Both
SBS
Transit and SMRT Buses are continuing to take
delivery of new buses as part of their fleet renewal programme, these
in the main being Wrights bodied Volvo B9TLs
and Mercedes-Benz Citaros for SBS Transit and MAN NL323F A22s
for
SMRT Buses.
The registration of new buses has been rather confusing of late
following the introduction of the Bus
Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) by the Singapore
government which will see about 40 new bus
services introduced and 800 new buses added to the
existing
bus fleets.
New
buses funded under this scheme are registered using a pre-allocated
sequence - SBS Transit buses are allocated the series SBS x3xx (e.g.
SBS3301M & SBS6318J) whilst SMRT Buses are allocated
the
series SMB3xxx (e.g. SMB3001M).
Photograph
courtesy of Mark Chua
Pictured above is SMRT
Buses MAN NL323F A22
with Gemilang Lion's City Hybrid bodywork, SMB3027P,
on express service 850E, which is one of the 40 new BSEP service
introduced.
Photograph
courtesy of Mark Chua
SMRT Buses
had allocated
their
new MAN NL323s registrations in the series
SMB189A-SMB354P,
but appear to have deliberately started a new series of
registrations to
avoid clashing with existing buses carrying TIB
registrations in the
series TIB425R to TIB1247G. The new series commences with SMB1301K and
SMB1303E is pictured above on service 700. This is a non-BSEP funded
bus.
Photograph
courtesy and copyright of Santhosk Kumar
Meanwhile the
unsuccessful trial of Zhongtong
LCK6112GHEV demonstrator SMB137A, which commenced in November
2010, has left the bus minus its SMRT logos and currently for sale.
Photograph
courtesy and copyright of Santhosk Kumar
Owing
to the government's demand that both bus company's bus fleet is
wheelchair accessible, a large number of buses were retired in 2012 -
the above photograph shows several UMW bodied Dennis Lance awaiting
scrapping.
My thanks to Mark Chua and Santhosk Kumar for providing the above update and photographs.
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