| After operating under the brand name 'Citybus' for 32 years, Translink's urban bus services in Belfast have been radically reorganised under the branding 'Metro'. The new services came into operation on Monday 7 February 2005, the changeover being flagged up visually by a new magenta, grey and white livery. Essentially, the Metro has reorganised services into 12 core routes (1-12) with higher frequencies of every ten or 15 minutes. Variations within each route are labelled A, B, C, etc. The core routes are supplemented by secondary routes with a lower frequency. Several outer suburban routes, previously operated by Translink's other bus subsidiary, Ulsterbus, have been transferred to Metro. Only a few buses have so far appeared in full Metro livery and most vehicles are rebranded 'Metro' over the current range of liveries. The photographs in this section are mainly by Paul Savage, with some by Norman and Sheila Johnston. Note: By
viewing these photographs you signify your agreement to the terms of usage. |
The ticket sales kiosk in Donegal Square has already been repainted in the new Metro magenta and white colours. It was photographed on the first day of Metro operation.
|
The only Scania L94UB so far painted in Metro livery is No 701, now based at Newtownabbey. It is seen here at Belfast City Hall on Sunday 6 February 2005, the day before Metro started. It was being used in connection with a BBC Newsline report.
|
The oddest vehicle to receive the Metro grey, white and magenta is Transit No 5043 from the ancilliary fleet. Normally allocated to the Driving School, it received the Metro scheme for use with the publicity unit. It could normally be found parked at the City Hall during the week before and the week after the Metro start date. As with all oddities it has gained a nickname – the mini-Metro!
|
The first bus to receive Metro livery was Volvo B10L/Alexander Ultra No 2718, which was painted slightly differently on each side for management approval. The scheme chosen was that applied to the offside. It was caught by our photographer in Wellington Place, obviously pre-Metro as it's on route 73; this route became 11B on 7 February.
|
Another Ultra already in Metro livery is No 2701, parked here in Donegal Square West alongside a Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown in the earlier Citybus livery. This picture was taken on 8 February 2005, the second day of Metro operation. |
Volvo B10L/Alexander Ultra No 2749 was the second or third bus to wear Metro livery. It is seen here at Cabin Hill, on the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast, again pre-Metro as it is on Sunday route 101 City Centre–Holywood Road–Massey Avenue–Dundonald–Bloomfield–City Centre. This route disappeared under Metro. |
Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown No 2794 was one of four allocated to the (now withdrawn) Centrelink service which connected Central Station and the city centre. It was one of the first B10BLEs to receive Metro colours but is unusual, in that the front and rear are painted, whilst the sides are done in vinyl. |
Another similarly vinyled Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown, No 2791, is seen at Donegall Square West on 8 February 2005. |
In the days immediately prior to Metro day Citybus names on the buses were replaced with Metro vinyls. Volvo B10BLE No 2796 rests in Donegall Square South on Sunday 6 February 2005, basically still in Citybus livery but with Metro vinyls.
|
A number of routes previously operated by Ulsterbus – Ballybeen, Belvoir Park, Monkstown, Rathcoole and Tullycarnett – came under the Metro banner from 7 February 2005. Consequently a number of vehicles were transferred to the Metro fleet. One such vehicle was Volvo B10BLE/Wright No 2808 which had all its Ulsterbus blue overpainted with Translink sea green.
|
