Dublin Bus KD88 (88 JZL) and KD331 (GSI 331) – 11 May 1996 (312-16)

Saturday 11 May 1996 – Dissatisfied with their long-term supplier British Leyland, Ireland’s national transport company CIÉ (Córas Iompair Éireann) sought a new source of supply for its buses for the 1980s.

The result was a family of different vehicles with a commonality of components manufactured by Bombardier. The pilot vehicles came from Germany but a manufacturing plant was set up in County Clare for the main production.

Once the operator of both Dublin city bus services and provincial bus/coach services CIÉ later became the holding company for the separate subsidiaries Dublin Bus (Bus Átha Cliath) and Bus Éireann.

Two of the double deck type operated by Dublin Bus are seen on Eden Quay. Left is KD88 (88 JZL), new in December 1981, and right is KD331 (GSI 331), new in April 1983.