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63005 - MAN 24.310/Berkhof
Citybus
Click on image for larger photograph
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Ray Ng
 
The model - this is one of two Citybus liveried Berkhof bodied MAN 24.310 models announced by APEC on 1st January 2020, the other features an example showing on route 388 (63004). Being unlicensed products they carry no fleetnames or logos. Both versions were released on 14th June and both come with a limited edition certificate but no decals.

The bus - These buses were initially ordered by Citybus, as a part of their proposed fleet expansion programme in the late 1990s. However, around September 1999, Hong Kong's Transport Department imposed a fleet quota on all franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, which seriously affected Citybus's fleet expansion proposal. Therefore, Citybus was forced to cancel the order for these new double deckers (together with at least two Volgren bodied MAN 24.310 double deckers), when in fact Berkhof has already built 32 of them! Meanwhile, Citybus has also gave up two 'optional orders' for 20 Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Tridents and 20 Volvo B6LEs at the same time.

As a result, MAN's dealer in Hong Kong had to find a new buyer for these newly built buses. After a number of negotiations, KMB decided to buy 30 of them. Of the two remaining buses, one went to Kwoon Chung Motors, (registered as JN4886 in 2000, but was not put into service until September 2001!) whilst the other was kept by Berkhof as a demonstrator.

Interestingly, some of these buses still had CTB's livery and interior specifications when they were bought by KMB. KMB therefore had to make a number of modifications (including the addition of headrests on almost all of the seats, a replacement of the seat cover, and of course a repaint!) before they were put into service from 25th April 2000 onwards. 

(This information has kindly been provided by Dennis Law).

 
 Manufacturer of model  APEC
 Scale  1:76
 Prototype chassis  MAN 24.310
 Prototype bodywork  Berkhof
 Prototype length  12 metre
 Fleet number  -
 Registration number  -
 Route number  -
 Destination  MAN
 Quantity  499
 Date released  14th June 2020
   
Click on image for larger photograph
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Ray Ng

Click on image for larger photograph
Click on image for larger photograph
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Ray Ng

Click on image for larger photograph
Click on image for larger photograph
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Ray Ng
 

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This page last updated Wednesday, 17th June 2020
 
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