Route 239

The 239 has always been a route I found interesting, from it City Imp operated days to the day RV617 appeared on it in the days before double deckers were allowed, I always enjoy a spin on the 239.

RV617 at Liffey Valley Shoping Centre having completed a journey on the 239

On Monday I got another surprise on the 239, an EV. EV39 arrived into Blanchardstown Shopping Centre 'Out of Service' and parked up, I was waiting for the 10.30am departure on the 239 but I was convinced that EV39 would be operating another route, I was wrong and happy to be wrong too! At 10.20 the driver moved up to the stop and displayed '239 Liffey Valley', fantastic!

The bus stops at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre recently received the new style Dublin Bus stops...

The 239 routing now avoids some of the older narrower roads, instead of serving Castleknock Village and Porterstown, the route operates via Coolmine, Carpenterstown/Diswellstown (Route 37 terminus), to Clonsilla Village and Clonsilla Train Station where the route crosses the narrow railway bridge...
When we reached Westmanstown another surprised appeared! RH23 tree looping...
After Westmanstown, the route operates via Laraghcon Estate into Lucan Village and towards the Newcastle Road junction with the N4. This junction is currently in the process of being grade separated. Here are some pictures of the works taking place.
The junction with the N4 when approaching from Lucan Village, all traffic must turn left towards the city where a turning lane is then provided for traffic to turn towards Newcastle, of the N4 westbound.

Above: N4 towards cityAbove: Works in the centre of the old junctionAbove: N4 Westbound

When the 239 reaches the N4, it now goes left towards the city centre, and turns at the turning lane and heads back towards Newcastle on the N4 west taking the next left turn up by Esker Church and back onto the normal route via Lucan to Liffey Valley S.C.

EV39 at the 239 stop in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

Early or late???

I travelled on AV180 on the 49X this week and as I was getting off I spotted this...
An advertisement for Dublin Bus Christmas Nitelink... I'm not too sure if its really late or just very early? :)
Here's AV180, above in Belfield and below at the Ellensborough terminus. This is also the terminus for the 15E, 15N and 54A, however, different names are often given depending on the route, the 54A displays Kiltipper on its scroll while the 49X displays Ellensborough, but both terminate at the location in the above picture! Routes 77X & 201 operate through here also.

Next stop, Abbey Street

Next stop, and in fact the temporary last stop for LUAS Red line services until early Autumn is in Abbey Street. While work is carried out at the Connolly stop for the extension to the Point, the Connolly and Busaras stops are now closed.

The facilitate this, the platform at Abbey St. has been widened, and some dividing bollards have been added to the track side.

The tram crossing overhang issue where a solid white line with a slight bend had been painted, is now even more obvious with bright yellow marker bollards...And the bollards continue track side making traffic movements a bit more challenging alongside the Abbey St. bus stops...

The 130 drivers will face the brunt of the problem as the narrowest part of the road is at their stop...

(ps. Yes, it is a 130, the rear scroll of AV235 is just stuck on the Out of Service three stars)

And in case you were under the illusion that you might even be able to continue along the tracks to Busaras, forget it... its ring-fenced!

Friday the 13th...

Last Friday was Friday the 13th, usually associated with bad luck however it turned out to be a lucky day for me!

After many attempts to catch a photo of the new revamped Route 206 from Drumfinn Road in Ballyfermot to the West County Hotel on the Old Lucan Road, I had been left disappointed. For some reason the afternoon service was proving quite elusive, so with time to spare on Friday the 13th what better to do then chase a 206...

I thought I was off to a bad start when I missed the 11:00 departure to Drumfinn Rd., as the return 11.15 finishes the morning service. All was not lost this time however, as at 11.17 AV298 arrived into Ballyfermot Village prouding displaying '206 Old Lucan Rd.'...

Here's is AV298 at the West County Hotel

Hope your Friday the 13th was as lucky as mine!

Big on the BBC...

VT on the TV - Yes or no...

Well, unlike the Lisbon Treaty this time it was a clear YES!

As I watched the BBC News Channel this evening, I got a surprise as while the live report was going out from Dublin Castle... A Dublin Bus VT from Phibsboro Garage shuttling people around for the media coverage of the event appeared on screen, as always the camera was on hand to grab a quick shot of the VT on the TV!!!

Following a trend...

Just back from a few days in London, a city where I find the bus scene still interesting...

From double to single deck, Enviro to Gemini and even the bendi-buses... there is plenty of variety.

MA118 on the 38 leaving Victoria

Here in Dublin we've adopted some London style transport street furniture, like the bus stops...
But, could we ever take the step forward and adopt the on street ticket machines too...
We've managed to at Dublin Airport at least...
What about one on O'Connell Street... Hmmm... I wonder... Maybe, just maybe... Someday...

Not such a nice day for a white Wedding...

While visiting Dublin Airport today, the recent spell of good weather gave way to the standard Irish summer of rain...

Its all change at the Airport at present, Terminal 2 is in full swing, while on the bus front the DAA Red Car Park buses are getting a new livery and Quickpark have a new 08-KE Citaro on their car park shuttle service. Not to mention the recently launched Flybus service too.

While my photos of these turned out rubbish, here's' the best of a bad bunch. Recently resprayed, and looking superb, Summerhill Wedding Bus AV419... Sadly not such a nice day for a white wedding... anyone for some Billy Idol?

Sticking with the old reliable...

Isn't technology fantastic... its changed our lives. However, not everyone seems to trust its merits.

Snapped Donnybrook's Coastal Tour AV327 in Ballsbridge, and while the electronic scroll reads '705 Hotel Shuttle', the trusty paper 'Shuttle' is still on hand to clear up any misunderstandings as to if its a shuttle service of not...

Suppose you'd be hard pressed to find '705' mentioned anywhere so perhaps the back up is required...