| The model
- the second CMB Atlantean to be commissioned by the Hong Kong Transport
Society is in the later blue and cream livery. Released in Hong Kong in
December 1998, this model was also offered by EFE to it's Subscribers,
the model being despatched in February 1999.
The bus
- following trials by London Transport of the XA class. Park Royal bodied
Atlanteans and XF class Fleetline these vehicles were deemed not suitable
for the stop start London traffic conditions and before long both of these
classes of vehicles were sold off. The first to be sold were the Atlanteans,
being still quite new they were in great demand and China Motor Bus were
fortunate in managing to purchase the majority of the 50 vehicles produced.
In Hong Kong they were painted in the China Motor Bus red and cream livery
where they presented a modern image to the fleet. The buses were modified
to allow more ventilation in the hot humid climate of Hong Kong with the
addition of horizontal sliding windows, apart from this the vehicles appeared
unchanged. The fleet remained in the red and cream livery until the opening
of the cross harbour tunnel, which joined Hong Kong island with the mainland
of Kowloon. Bus services running through the tunnel brought a conflict
of livery styles on joint operated routes and China Motor Bus decided to
change its livery colours and the fleet was repainted in the blue and cream
colours. |