
All change at Athlone
In the centre of Ireland, the town bus service has become the first in the country to go all electric with its new fleet of fully electric single deckers for the town's bus service in January 2023.
Launched at the end of January 2023, a fleet of new Alexander Dennis/ BYD enviro200EV operated by Bus Eireann, 11 of these EA class operate routes A1 & A2.
During the initial set up, some of the former Wrightbus streetlite WM class were retained while teething problems were ironed out with the new technology.
These single-deck battery-electric buses, EA class are 12m long with two doorways, bespoke design features, wheelchair ramps, usb charging & coloured priority seating, with up to 73 passengers on 27 fixed seats, six tip-up seats within a permanent wheelchair space and dedicated accommodation for a pram, pushchair or buggy.
The Athlone town service operates with two routes ( A1 & A2 ) from Bealnamulla via Athlone bus & rail station, beyond to Creggan every 15 minutes.
Seen above at Athlone railway & bus station, EA 11 operating the A2, followed by WM 17 on the A1 to Creggan.
Well done Bus Eireann.