A total of 80 new highly advanced double decker buses are being funded by the National Transport Authority as replacement vehicles for Dublin Bus under its public service obligation contract. The new buses represent an investment of €26 million in the Dublin Bus fleet replacement programme.
The new replacement vehicles are the most environmentally friendly to date. They meet ‘Euro 5’ emission standards, consume less fuel and are quieter.
The new buses will operate on routes 1, 4, 7, 29a, 33, 102, 104 and 151 and are another significant development in the provision of convenient and comfortable public transport.
All vehicles are low floor wheelchair accessible and will ensure that Dublin Bus will have a 100% accessible fleet by the end of 2012.
The 80 GT Model buses are manufactured by The Wrights Group, Ballymena, County Antrim and are powered by Volvo (UK) Euro 5 Engines. All 80 vehicles will be delivered by the end of the year.
Other features of the new buses include bilingual passenger information signs in the upper and lower saloons announcing the next bus stop, centre doors to improve efficiency at bus stops for boarding and alighting, free Wi-Fi, improved safety features with additional CCTV, individual seating for 68 passengers and standing space for 11 further passengers in the lower saloon and a dedicated space for wheelchair users, clearer marking of wheelchair spaces, and better luggage storage.
“When combined with other Government investments like integrated ticketing, providing more bus shelters, real time passenger information, and the National Journey Planner, we hope these 80 replacement buses will encourage more people to switch from cars to public transport,” says Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar, TD. “I encourage anyone who hasn’t used public transport for a while to see for themselves how the new improvements are making a difference.”