The VA Class,a devolpment of the then 70 (now 69) strong Alexander Setanta/DAF SB220 AD Class,arrived with Dublin Bus in February 1996,with VA3 & 4 joining Conyingham Road early that month,delivey of all 10 completed by April.They were essentially AD's exept for Volvo Mechanics,being built to the Volvo B10B Chassis.

All of the Class were delivered-and spent their Dublin Bus Careers in Conyingham Road Garage.Spending their first few months mainly on the then KD,RA & RH Dominated 25 & 25A,the veichles launched the 25A Cityswift Service on June 30th 1996,operating via the new Lucan Estates of Ballyowen Castle,Griffen Valley,Earlsfort and Foxborough.

 

The Class proved popular in their early days,Immensily Powerful Veichles and able to Maintain the 25A-Lucan Superquinn to O'Connell Bridge-in 25-35 minutes.

The Class were fitted with Roller Blinds as standard in the Dublin Bus fleet at the time-all but one-VA10,the last of the batch was fitted with an experimental DMD,and this saw it wander onto the 66A,the new 66B and 67 when AD's appeared on the 25A,more offen.

She is seen here at Middle Abbey Street in Early 1997,with her original DMD unit.(Photo Copyright of Fred Dean).

Like the City Imps,the VA's were victims on the 25A of their own success,as the Lucan QBC carryings skyrocked by 30%.The Arrival of RV331-349 into Conyingham in May 1997 saw the VA's cascaded to the 78A,79 and 210,to replace KC's on these routes.

VA4 is seen here leaving Aston Quay shortly after cascading took place,and VA6 at the other end of the route-Liffey Valley-in May 2003.(VA4 Photo copyright of Fred Dean)

 

As the Cityswift concept was meant to be-VA3 and RV337 seen here at Palmerstown on October 29th 2003.

The Class lived a somewhat nomadic existence on the Ballyfermot Corridor,with one exeption-VA2,which burned out on the 76B in February 2003 (click here for Photos).

In March/April 2005,the decision was taken to put the Class through a refirbishment program,with the interiors being refreshed and a repaint into the new Fleet Standard Color Scheme.VA10-Seen here at Conyingham Road Garage in May 2005-was the first.

VA3 seen here at Heuston in May 2006.The Class became fairly frequent vistors to the 92 from September 2005 onwards.

 

Alas,every up has a down.In November 2005 came the news that the VA's would be withdrawn from service in 2006,amid persistant talk of moving the Class to Phibsboro Garage for the 122.

Prior to Withdrawl VA10 (again-seems to crop up everywhere) operated an Enthusiasts Special on the 10 & 122.She is seen here at Belfield in the company of AD55 on July 16th 2006.Note the striking similarities between the two types.

In September 2005-the clock ticket out on the Class,as AX517-525 arrived in Conyingham Road.Though VA1 held out for another 3 weeks,the class was stored at Broadstone Garage.

VA5 and VA9 are seen in Broadstone in late September 2005.

 

A Big surprise came in October 2006,when the Class was called to the Front line again-only 270km to the South of Conyingham Road-in Cork!!VA4,5,6-and later VA1-were shipped South to cover a Bus Shortage.

VA6 is seen here at Parnell Place on October 23rd 2006,prior to departure for Ringaskiddy.The Class has since had DMD units fitted by Bus Eireann,though the Broadstone examples reintain Conyingham Road scrolls.

The Refirbushment seems to have benefitted the Class,espically if Bus Eireann sees life in scheduled service for them.While the fate of the Broadstone examples in the long run is unclear,their are indications that the Cork foursome will last a while yet,with rumours abounding that more could join them in time,though this is by no means certain.

It is likely the class will last another while in Cork,before dawning a school uniform..........

Bus-Arena.com thanks Fred's Transport Pics and Busireland.net for their assistance with this feature.