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On Monday 23^rd May VL5 was filling in for AV71 on the 11 route due to AV71 having defective doors. VL5, is one of 6 of this type delivered to Dublin Bus. It is a Volvo B10L low-floor accessible chassis with bodywork by Walter Alexander in Belfast. The 6 VL’s entered service 1998 and VL6 was uniquely powered by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). This bus is no longer with Dublin Bus having only been leased, the other 5 are owned.

When originally delivered the VL’s were allocated the cross-city route 3 between Larkhill on the north side and Sandymount or Belfield on the south side.

There were not enough VL’s to cover all the departures on the 3 so Dublin Bus issued a timetable featuring times listed in red. These red times were the departures operated by the low floor VL’s.

Above are VL’s 4 & 5 in Donnybrook Garage dressed for the 3.

Above is VL5 in Kilmacud dressed for the 11 to Parnell Square, technically this is an 11C but this number doesn’t feature on the scrolls. The driver operated from Wadelai with just 11 on the scroll as VL5 has not got route 11 destinations on its main scroll.

Again VL5 on O’Connell Street pulling out after setting down.

Here is VL5 again on Parnell Square West after setting down and completing its journey.

VL5 appeared on the 11 again on Tuesday operating the duty 1X, and on Wednesday VL1 operated on duty 1X driven by Tony Cooney.

This bus had properly set blinds as VL1 has got destinations for the 11.

Below is VL1 at Kilmacud with Tony Cooney behind.