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).
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