Golden Bus Page
Descriptions of Golden Buses
[ Back to Golden Bus Page > KMB > HKBEC > GAKEI.com ]
Quick Links: [ Alexander Dennis Enviro400 ] [ Dennis Trident ] [ MAN 24.310 ] [ Scania K230UB ] [ Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart ]
[ NEOPLAN Centroliner ] [ Alexander Dennis Enviro500 ] [ Volvo B7RLE ] [ Volvo B9TL ] [ Scania K310UD ] [ Volvo Super Olympian ] [ Back ]
Following the first Dennis Trident ATR1, more buses of the same kind joined the fleet and entered services.

There are two body manufacturers providing bodies to Kowloon Motor Bus ("KMB"). They are Alexander (ALX500) and Duple Metsec (DM5000). KMB assigned "ATR" as fleet number prefix for the 12-metre version, while the 10.6-metre version was assigned "ATS".

Byt the end of 2002, there were 14 Alexander bodied Tridents with 12 metres in length permenantly transferred to the fleet from Long Win Bus ("LWB"). More LWB Tridents transferred to KMB in 2010.

Excluding those transferred from LWB, during 1997 to 2003, KMB introduced 528 Dennis Tridents in total. Of which 150 are 10.6 metres version (100 Alexander bodies and 50 Duple Metsec bodies) and 378 are 12 metres version (198 Alexander bodies and 180 Duple Metsec bodies).

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

Thirty MAN 24.310 buses of KMB are bodied by Berkhof. These buses were originally ordered by Citybus, and went to KMB after Citybus had cancelled the order.

KMB assigned "AMN" as the fleet number prefix to the MAN 24.310s.

Another 17 buses of the same model, having Volgren bodies, started their services in July 2002. Two of them, AMN34 and 35, were orginally ordered by Citybus too.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

NEOPLAN Centroliners of KMB entered service on 1 August 1999. KMB had placed an initial order of 20, and 2 additonal orders of 60 and 50 respectively.

KMB further purchased more Centroliners with MAN Euro 3 engines. The first 2 buses were painted in green and are promoted as the "KMB Green Buses". An addition order of 30 Euro 3 Centroliners joined the fleet in 2002.

KMB assigned "AP" as the fleet number prefix to these buses.

In October 2003, a NEOPLAN Centroliner with wide-bodied, straight staircase and plug door started passenger service. Unlike the previous version, the bus was built on a MAN chassis. The fleet number assigned to this bus is APM1.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

KMB introduced 30 Scania K230UB single deckers in 2009. Of which 20 are 10.6 metres long ("ASB" Class, 28 seats and 40 standees) and the other 10 are 12 metres in length ("ASC" Class, 36 seats and 45 standees). The bus body was designed and built by Salvador Caetano.

A further order of 20 buses was placed in 2009. They are 12 meters in length ("ASC" Class) and one of them is Euro 5 version with a fleet number of ASCU1.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

KMB received two Scania K310UD buses with ZF 6HP602 gearboxes. The bus body was designed and built by Salvador Caetano. The first bus has been registered as MT 6551 in March 2007 and entered service in August 2007, while the second one has been registered as NE 6817 and entered service in February 2008. KMB further ordered 20 buses which have started their services in early 2010.

The buses are allocated a fleet number prefix of "ASU".

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

In 2010, KMB ordered 30 Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart single deckers with 10.4 metres in length. These buses have started their services in May 2011.

The buses were allocated a fleet number prefix of "AAU".

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

For many years, air-conditioned double-deckers in Hong Kong have been given a third axis in order to comply with the local regulation that requires the gross weight of a 2-axle vehicle must not exceed 16 tonnes. The rule is recently relaxed and two 10.5-metre Alexander Dennis Enviro400 demonstrators were introduced to KMB and Citybus in 2010. These are the first 2-axle low-floor double-deckers in Hong Kong. The design of the vehicle is derived from the 10.1-metre long version in the United Kingdom, with a longer rear overhang to accomodate the air-conditioned equipment.

The KMB demonstrator is assigned a fleet number of ATSE1 and was licensed on 18 January 2010 as PC 4053, which was subsequently put into service on Route 606 on 17 February 2010.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

Enviro500 is one of a new series of models produced by TransBus International. The new models are to replace the old products manufactured by various group companies - Dennis, Alexander and Plaxton. Enviro500 is marketed as an integrated product without seperated names for chassis and body. However, the buses are built in different plants. Chassis, which are modified from Tridents, are built in Dennis, while body kits are built in Alexander. The introduction of Enviro500 also brings new features of buses to Hong Kong. For examples, the 2.55-metre body width and the straight staircase. KMB is the launch customer of Enviro500 and has also participated in the design process of the model.

The historic name of Dennis returned in May 2004 after TransBus has been bought up by a Scottish consortium. The Company is now called "Alexander Dennis".

The fleet number prefix assigned to these buses are "ATE" for Euro 3 version and "ATEU" for Euro 4 and onward versions. There are 271 Euro 3 Enviro500 buses introduced to the fleet.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

KMB ordered 40 Volvo B7RLE single deck buses in 2009. The buses are 12 metres long with MCV eVolution bodywork. They are powered by Volvo D7E290 engines that comply with Euro 5 standard, with ZF 6HP504CN transmission. Each bus can carry 35 seaters and 40 standees. KMB names the type as AVC class and the first two, AVC1 and AVC2, started serving the public on Route 273 on 13 April 2010.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

Volvo supplied a Volvo B9TL demonstrator to KMB in 2003 which was utilized to evaluate the "Eco-Driveline" system for a number of months after arrived in Hong Kong. B9TL is a new model which is to replace "Super Olympian". The most distinct difference between the two models is the relocated radiator to the rear.

The demonstrator (VIN: YV3S4J1112A000002) was bodied by Volgren with a standard width. The bus was registered on 19 March 2004 as LJ 7006 with a fleet number of AVD1 and started passenger service on 27 April 2004.

More B9TL buses have joined the fleet since 2005. There are 86 Euro 3 version B9TL buses with Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bodies ("AVBE" Class) and 64 Euro 3 version B9TL buses with Wright Explorer bodies ("AVBW" Class). The Euro 5 version buses with Wright bodies are named as "AVBWU" Class.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

KMB introduced 61 Volvo Super Olympians in late-1999. The buses are 12 meters long, and fitted with modified Alexander ALX500 bodies. KMB allocated "3ASV" as the fleet number prefix for Super Olympian. The first Super Olympian arrived in Hong Kong is 3ASV3 (JE 1672). However, the bus was the third one which received a registration, therefore 3ASV3 is numerically the third. There are 471 "3ASV" buses fitted with 12 metres Alexander ALX500 bodies.

In addition, KMB ordered 100 shorter version (10.6 metres) of Super Olympians. Those were designated as "ASV" by KMB, and started their service in February 2001.

One of the Euro 3 Super Olympians, 3ASV297, was painted in green and is promoted as the "KMB Green Bus". The bus subsequently started the passenger service on 5 January 2002.

Volgren is another body builder supplied bodies to Super Olympians in the fleet. There are 21 Volgren CR223LD bodied Super Olympians, of which 3ASV403 is the first registered Volgren bodied Super Olympian in the fleet.

Wright provided 100 bodies with extended width, straight staircase and plug exit door for the last 100 Super Olympians. The name of the body is "Explorer". KMB allocated "AVW" as the fleet number prefix for these buses. During 1999 to 2005, KMB introduced 692 Super Olympians in total.

[ CONSOLIDATED PHOTOS | OTHER PHOTOS | Top ]

Quick Links: [ Alexander Dennis Enviro400 ] [ Dennis Trident ] [ MAN 24.310 ] [ Scania K230UB ] [ Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart ]
[ NEOPLAN Centroliner ] [ Alexander Dennis Enviro500 ] [ Volvo B7RLE ] [ Volvo B9TL ] [ Scania K310UD ] [ Volvo Super Olympian ] [ Back ]

Number of Visitors Webcounter Counted since 20 June, 1996.
An HKBEC Sub-page.