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Hong Kong Bus Operators ... KMB
Volvo B9TL/Wrights Eclipse Gemini 2 - 2010 delivery
 
In mid 2009 Volvo Buses received an order for 100 buses from Kowloon Motor Bus. The order involves 60 double-decker and 40 single-decker 12-metre buses. ***UPDATE***see below

KMB is the world’s largest operator of heavy duty triple-axle double-decker air-conditioned city buses, with more than 95% of their fleet of approximately 4,000 buses featuring air-conditioning. 

With a long history in the Hong Kong market, the latest Volvo B9TL MK II Euro V double-decker chassis is designed to meet the specific operational requirements of KMB and other major operators in East and South East Asia. 

The bodies for the double-deckers will be provided by Wrightbus. The bodies fulfill KMB’s latest requirements, including an upper deck seating for 53 passengers. The lower level provides accommodation for 27 seated and 41 standing passengers. 

Space is also provided for one wheelchair, with the access ramp provided via the front door. The most recent design updates demonstrate a high attention to detail with extensive effort made to integrate features such as the Multi-Media On-Board system.

The 60 double-decker buses will be delivered during 2010. 

The above has been extracted from Volvo's official Press Release.

***UPDATE ***

A further order for 115 Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs was placed in the Spring of 2010,
these vehicles being due for delivery in early 2011
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AVBWU11 seen operating route 87D to Kam Ying Court on 26th July 2010
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Samuel's Bus
   
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Four vehicles were seen in Southampton on 4th July 2010, approaching the end of their journey
from Heysham Docks and nearing the entrance to Dock Gate No. 4, from where they would be
shipped to Hong Kong.
Photographs courtesy and copyright of Nathan Jenner
 
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AVBWU5 seen operating route 1A on 7th July 2010
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Samuel's Bus
 
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Thirteen vehicles arrived in Hong Kong on the evening of Monday 28th June 2010, and these photographs were taken the following morning, having been collected by Volvo's staff and on their way to the agency's parking lot for final checking and adjustment before handover to KMB.
Photographs courtesy and copyright of Neo Mak
 
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AVBWU2 was registered PF 2802 on 28th April and entered service shortly afterwards on route 69X, where it was captured on 21st May 2010 - photographs courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com.
 
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Four further vehicles at Heysham Docks on 5th April - courtesy and copyright of Alistair Liddle
 AVBWU1, the first of the class entered service in early April - courtesy and copyright of S3N92
   
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Two further shots of AVBWU1 - courtesy and copyright of Grant Ng Kwok Kuen
 
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Captured over the weekend of the 20th/21st February 2010 at Heysham Docks, Lancashire, is this lone example, having already completed two legs of its journey from Ballymena, Northern Ireland to Hong Kong. The top photos were taken on Sunday 21st when the mist had cleared but a little snow had fallen overnight. The next stage of its journey will see it driven to Southampton Docks (275 miles - corrected 23rd Feb) before being loaded onto a ship to Hong Kong.
 
Above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Alistair Liddle
 
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One of the first to arrive is this example, captured at Tsim Sha Tsui on 12th February 2010,
still carrying trade plates.
 
Above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Tim Chan
 
AVBWU1 - PE 3529 AVBWU2 - PF 2802 AVBWU3 - PG6918 AVBWU4 - PG7809
AVBWU5 - PH 6346 AVBWU6 - PH 6712 AVBWU7 - PH 4786 AVBWU8 - PH 4821
AVBWU9 - PH 5092 AVBWU10 - PH 5408 AVBWU11 - PH 5490 AVBWU12 - 
AVBWU13 - AVBWU14 - AVBWU15 - AVBWU16 -
 
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This page last updated Thursday, 29th July 2010
 
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