From 6th June 2016, all of our news will be posted to our Facebook page (link here) because it is a more effective way to share our news, which is often of a photographic nature.
We will still occasionally post photographic essays here, but they will be also be linked from our Facebook page. An easy way to effortlessly keep up with our news would be to like our Facebook page :) Thank you for your support :D
0 Comments
Tomorrow marks the retirement of 10 of KMB's 13 remaining Volvo Olympians. Below are the full-sized images of the photos appearing in the collage on our Facebook page. Long Win has only 5 of its 125 original 1xx/2xx series Alexander-bodied Dennis Tridents left. The rest have been gradually sold to parent company KMB over the years from 2002-2015. Two of them will reach the maximum 18 years of age allowed for franchised buses tomorrow, meaning today is their last day in service. These are 144 (HS7737) and 153 (HS8257). The pictures above show them on the S64X and E33 respectively. The other three Long Win 1xx/2xx series Tridents will retire by the 26th of this month.
DBTSL's Last Mercedes Benz O405 Returns to service after being out of operation for Over 9 Months21/4/2016 DBTSL's well known Mercedes Benz O405 bus DBAY73 (HV3718) made its first operating appearance today in over 9 months. Having been parked at DBTSL's Marina Avenue Depot since August of last year, it was assumed that the bus had been retired. Late last year, the bus had been seen with it's Octopus Reader uninstalled, usually a good indicator of retirement. However, DBAY73 has all equipment re-installed and in working order. Further information was sourced stating that DBAY73 & DBAY121 (DBTSL's last Dennis Dart) has had their operating licences extended to 2017; further explaining DBAY73's reappearance. The bus returned to operating its usual route C9 (DB Pier to Siena One/DB North Circular). To view more, click on the pictures below.
KMB operated two special services today to cater for demand by runners/visitors at the Streetathon marathon event today at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. Route 203R runs to Kowloon Tong MTR, while route 205R runs to Yau Tong MTR. This is in addition to the normal route 5R service that runs on weekends to Kwun Tong MTR. The bus fares for both routes were supposed to be $10.5 and $9.4 respectively, but the buses were free when we visited today. Pictures of some of the buses that operated the routes are below; they include buses from all the KMB depots. To cope with the high demand of passengers flocking to cemeteries all across Hong Kong during this years Ching Ming Festival (also know as Tomb Sweeping Day), many bus companies operated additional 'special routes' to shuttle commuters to specific cemetery sites. Below are details concerning route arrangements (organised by bus operator). KMB: Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) Ching Ming Festival Special Bus Services Include:
KMB also strengthened the frequency of the following daily bus services:
NWFB: New World First Bus (NWFB) Ching Ming Festival Special Service Arrangements Include:
CTB: Citybus (CTB) Ching Ming Festival Special Service Arrangements Include:
NLB: New Lantao Bus (NLB) Ching Ming Festival Special Routes Include:
Hong Kong Resorts, the owner and manager of the Lantau residential enclave of Discovery Bay has announced their intention to redevelop the main bus terminus at the plaza in Discovery Bay next to the ferry pier. The intention, as shown by this leaflet, is to raise the bus terminus by placing it on top of the shopping mall extension that will be built on the site of the old terminus. Thus the buses will turn directly off the main road onto the roof of the new part of the plaza. Work is expected to occur in early 2019. Various close-ups of the leaflet are shown below.
Citybus yesterday registered 5 ADL E500NG facelift 12.8m buses to serve its Tung Chung/Airport franchise. Most of them entered service today on route E11/E11A. All buses have extended luggage racks, but are otherwise very similar to the other 9 ADL E500NG facelift 12.8m buses Citybus have allocated to N-depot.
KMB operates route 63R every Chinese New Year to cater for the large amount of people who visit the wishing tree in Lam Tsuen in order to bring themselves good luck for the year ahead. Although KMB route 64K passes by the wishing tree, the 63R is an express bus direct from Tai Po Market and Tai Wo Railway Stations to the wishing tree. This year it runs between 10am and 6:30pm on the 8-10th and 13-14th of February. Several types of buses operate the route - mostly 12m buses from the Sheung Shui branch of S-depot, including ADL E500NGs and Volvo Super Olympians (both Alexander and Wright bodied), as well as L-district's ADL E500 Year of the Monkey bus. A selection of the pictures taken today of the 63R is displayed below. More photos can be found in the relevant bus photo albums of each type of bus seen today. Please click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Today marked the retirement of 5 of Discovery Bay bus operator DBTSL's fleet of MAN NL262s. Yesterday was the last day in service for DBAY21 (JL8491), DBAY78 (JL8120), DBAY90 (JL6596), DBAY115 (JM1951) and DBAY127 (JL5514). Today they were all seen parked at DBTSL's depot near the Discovery Bay Marina. Some were being driven around to better parking places, indicating all are still in good mechanical working condition.
4 of the 5 buses are two-door versions of the NL262, and were purchased second hand from Citybus in 2005 (they were new in 2000). These 4 retired buses (DBAY21, 78, 90 and 115), previously held Citybus fleet numbers 1571-1574. The 5th DB NL262 retired today (DBAY127) is a single door version purchased new by DBTSL in 2000, part of a batch of 5, of which 3 had already been retired before the demise of DBAY127. The pictures above show the retired buses near the marina today. Some of the pictures have failed to render the screens properly, and therefore a list has been provided of what each bus had on its screen: JL8491 - 7 to Discovery Bay Pier JL8120 - NL262 JL6596 - C9 to Discovery Bay Pier JM1951 - BYE JL5514 - BYE The retirement of these 5 NL262s leaves just 2 left in service in DB. DBAY35 (JM1872), the last ex-Citybus two-door version, was seen today on external route DB01R, while DBAY131 (JL7593), the last single-door version, was also seen on the DB01R, as well as the afternoon school special route S3. Pictures below: Today, 902 (NM4760) was seen conducting 'Driver Training' within Tung Chung, an area in Hong Kong situated no where near the territories of where MTR operate K-routes. These spotting's of MTR E-200's conducting driver training in odd places has been quite common for the last 6 months or so, with other sightings in areas such as Sai Ying Pun, Cheung Sha Wan, HK Int'l Airport and Central, all areas that MTR lines operate within, however not areas that MTR K-routes operate within. Here at HK Bus Stop, we are unclear to why MTR are conducting these tests (planning for expanding areas for K-route operations or simply for driver training).
This year has proved to be an exciting year for new buses. In this post we recap all of the types of bus registered this year. Classes previously and continuing to be registered:Kmb: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG 12m (ATENU)From ATENU383 to ATENU802 + 840 (total 421). Registered: January to December. Variations: most have Vogelsitze seats but some have Lazzerini CityLight seats. Depot allocations: all. The ATENU class is now ubiquitous in almost all corners of Hong Kong, being by far the largest ever class of KMB buses. It continues to grow with buses with the new facelift body now being registered (see below). See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-atenu.html KMB: Volvo B9TL (Wright Bodied) 12m (AVBWU)From AVBWU383 to AVBWU448 (total 66). Registered: January to December. Depot allocations: all. The AVBWU class is supposed to be the other half of KMB's dual sourcing policy, but only 66 have been registered against 494 ATENUs, showing KMB's clear favourite to be the ATENUs. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/volvo-b9tl-12m-avbwu.html KMB: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG 12.8m (3ATENU)From 3ATENU3-22 (total 20). Registered: October to December. Depot allocations: U - Tuen Mun. This batch of 20 is the first production batch of 12.8m buses in Hong Kong, following on the heels of 2 prototypes registered in July 2014. All of the production batch have more luggage space and are allocated to border route B1. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-128m-3atenu.html Citybus: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG (84xx, 85xx)From 8467 to 8536 (total 70). Registered: January to July. Variations: 8507-8536 are allocated to the Tung Chung/Airport franchise and therefore have luggage racks and window blinds. Otherwise they are identical to their HK-side sisters. This class is now ubiquitous on all of Citybus' non-length-restricted routes. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-12m-8320-84xx-85xx.html MTR: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG 11.3m (5xx)From 518 to 537 (total 20). Registered: March to December. Now nearly ubiquitous in MTR territory around Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. See more photos in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro-500ng-113m-5xx.html NHKB: MAN NL323From 6 to 10 (total 5). Registered: January to August. They replaced the remaining 5 13-year-old MAN NL263 buses. See more photos in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/man-nl323-1-10.html BigBus: Ankai HFF6110GS-2From 1-8 (total 8). Registered September to October. They are replacing the Dennis Dominator (8) and ex-CMB/NWFB Dennis Condors (1-7), taking the registrations and the fleet numbers of the buses they replaced. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/ankai-hff6110gs-2-1-17.html New classes of bus:KMB: Scania K280UD 12m (ASUD)From ASUD1 to ASUD2 (total 2). Registered: February-March Depot allocations: L - Lai Chi Kok. The ASUDs are KMB's next Scania buses since the K310UDs (ASU), and are probably trial buses. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/scania-k280ud-asud.html KMB: MAN A95 ND363F (AMNE)Single example: AMNE1 Registered: August Depot allocations: U - Tuen Mun. AMNE1 is a trial bus for KMB; and KMB's first MAN bus since the 47 24.310s of 2000-02. Sadly we have no pictures available yet. KMB: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG Facelift (ATENU)From ATENU803-839, ATENU841-876 (total 73). Registered: November to December. Depot allocations: U- Tuen Mun, L - Lai Chi Kok, K - Kowloon Bay. This class has the same chassis as previous ATENUs but the body is to a new design. Initially many people in bus fan community found the body to be rather unattractive. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-atenu.html NWFB: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG (55xx-56xx)From 5583 to 5599, 5601 to 5669 (total 86). Registered: January to December. Initially much of this class was confined to Eastern Hong Kong Island, but now they are ubiquitous on NWFB's main routes. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-12m-5583-5599-5601-56xx.html NWFB: Volvo B9TL (Wright bodied) 11.3m (45xx)From 4500 to 4522 (total 23). Registered: May to December. Initially they only operated on routes 970/x and 30x, but now are common sights on South-side routes or other routes that NWFB's Dennis Condors used to serve. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/volvo-b9tl-113m-45xx.html NWFB: Youngman JNP6120 (26xx)From 2600 to 2607 (total 8). Registered: June to July. They are considered replacements for NWFB's 12 10.7m Dennis Darts. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/youngman-jnp6120-26xx.html NWFB: BYD K9R (20xx)From 2051 to 2052 (total 2). Registered: December. They are electric buses funded by the Environmental Protection Department. Sadly we have no pictures available yet. Citybus: Volvo B9TL (Wright Bodied) 12.8m (65xx)Single example: 6500. Registered: March. The second 12.8m trial bus for Citybus; the first being an E500 (6300). Mostly operates on border routes B3/m/x and morning express routes from the New Territories to HK-side (e.g. from Tin Shui Wai or Tuen Mun). Sadly we have no pictures available yet. Citybus: Youngman JNP6210 (18xx)From 1830 to 1846 (total 16). Registered: April to June. Considered partial replacements for MAN NL262 class (15xx). See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/youngman-jnp6120gr-1830-18xx.html Citybus: Volvo B9TL (Wright bodied) 11.3m (95xx)From 9500 to 9529 (total 30). Registered: September to December. Mainly operate on South-side routes alongside the remaining 11m Volvo Olympians, which they are partially replacing. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/volvo-b9tl-113m-95xx.html Citybus: BYD K9R (15xx)From 1581 to 1583 (total 3). Registered: December. They are electric buses funded by the Environmental Protection Department. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/byd-k9r-1581-1583.html Citybus: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG Facelift 12.8m (63xx)Sole example: 6301. Registered: December. Citybus' third 12.8m bus and the second Enviro-500 one. It is believed that there are more similar buses (all with the facelift body) coming to Citybus. Like its predecessor, ordinary E500NG 12.8m 6300, it operates in the Northwestern New Territories, servicing border routes and rush hour express routes to Hong Kong Island. Unfortunately we have no pictures available. Long Win: Alexander Dennis Enviro-500NG 12m Coach (65xx)From 6501 to 6526 (total 26). Registered March to December. This class has more comfortable leather seats, reading lights, and upgraded handrests, and are primarily scheduled to Long Win's A-routes. However they also very frequently operate on E-routes, as the 25 strong Dennis Trident Coach class (5xx) still hasn't been retired, leading to a surplus of comfortable-seated buses. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/alexander-dennis-enviro500ng-coach-65xx.html NLB: MAN LE 19.320 (MN)From MN92 to MN95 (total 4). Registered October to November. Shorter than previous NLB low-floor buses, this quartet is a trial batch to see whether super-low-floor (SLF) buses should return to South Lantau where high-floor coaches prevail due to the rough road conditions. Currently serving on both South Lantau routes and internal Tung Chung routes, these buses are the first SLF buses on South Lantau since the retirement of NLB's 3 Dennis Darts in 2010-11. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/man-le-19320-mn92-95.html NLB: MAN A95 ND323F (MD)From MD01 to MD05 (total 5). Registered in November. NLB is following parent company Kwoon Chung in buying double-decker MAN A95 buses, NLB's first new double deckers since the Leyland Victories of the early 1980's. However unlike the Victories, these 12m buses are only for internal Tung Chung service and perhaps the border routes (B2/P/X) in the future; they currently operate alongside the two second hand (former Cityflyer) Dennis Tridents DN4 & 5. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/man-a95-md.html Kwoon Chung: MAN A95 ND323FTotal 9 buses (no fleet numbers). Registered August to September. These buses are replacing the 8 ex-Cityflyer Dennis Tridents they acquired second hand in 2014, and the sole MAN 24.310 acquired from Citybus in 2000. Like their predecessors, these non-franchised A95s operate on workers' services (mainly to the airport) and occasionally help out on subsidiary NLB's Tung Chung and border routes. Some buses re-use old registrations previously held by other Kwoon Chung coaches. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/man-a95.html DBTSL: Volvo B9TL (Wright bodied) 12mFrom DBAY208 to DBAY213 (total 6).
Registered July to August. DBTSL's first ever double deckers, they we bought to relieve pressure on DB's external route DB03R to Sunny Bay MTR, as their single decker fleet cannot cope with the massive demand for the service at rush hour. See more pictures in our gallery: http://hkbusstop.weebly.com/volvo-b9tl-12m.html Hong Kong Island franchised bus operators Citybus and New World First Bus are placing in service the first franchised electric buses on the island. All are Chinese BYD K9R single decker buses - with Citybus taking 3 and NWFB 2. After many months of testing and purported problems (necessitating return to the manufacturer), all 5 are entering service at the end of this year.
Citybus' examples are allocated fleet numbers 1581-3, lazily carrying on from their 15xx designated MAN NL262 class. 1581 (TV3095) entered service yesterday on route 11, 1582 (TV2703) today on the 12, and tomorrow 1583 (TW1559) will start on the 25A. NWFB's examples are allocated fleet numbers 2051-2, lazily carrying on from their 20xx series of Dennis Darts. 2051 (TV8231) entered service today on route 81, while 2052 (TW745)will enter service on the 5th of January operating route 78. These buses are subsidised by HK's Environmental Protection Department in a scheme to encourage the use of more eco-friendly vehicles. A very similar BYD K9A electric bus was previously trialled by Kowloon Motor Bus on its own initiative, but the 3/4 year trial did not result in the purchase of any of the type. It remains to be seen if they find favour with Citybus and NWFB. Citybus is this month retiring their last 12m and their last three last 11m Leyland Olympians: respectively 391 and 183, 184 and 191. 183 (FC2566) was retired on the 8th, 184 (FC6490) on the 16th; 391 (FS7669) will retire tomorrow (29th) and 191 (FD7919) the day after (30th). All of Citybus' Leyland Olympians operated as part of Citybus' non-franchised fleet, which is offered for hire, as well as operating contract residents services such as Sha Tin Racecourse routes JC1 & JC2, CityOne residents' routes 61R and 88R, and various services for other companies around Hong Kong. Some were converted to open top buses - e.g. 191, which is in Panda Bus livery. As Citybus have been recently retiring many of their Volvo Olympians, they have decided to replace their ageing fleet of Leylands with Volvo Olympians – that they are obliged to withdraw from franchised operations as they reach 18 years of age - the maximum age mandated by the government for franchised buses.
Of the 8 dual-door 12m Leyland Olympians retained by Citybus after they ceased franchised operations, 7 have already been retired (all this year) and the last is to go tomorrow. Of the 40 coach specification 11m Leyland Olympians that were retained for various lengths of service in the non-franchised fleet, 5 were retired in 2008, 2 in 2010, 5 in 2011, 6 in 2013, 7 in 2014, and 14 this year, leaving only one (open-top) example in service - 191 (FD7919). Some of the buses were sold rather than scrapped, including 5 purportedly sold to DBTSL, the non-franchised bus operator in Discovery Bay. Many of the buses retired this year reached 22-23 years of age, as well as one reaching the venerable age of 24. By Hong Kong standards these are long years of service - considering most city-specification buses retire by the maximum age of 18 years or even before. Thus with the retirement of these buses the era of Leyland buses in Hong Kong has finally come to the end of its perhaps century-long run. As of the 5th of December, KMB route 264R has commenced service, operating between Yuen Long (West) and Tai Po Market Station. As denoted by the 'R' suffix, it is a recreational route, meaning that it only runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The route operates between the same bus termini that KMB route 64K operates between; however, route 64K runs along Kam Sheung Road and Lam Kam Road, providing a daily bus service for the various villages that the two roads pass through. As route 64K takes over an hour to reach its destination, KMB introduced route 264R to provide a faster link between Tai Po and Yuen Long for people wishing to travel between the two towns on weekends. Route 264R runs along Fanling highway and is non-stop between Yuen Long and Tai Po. The total journey takes approximately 3/4 of an hour.
|