Bendy Buses have become a much more common sight in the past 10 Years in Ireland and the UK,Particuarly in the City Areas.The Type has been in service on the European Continent for Many Years,but it has been only since 2000 with the Evolution of Buses offered by manufactures such as Wrighs and Volvo that they have grown in opoularity.

AMC Bendy 85-D-1111 is seen here at Liffey Valley on June 30th 2004.These Buses were,as can be seen by the reg,new in 1985 and are a very early Bendy Variant.The Type is still used by AMC,though not as offen,Alan Martin preferring to use their Ex IOM Double Deckers and Ex Dublin Bus MA's.

Apoligies for the Poor Quality of the Photo,but the Flagpole couldent be moved!!!

Dublin Buses' first venture into Bendy Trail was with a Wright Renown Bendy,used for evaluation purposes from First Manchester(Which was also demonstrated in Cork).The Veichle did not enter service,purely being used to evaluate the potential of Artic Bus Use in Dublin.

In the End Dublin Bus plumped with Wrights but with the Eclipse Artic Body,and not the Renown Body.Wrights eventually sent 00-D-31079 to Dublin to Demonstrate,on the 46A.Bus Eireann never ordered any Artics,going for Standard Wright Eclipses (VWL120-144).

The Renown Demonstrator,S111 FML is seen here on St Patricks Street in Cork,whilst on demonstrtion to Bus Eireann in Cork.(Photo courtsey of Fred Dean.)

As Stated,Dublin Bus then took a Wright Eclipse on Demonstration,but unlike the Renown this veichle was used in service.00-D-31079 was allocated to Donnybrook Garage and used on the 46A,in a silver livery with Wright branding (for a photo click here).

She is seen above at Dublin Airport on March 10th 2003.After her stint on the 46A in September/October 2000 she moved to Phibsboro/Broadstone to train drivers on the type,and test the new maintenence facility.In February 2001 she moved to Aircoach at the Airport,migrating to First in the UK in October 2003.(Photo Courtesy of Fred Dean).

Dublin Bus took delivery of Wrights Eclipse Bendys,the first deliveries being in November/December 2000.The AW Class,of which were 20,were allocated to Broadstone and ekked out most of their early days on Euro Duties,such as the 65C,90A,127&129.

In July 2002,the Type took over Route 10,in an attempt by Dublin Bus to Increase Capacity.AW16 is seen above at UCD Belfield on June 22nd 2003.This was not a happy time for the AW's,as their were many complaints about their pulling in's at Bus Stops.In November 2004,the whole class was cartered off to Harristown,and it was only with widespread use of the Class on different Euros and with Route 4 in March 2006 that the Class settled down with little trouble,both verbal and otherwise.

While the AW's saw use in the inner city,out at the Airport Aircoach has just taken delivery of Mercedes Benz Citarros for the Short Term-Long Term shuttles,and decided to standardise their fleet of Car Park Shuttles on the Type.

B17 is seen here at the Drop off Point in Dublin Airport on June 24th 2006.

In London,the Citarro Bendys have found Huge Favour with Transport for London (Tfl),particularly as replacement for Routemasters,with Arriva,London General,First and Stagecoach in London all operating the types.

London General's MAL 18 is seen here arriving at Victoria Street Bus and Rail Station on March 3rd 2006.

In Ireland,Scania Coaches have become extremely popular,with most bus operators now running at least one in their fleet.However their City Buses are a different story,and it it only recently with rumours of new City Buses for Waterford that they have been mentioned.

However in the UK,Scania City buses are becoming common,and indeed in recent times Scania have begun selling a Bendy variant of their Omnicity bus series.Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd have recently aqquired 19,and placed them on Dedicated Baycar & Capital City Red services,to a high specification.

The Two Photos above show the Baycar on St.Mary's Street and the Capital City Red at the Route 17/18 terminus on Westgate Street/Heol Y Porth.Both Photos taken June 21st 2006.

A New Scheme with Artics has also begun in York,in the UK,where First has begun using Wright Streecar Bendys,on a Volvo B7L Chassis.These Buses at the moment only operate there but First Plans to Use them in Other Cities in the UK,and Wrights has managed to sell 50 of them to Regional Transportation Commision of Southern Nevada,in the United States. 

Streetcar 19005 is seen here on the Route 4,which runs between Acomb and the University of York on May 19th 2006.(Photos Courtesy of Tony Cooney).

Bus-Arena.com Thanks Tony Cooney & Fred's Transport Pics for the Provision of their photos in this feature.