In 2005, Dublin Bus shocked everyone by placing an order of 20 tri-axle Volvo B9TL/Enviro 500s, making them the first operator in the British Isles to buy new-build tri-axle double decker bus of a substantial quantity. Named as the VT-class, the batch entered service in the Irish capital in 2006.
Although they look similar to similar vehicles in HK, but there aresignificant differences as well - for instance, the lack ofair-conditioning, and the single door layout. One thing these buses remain the same though, is they are fitted with the Euro 3 D9A-300 engine.
A follow-up batch of 50 VTs were ordered for delivery in 2007/08, making Dublin Bus, by far, the largest operator of new-build tri-axle buses anywhere on the British Isles.
The most notable difference of the new batch, VT21-70, is of course the LED blind.
Underneath though, there are significant differences from the first batch. The most significant is the Euro 4 D9B-310 engine and the adBlue filling cap just behind the front axis. They also feature the latest Volvo dashboard, and a new, and much quieter, engine cooling fan.
Another difference, although hardly noticable, is these VTs are slightly longer than the early ones. The first batch VTsare 12m long, but for some reason, these newer ones are 12.2m long.
The final member of the class is VT70. With Dublin Bus suffering service and fleet cut at the moment, it could be a while, if ever, before we see additional orders for these impressive buses in the future.
No, all of them got the spiral staircase. If you go to Belfast, it's around 3hrs train/coach to Dublin, doable for a day-trip if you start early. Belfast itself havea few interesting types, if the varieties is not much.
Keith: They moved on to single door ever since they bought the first B7TLs back in 2000, presumably to boost seat count.
DIH: Looking at the E500s with First Glasgos, I would say yes it's possible:
Keith: They moved on to single door ever since they bought the first B7TLs back in 2000, presumably to boost seat count.
The exceptions to that are the B7TLs in their Airlink fleet where dual door layout is adopted. The reason for that is probably for enhancing passenger flow during alighting.
