Go-Ahead Ireland Route: 45A vs 45B

 

Above: Here we have a Go-Ahead Ireland Wright Gemini 3 B5TL 11587 operating a 45B service.

In this blog, we will discuss the differences between Go-Ahead Ireland routes: 45A and 45B. The history, the buses and much more!

Who Operates these routes?

The simplest answer to these questions is Go-Ahead Ireland. But that's since 2018 and today. The 45A was still operating before 2018. This route was operated for years with Dublin Bus until Go-Ahead Ireland came about and took this route along with many other routes such as the 17 and 59.

What buses can you get on these routes?

Lets start off with Go-Ahead Ireland. From Go-Ahead Ireland you will most likely get a Wright Gemini 3 B5TL 115 (In short 115), either new or used. Used with Dublin Bus previously. That's the most common bus you will find on the route. The next one with GAI (Go-Ahead Ireland) is the Wright Gemini 2 B9TL 119 (In short 119). All 12 of these Gemini 2s were used previously with Dublin Bus.

Left: Go-Ahead Ireland Wright Gemini 3 B5TL 11533 (161-D-19161), on route 45A to Dun Laoghaire, seen here on Church Road operating an evening service on the 16th of March 2021. This bus is still operating as of today - 2022.

However, a rare WrightBus Streetlite 11.1m or 11.5m 121 (In short 121) can be seen very rarely on these routes. The Streetlites often operate on the 111 and other routes.

Right: An unusual sighting on the 45A. Seen here is a Go-Ahead Ireland WrightBus Streetlite 11.1m 12139 (182-D-18136), on an afternoon service to Kilmacanogue on the 3rd of September 2020. This bus is now in the Green NTA Livery and is commonly found on the L52, 111 and more routes. This bus is still operating as of today - 2022.

With Dublin Bus I can only remember the 45A always getting Wright Gemini 2 B9TL GTs on the route, as well as Volvo Alexander-Dennis Enviro 400 Facelift B9TL EVs. Of course there were other appearances such as the AX, etc.

As for the 45B it practically has the same buses as the 45A nowadays. However, when Dublin Bus operated, there was no 45B, only a 45A which said "via Shanganagh Cliffs."

What's the difference in the route itself?

  Let's start off with the 45A. The 45A goes from Dun Laoghaire to Kilmacanogue and back via Sallynoggin, Ballybrack, Shankill and Bray.

The 45B, however, still goes from Dun Laoghaire to Kilmacanogue and back but via Sallynoggin, Ballbybrack, Shankill, Shanganagh Cliffs and Bray.

With Dublin Bus the 45A followed practically the same principal, except during its final year or so the destination changed from Ballywaltrim to Kilmacanogue.

As for the so called "45B," back then it also went from the same destinations via Shanganagh Cliffs.

What's the frequency?

The frequency for the 45A is every 20-30 mins for Monday to Friday in each direction. For the Saturday services, the 45A runs every 20-30 mins. As for Sunday, it runs approximately every 30 minutes.

The timetable for the 45B is once a day - Monday to Saturday. It leaves Kilmacanogue at 10:10 for Dun Laoghaire and 13:00 from Dun Laoghaire to Kilmacanogue. The 45B doesn't operate on a Sunday.

Thank you for reading.

Blog by: Éireann Bus Spotter

30th January 2022.

Above: Here we have a Go-Ahead Ireland Wright Gemini 2 B9TL 11907 (132-D-8910), operating a late morning 45A service to Dun Laoghaire, seen here on the 29th of January 2022, on George's Street, Dun Laoghaire. This bus is still operating as of today - 2022.