LD, LE & LF Classes | Ireland | 2023

A video showing the VDL double-decker coaches (LD, LE, LF, 31300 Classes) operated by Bus Eireann and Go-Ahead Ireland, recorded throughout 2023.
2008 was a landmark year for Bus Eireann as it received its first double-decker coaches from VDL to operate on regional services. LD 201 - 232 were VDL Berkhof Axial 100 coaches and initially operated out of Dublin. The final ones were withdrawn in 2021, but they started a legacy that has resulted in over 160 other double-decker coaches from VDL being delivered to Bus Eireann and Go-Ahead Ireland. This video looks at some members of the various fleets still in operation throughout 2023.
In 2012 Bus Eireann received 8 coaches, now branded VDL Synergy, for use on their Expressway services. Although initially used on services to places like Donegal and Belfast, in more recent years they have been dedicated to route 100X between Dublin and Dundalk. However, they have been known to occasionally stray onto other routes.
Between 2015 and 2016 Bus Eireann received 27 more LDs, these also being VDL Synergy coaches and were numbered LD 301 - LD 327. Like the original LDs, these were initially based out of Dublin but in more recent years some have spread to Cork with all of the fleet in service at some point on 2023.
2017 is when the VDL story started to change. That year Bus Eireann started to receive the replacement to the VDL Synergy, which was the VDL Futura FDD2. Between 2017 and 2018 Bus Eireann received 25 LFs, numbered LF 301 - 325. Following a four year gap, more LFs started to arrive but this time in the Transport for Ireland (TFI) livery of yellow and green. Since 2021, Bus Eireann have received 66 of these, numbered LF 401 to LF 466. These buses aren't limited to Dublin though with examples allocated to Limerick and Cork.
A separate batch of LFs were allocated to Bus Eireann in 2023. These (along with some VB single-decker coaches) were to cover a new contract for TFI for routes 101 and 133. Initially LF 801 - 819 were allocated to the contract, but this sub-fleet was expanded to include an extra one, with LF 467 becoming LF 820.
In 2019, Go-Ahead Ireland took over the operation of routes 120 and 126 from Bus Eireann and received LF 313 - 323 to operate the services. Go-Ahead Ireland renumbered these into the 31300 series following repaint into the TFI blue livery. However, in 2023 they were all repainted into the TFI green/yellow livery with the expectation they will go back to Bus Eireann in 2024, and regain their original LF identities. As replacement, Go-Ahead Ireland received new LF coaches which entered service within their fleet as LFs, being numbered LF 851 - 867.
2024 is expected to see the arrival of more LFs, and this class is starting to become a dominant member of the regional bus fleet in Ireland.
This video was recorded throughout 2023 and features examples of the LD 300, LE, LF 300, LF 400, LF 800 and 31300 classes. Exact details of which buses appear, with chapter timestamps, are listed below:
00:04 - LD 300 Class / VDL Synergy
- LD 304, LD 311, LD 312, LD 313, LD 317, LD 323, LD 325, LD 326
02:48 - LE Class / VDL Synergy
- LE 2, LE 3, LE 6
04:06 - LF 300 Class / VDL Futura FDD2
- LF 303, LF 306, LF 312, 31301 (LF 313), 31306 (LF 318), 31311 (LF 323), LF 323
05:45 - LF 400 Class / VDL Futura FDD2
- LF 401, LF 406, LF 408, LF 409, LF 410, LF 411, LF 412, LF 414, LF 416, LF 418, LF 419, LF 421, LF 422, LF 423, LF 423, LF 424, LF 426, LF 428, LF 429, LF 434, LF 439, LF 440, LF 445, LF 449, LF 450, LF 453, LF 455, LF 458, LF 464, LF 466
14:09 - LF 800 Class / VDL Futura FDD2
- LF 801, LF 802, LF 804, LF 805, LF 806, LF 807, LF 810, LF 811, LF 812, LF 813, LF 815, LF 816, LF 820, LF 854, LF 859, LF 860, LF 867
Locations Featured:
- Balbriggan, Drogheda, Dublin, Dublin Airport, Ennis, Limerick, Maynooth, Navan, Swords
Routes Featured:
- Route 22: Dublin - Ballina
- Route 23: Dublin - Sligo
- Route 101: Drogheda - Dublin
- Route 100X: Dublin - Dundalk
- Route 109: Dublin - Dunshaughlin - Kells
- Route 109A: Dublin Airport - Kells
- Route 109X: Cavan - Dublin
- Route 111: Dublin - Athboy
- Route 115: Dublin - Kilcock - Enfield - Mullingar
- Route 120: Dublin - Prosperous - Edenderry
- Route 126: Dublin - Newbridge
- Route 132: Dublin - Tullow
- Route 133: Dublin - Wicklow
- Route 245X: Dublin - Cork
- Route 314: Limerick - Foynes
- Route 343: Ennis - Limerick
- Route NX: Navan - Dublin
For a video on VDL single-decker coaches, check out this video from 2022 on the LC Class: • LC Class | Bus Eireann...
#BusEireann #GoAheadIreland #TransportForIreland

[@ExploreWithJakubAndTransport]

Which county is it?

[@csalem]

Dublin, Meath, Louth, Limerick and Clare

[@ExploreWithJakubAndTransport]

@@csalem oh ok 😁