How would you like to beat the traffic and strikes on the daily commute? Or, alternatively, would you like to acquire a ready-made, unusually spacious motorhome?
Dublin Bus is selling a total of 84 double deck buses suitable for either use - or a variety of others such as mobile shops, playschools, hairdressers, or indeed for anyone who wants to go into the public transport business.
Two categories of buses are on offer. The first category numbers 74 “AV’”buses with Volvo engines and chassis, the technical specification being Volvo B7TL DD / Alexander (Falkirk & Belfast) ALX400 double deck.
The “Alexander” bit denotes that the coach-building operation was carried out by manufacturer Alexander which has bases in Falkirk, Scotland and Belfast, Northern Ireland. These buses were registered in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
The second category numbers 10 “DT” buses, with Dennis Trident II engines and chassis. The coachwork is Alexander (Falkirk) ALX400 double deck, which seems to mean that both categories of bus have similar coachwork at least. The Dennis buses were registered in 2003.
Tight-lipped
Dublin Bus said the buses are being offered for sale by tender. Beyond remarking that the “new” price of such buses is in the order of €316,000, the company was tight-lipped about the anticipated sale price of the vehicles.
Perhaps this is not a like-with-like scenario, but some UK websites are offering a “1999 Alexander, Olympian Volvo B10” double beck bus for €12,640 (£10,000).
A 1977 B12R Volvo “Berkhoff Excellence”, on the other hand, was listed for sale €25,278 (£19,995).
Dublin Bus says it is prepared to sell the buses individually or together - or not at all, depending on the offers.
A spokesman said previous sales of the fleet in recent years had gone to international buyers, with a strong representation from the UK.
He attributed the strong level of interest in second-hand Dublin Bus vehicles to the company’s maintenance regime. “Everybody knows they are very well maintained,” he said.
Each bus will be sold with its individual history, as the maintenance programme may have seen entire engines and gearboxes changed over the years.
The company said it did not mind what use potential buyers are planning - be it a holiday home or even a permanent house extension, reversed up to someone’s back door.
Great for getting into town in the bus lanes. Now if only they could float...
