Photo of the Week - Week 11:
Phibsboro's AV315 is seen at the Blanchardstown Centre terminus of Route 37 on the 14th May 2012. The uniquely looking "TrueForm" stop, one of the original samples, finds its use as a set-down stop for Route 37.
Phibsborough depot has not featured on these pages much recently, having it previously been the leader when it came to the Images of the Weeks on this site. Phibsborough had much of its Network Review wrapped up early on, with the Blanchardstown Corridor and Lucan Road implemented early on in the program, back in 2010. One change which I appear to have overlooked occurred way back on the 17th April 2011 with Route 37 being extended to Blanchardstown Centre. This had been omitted from the original Blanchardstown area review, the 37's extension being no doubt more controversial with the Urbus service serving Castleknock and Blanchardstown. That said the 237 had also done just this, and had been removed during the Blanchardstown review, however maybe the higher frequency service created the complication with regards to the issuing of this license. Either way, it was 6 months after the original review before the 37 was finally extended.
Phibsborough's VT60 is seen at the Blanchardstown Centre terminus of Route 37 about to depart for Baggot Street on the 7th May 2011, a few weeks after Route 37 was extended there.
Route 37 was an instant success upon its extension to the centre, the 37 being more regular and direct that the original 237 concept. Good loads can be expected between the estates in Castleknock and the Centre. It also provides an excellent terminus location for buses, especially compared to the temporary Blanchardstown Road South which saw the bus terminate in a bus lane on a very busy section of road. Phibsborough hasn't had a significant change in a while since it lost the 19. Route 220 still clings on by day by day, though still observed with quiet loadings. This may well be the next change for Phibsborough, it already having a replacement in the form of Route 17A.
Phibsborough's AX593 is seen operating a Route 37 service from Blanchardstown Centre on Blanchardstown Road South on the 14th April 2012.