Branding
Branding
In 1991 Dublin Bus began to examine the way bus services were run and whether double-deckers were the best way of providing urban services. They decided to change low frequency double-decker services to high frequency minibus services. These new services would be brought in under the brand name 'City Imp'. Minibus drivers were payed 20% lower than regular drivers. The 'City Imp' service was first introduced on route 83 and passenger numbers trebled on the route after its introduction.
Routes: tbc
In 1993 the first Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) was introduced on the Navan Road. To coincide with the introduction of the QBC, routes 39, 39A, 39B & 39C were amalgamated into one super route. The new route 39 to Clonsilla commenced using blue and grey liveried single-deckers (P Class) using the brand name 'Cityswift'. As a result of the introduction of the single-deckers on route 39, drivers from Phibsboro garage went on strike for 2 weeks. The Cityswift branding was a big success. It was later introduced on routes 27, 40, 46A, 51B & 77.
The last services to be converted were the 41 & 41C. These routes were re-introduced with no increase in frequency and so took away most credibility associated with 'Cityswift'. Dublin Bus tried to restore credibility, with special route branding. "Malahide Road Flyer" (27), "Fingal Flyer" (41/C) and "Stillorgan Flyer" (46A), but these branded buses strayed from their home routes and so buses branded as "Malahide Road Flyer" may have ended up in Clondalkin and vice-versa.
To this date many more QBCs have been introduced such as ones to Malahide, Stillorgan, Finglas, Lucan, North Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Whitehall, Tallaght and more are in the pipeline.
Routes: 13, 13A, 25A, 27, 39, 40, 41, 41B, 41C, 46A, 51B, 77, 78A
Routes: 236
Routes: tbc
Routes: tbc
Dublin Bus purchased 5 British built CVE Omni Mazda engined low floor minibuses in 1994 as they began to experiment with low floor buses amid concerns their fleet were inaccessible. The "W Class" were delivered in the winter of 1994. The "W Class" included 2 wheelchair spaces following consultations with various groups and committees. The Mazda engine did not cope well with cold Irish winters & would frequently not start. These buses were branded "Omnilink".
Route: 90
Route: 105
Routes: tbc