Photo of the Week - Week 20:
Donnybrook's AX540 is seen operating Route 155 on Botanic Road on the 11th April 2019. This is not the first Donnybrook service to operate along this road, with Route 13 previously serving this road while operating from Donnybrook (click on photo for larger version).
With the launch of Route 155 on the 24th March 2019, Donnybrook's AX class fleet became much more visible in the city centre. Routes 47 and 54A were always a good place to catch them, but with the orbital routes gone from Donnybrook and the new acquisitions of Route 15 and an increased Route 14 service, the dual-door fleet requirements are at a maximum. For this reason, the 7/A and 11 have been seeing a lot more AX class buses recently, but with the end of Donnybrook operation of Route 18 on the 23rd March 2019, the final out of city haunt of Donnybrook AX class buses was lost. The 155 was the replacement for Route 18 buses and it has been reliably assigned AX class vehicles, with a handful of EVs and SGs also (Monday-Friday, weekend operation in Donnybrook is fully GT/SG). Phibsborough have their full SG allocation a number of weeks now, however no new buses have entered service in Donnybrook. Donnybrook are due SG567-SG581. So once these enter service, there will be a significant reduction of the remaining AX class buses, and the current AX visibility in the city will be reduced. Enjoy it while you can.
Donnybrook's AX541 is seen operating Route 155 overtaking SG413 operating Route 4 on the Ballymun Road on the 11th April 2019. These buses operate in tandem to Nassau Street (click on photo for larger version).
Donnybrook's AX539 is seen operating Route 155 on O'Connell Street on the 11th April 2019. The lack of people boarding the 155 is notable, the 155 shares its southbound O'Connell Street stop with Routes 4 and 7 which head along the Rock Road, whereas the 155 will operate the Stillorgan Road. Hence the 46A stop further on would be more sensible. This is true of a lot of the city 155 stops, which have not been logically chosen (click on photo for larger version).