Sunday, 6th July 2025 – Dublin marked a remarkable milestone in public transport history today, as a unique event celebrated 100 years since the Dublin United Tramway Company (DUTC) launched its very first bus service. On this day in 1925, the company’s inaugural motor bus journeyed from Eden Quay to Killester, beginning a century of continuous bus operations in the capital.
To commemorate this centenary, a special cavalcade of preserved vintage buses took to the streets, retracing the original route that paved the way for modern bus transport in Dublin. Led by the DUTC’s first double decker R1, privately preserved RA106, KC202 and AD63, alongside some of Dublin Bus’ more recent fleet AX547 and EW1.
Crowds gathered along the route as the cavalcade made its way from Eden Quay through Fairview and onto Killester, retracing the journey taken in 1925. Onlookers were treated to the sight of lovingly preserved heritage vehicles — many privately owned and restored — each representing different eras of Dublin’s rich transport story.
The celebration concluded at the National Transport Museum in Howth, where the full fleet assembled for public viewing with media outlets to allow families, enthusiasts, and former transport workers to share stories, take photos, and reflect on the city’s changing streetscape and transport needs over the decades.
The DUTC operated trams across Dublin for decades but began introducing buses in the 1920s to serve growing suburbs and offer greater flexibility. That first bus to Killester in 1925 was the beginning of a transport revolution.
Today’s event was not only a tribute to history, but also a celebration of the passion and dedication of preservationists who keep these vehicles alive for future generations.
