After almost a century traversing the city, buses carrying the famed 46A mark will make their final journeys today.
The route as it currently operates will come to an end and be replaced by a new 24-hour service, as part of the roll-out of the Bus Connects programme in the greater Dublin area.
The 46A, made famous in song by Bagatelle's 'Summer in Dublin' has been operating since 1926, taking most passengers between Dublin and Dún Laoghaire.
From tomorrow, the route will be served by the new E-spine as part of Phase 6a of the National Transport Authority's Bus Connects redesign of the network.
It will move to a 24-hour bus service, which has been introduced to assist shift workers and support the night-time economy, according to Transport for Ireland.
The changes are expected to result in an increase in bus users, with additional capacity and increased frequency, especially at evenings and weekends.
Volunteers from the National Transport Museum are commemorating the route today in a the form of a cavalcade of vintage buses which will trace its journey.
The oldest in the cavalcade is the 76-year-old Leyland Titan fleet no. R389, which served users for 23 years.
The cavalcade will end at Donnybrook bus depot on the return journey from Dún Laoghaire.
National Transport Museum volunteer John Joe Thorpe outlined the historical significance of the route.
"It has been in operation since 1926, so it means an awful lot to a lot of people.
"On O'Connell street, there probably was never a moment during the day that there wasn't a 46A somewhere on the street.
"It's such a familiar route with everyone in Dublin, so today, we found it necessary to mark this occasion, especially with the 46A being so famous with the song by Bagatelle, 'Summer in Dublin'."
Changes will bring higher frequency routes - Dublin Bus
The changes introduced as part of the Bus Connects programme will see higher frequency routes, and more 24-hour services, Blake Boland, spokesperson for Dublin Bus has said.
They are aimed at making Dublin "a more connected city" where people can transfer between buses, move around and get to various parts of the city that they might not have been able to do as easily beforehand.
"This is another step forward for Dublin City in terms of getting the city moving around, with higher frequency routes ... and a welcome switch to some more 24-hour routes."
He acknowledged that regular users of the route will experience some differences, but said buses will come more frequently.
"It might not convenience every single person, but what we're trying to do is keep an eye on that bigger picture of getting Dublin moving."
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The National Transport Authority has said the combined E-spine routes, E1 and E2, will run on a 24-hour basis, from north Dublin through the city centre, to Dún Laoghaire and Bray/Ballywaltrim, Co Wicklow.
The E-spine will improve access to key services including third-level colleges, such as UCD, TCU, DCU and TUD, and hospitals like the Mater, the Rotunda, Temple Street and Loughlinstown, it said.
Despite the changes, he acknowledged the sentimental value of the 46A route, which has been a significant part of Dublin's history.
"There's a huge amount of sentimentality and nostalgia about the 46A, and we fully welcome that as well.
"This has been such a part of Dublin and its history, and people have grown up with it, and people have gone to their weddings on this bus.
"But we have various letters, and we have other 'spines' around the city, and E is one of those.
"It won't hold the same resonance to a lot of people, but we are trying to look towards the future."
He encouraged users to plan their journeys using the Dublin Bus website or the TFI app, as some familiar landmarks and routes will remain, but adaptations and new numbers will be introduced.
'Summer in Dublin' was 'built around the 46A' - Bagatelle
Bagatelle's 1980 hit, Summers in Dublin was "built around the 46A", Ken Doyle, Bagatelle's bass player has said.
He expressed sadness over the route's removal, while recounting the story behind the song, which included a near-miss incident involving a bus and a low-flying jet.
"He [Liam Reilly] had been to a gig the previous night for the Boomtown Rats in Moran’s hotel, and when the buses used to go down Grafton Street, he was humming in his mind and he wasn't concentrating.
"The bus took a sharp left at the bottom and nearly ran over him which is where 'My hummin’ was smothered by a 46A' comes from.
"At the same time there was a jet flying very low over the buildings.
"Then he jumped on the bus with his bag and his guitar, and lo and behold, he sees a disheveled guy coming up the bus, who said to him: 'You know, you'd make a fortune with that music and the guitar.'
"And that was the drunk on the bus who told him how to get rich, and he was glad he wasn't going too far."
Mr Doyle highlighted the emotional significance of Summer in Dublin for people across the country, adding that the audience brings the song to life during performances.
"I've always loved that song.
"I never realised what it would turn into - a part of Irish history now.
"People say to me: 'You must get tired of it', but I never have because every time we play that song, the audience, brings into life."
Mr Doyle believes the 46A route number should have been maintained.
"They could change the route, but why change the number?
"People have said to me, it's like getting rid of the chimney stacks at Ringsend."
