St. Patrick’s Festival 2008 brought major diversions to Dublin Bus services throughout the day. Buses were running on a Sunday timetable and operated to temporary termini around the city. Buses were diverted from the first departure until 1700hrs approx.
Dublin Bus stance inspectors were based along all diversion routes to assist drivers and passengers on the day.
Our first photo is of Ringsend’s AV385 at Christchurch heading to its first stop at Cook Street, a short distance away.
Our second photo is of Conyngham Road's AV290 on route 78A. Route 78A was also using Cook Street as a terminus.
Dublin Bus & The Garda worked together in making the diversions happen, and in some cases different turns had to be permitted by buses which are usually not allowed. AV306 turns onto Dorset Street below, on Route 10.
Cross city routes that usually use O’Connell Street were diverted via Gardiner Street, City Quay, Lombard Street onto Westland Row and Merrion Square. Phibsboro's AX553 turns onto City Quay on Route 19.
Cook Street, Kildare Street and Georges Quay were the main City Centre termini on the day, with Ringsend & Conyngham Road using Cook St. Donnybrook & Ringsend were mainly using Kildare St., and Clontarf were using Georges Quay. Other termini included Wood Quay, Custom House Quay & Mountjoy Square.
On the day, Dualway open topper 98D77635 was hired by the media to be used as a stance bus in Dame Street so that the media had a high view for cameras etc. Here it is just after arriving a few hours before the parade.
Below are photos of buses on their diversion routes during St. Patrick's Day 2008.
AX479 on Route 49 in Kildare Street heading to The Square, Tallaght
AV246 & AV309 in Kildare Street.
Clontarf's EV13 on Route 42 terminating on Georges Quay.
Donnybrook's EV31 (Route 46A) & Ringsend's AV309 (Route 74A) in Kildare Street.
AV241 on the 130 on Georges Quay.
AV238 also on Georges Quay arriving in from Howth on Route 31.
Above is a photo of Cook Street with buses on Routes 77A and 78A seen in the photo awaiting their departure time.
Phibsboro's newly delivered VT57 on Route 38 in Gardiner Street.
Harristown's RV591 on Route 40D, also in Gardiner Street
VT58, of Phibsboro, turning onto the North Circular Road operating Route 38A.
Route 90 also ended up in Gardiner Street, as AV359 heads for the turn into Dorset Street.
For our last photo, AV298 & RV351 wait for a green light onto Dorset Street on Routes 151 & 121.
All above photo's are Copyright © Craigs Buses
