Bus Éireann KR13 (EZV 13) and KR220 (87D2220) in Dublin - 11 May 1996 (311-19A)

Saturday 11 May 1996 (approx 1440) – Two Bus Éireann KR class service buses seen parked near Connolly railway station close to Busáras in Dublin. This area nowadays is the trackbed of the Luas tramway system.
Nearest the camera is KR13 (EZV 13) dating from 1985 and in front of that is KR220 (87 D 2220) which dates from 1987. Both were new to CIÉ (Córas Iompair Éireann).

Dissatisfied with their long-term supplier British Leyland, CIÉ 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. This was Bombardier Ireland Limited jointly owned by Bombardier of Canada (51%) and GAC (General Automotive Corporation) of the USA (49%). In August 1983 Bombardier sold its share to GAC and thereafter the buses were build under the GAC name.

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.