Photo of the Week - Week 14:


Former Clontarf AV417 is seen on Castle Avenue on Route 130 directly across the road from its terminus set down area in its last week of service in Clontarf on the 26th March 2018 (click on photo for larger version).

It seems very much like an end of an era with Clontarf becoming the first garage to be ALX400 free. AV417 was the last ALX400 to operate in the depot, being allocated on the morning of the 30th March 2018 (Friday) to Route 130. The Alexander ALX400 body has been a constant in Dublin for the last 18 years, following the entry of AV6 into service on the 1st September 2000. 658 ALX400s were purchased by Dublin Bus, at times making up basically 2/3 of the city fleet (AV1-AV448, AX449-AX648, DT1-DT10). AV416 and AV417 were always interesting, being the only two 2005 AVs in Clontarf. They were delivered in Wedding Livery, being replaced in 2008 as Wedding Buses in the depot by EV88 and EV89. They reverted to fleet livery, and continued to work in Clontarf till March 2018. They are now working in Conyngham Road, being directly swapped for EV59 and EV60 which are now operating in Clontarf.


Former Clontarf is seen operating Route 130 on Vernon Avenue in its last week of service in Clontarf on the 26th March 2018 (click on photo for larger version).

Clontarf had only a few remaining AVs prior to the delivery of their 2017 SG batch (SG365-SG370), with only AV315, AV334, AV335, AV346, AV362, AV416 and AV417 in service at the start of December 2017. AV284, AV285 and AV286 (though it remained on the fleet list for a few weeks) were replaced in mid-November by EV22, EV37, EV38 and EV39 from Summerhill. AV416 and AV417 were the only ones to make it into 2018 operating in Clontarf.

  • AV286: Last operated on the 16th November 2017, though was still part of the Clontarf allocation at the start of December. It has since been sold on for further use in the UK.
  • AV315: Last operated on the 13th December 2017. It was sold in February 2018, and was spotted recently in Galway.
  • AV334: Last operated on the 22nd December 2017. It was sold in February 2018.
  • AV335: Last operated on the 21st December 2017. It was sold in February 2018.
  • AV346: Last operated on the 21st December 2017. It is currently in store in Harristown.
  • AV362: Last operated on the 22nd December 2017. It is currently in store in Harristown.
  • AV416: Last operated in Clontarf on the 29th March 2018. Went into service in Conyngham Road on the 30th March 2018. Replaced by EV60, which last operated in Conyngham Road on the morning of the 29th March 2018 (76A/76), first operating in Clontarf on the same day for an evening service on Route 43.
  • AV417: Last operated in Clontarf on the 30th March 2018. Went into service in Conyngham Road on the 3rd April 2018. Replaced by EV59, which last operated in Conyngham Road on the 29th March 2018, entering service in Clontarf on the 31st March 2018.

    • Though you can never rule anything out, one would imagine that no ALX400s will be returning to Clontarf, which now has a very unusual fleet composition being composed over 40% of EVs.


    My last Clontarf AV photo. AV417 turns from Blackheath Park to Vernon Avenue on the 26th March 2018 (click on photo for larger version).


    Former Clontarf AV416 is seen operating Route 130 on Clontarf Road on the 26th March 2018 (click on photo for larger version).

    N.B. This website is not affiliated with Dublin Bus. The information contained herein is intended for enthusiast reference. For all current timetable and route information please refer to the official Dublin Bus Website.