended range” Enviro400 City with modern interior features. We proceeded south from Georges Street through the Camden area, famed for its bars, eateries and night life, to Portobello and across the canal to Rathmines, terminating at the pleasant spot of Palmerston Park, where various dog walkers and joggers were exercising. Just 15 mins on this leg of the route.

After the break, I rejoined the same bus for the full run to Liffey Valley. Back through Rathmines to the city centre, but then avoiding most of the busiest section of The Quays by O’Connell Bridge, instead taking the 23/24 route referred to earlier in this article, joining the The Quays beside the Liffey further west. Passing the famed Guinness Factory, we stopped near Heuston Station, before reaching Coyngham Road Garage, where we paused for a quick driver change. Then onwards out of town beside the vast Phoenix Park through Islandbridge to Chapelizod Village, where we crossed the by-now much narrower River Liffey.

From here, a faster run along the dual carriageway to Palmerstown, where we turned off via the local roads to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, which is a sort of Irish version of Bluewater. 6 main bus routes serve the recently built interchange adjacent to the main entrance. A 1 hour run end to end on the 80.

After purchasing some lunch supplies, I returned to the city centre, completing my “rounder” on the route aboard fellow Enviro400 City, PA62, a 50 min trip.

***Back where we started at Dublin Airport! Volvo B5TL SG593 of Harristown Garage on Route 19 was not the one I travelled on, but illustrates the class on the service, which began in January 2025.***

Like the 24, referred to earlier, the 19 operates to Merrion Square in the City Centre, but via a different intermediate route, providing a new direct link between the Airport and the Ballymun area. It also replaced the northern leg of the 11, rerouted to Phoenix Park.

DAY 5

Dublin Bus 19: Merrion Square - Dublin Airport

A lie in on the final morning, before leaving my hotel and returning to the airport for the flight home. Naturally, I found yet another new route to take me, this time the 19. Operated by Dublin Bus, this service began in January 2025 with Phase 6 of “BusConnects” and runs between Merrion Square and the Airport, like the 24 on which I started my rides. However, the 19 takes a very different intermediate route, its principal purpose being to provide a replacement for the northside leg of the 11 (which was diverted to Phoenix Park) and then new links from the Ballymun area to Dublin Airport, previously only possible by a change of bus.

The 19 operates every 20 mins daytimes, 30 mins early and late daily, between about 0330 & 2330. To assuage concerns from residents of Wadelai Park, who feared that replacing their local route 11 with the 19 would result in buses to and from the estate being full with airport passengers, additional short trips have been inserted at M-F peak times between the city centre and Wadelai to provide a 10 min headway.

Thus I boarded SG175 of Harristown Garage at Merrion Square, the route being a mix of SG and PA types. Reasonably well used, but not as busy as the more direct routes to the airport, although I had made sure to leave in plenty of time so wasn’t in a rush. We began via the traditional route through the city centre, past Pearse Station, Trinity College and along O’Connell Street to Parnell Square. Turning onto the Drumcondra Road, we hit a traffic queue just past the station, due to “two lanes into one” at the next set of lights caused by roadworks. Fortunately, only 5 mins or so delay, and traffic was fine once past this point.

Turning off along St Pappins Road, we circumnavigated the Wadelai Estate formerly served by the 11, before continuing on to Ballymun Road into Ballymun Town Centre. Then, another loop to serve new developments in the Poppintree area, before crossing the M50 motorway and onto more countrified roads around the airport perimeter. Arrival at Dublin Airport was after a 1 hour run.

Overall, an interesting trip, with 12 out of 20 new routes in 2025 covered so far. By the time of my next trip, there will probably be several other new services to add to the list, with Phase 8 of “BusConnects” planned for 2026!

Watton

Return to the Emerald Isle

Swapsies in Haringey

Kent Country & Round About