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Hong
Kong Bus Operators ... Citybus
New Alexander Dennis Enviro400s (Fleet nos. 7000-7039) |
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Hong
Kong Bus Operators ... Citybus
New Alexander Dennis Enviro400s (Fleet nos. 7000-7039) |
| Three-axle double deckers have been the norm in Hong Kong for the past twenty years, so it was a pleasant surprise when in early in 2009 it was confirmed that both Citybus and Kowloon Motor Bus had placed an order for one 10.5 metre two-axle Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) Enviro400 for evaluation purposes. It is believed that special dispensation had been granted by the Hong Kong Transport Department to allow these buses to operate as their weights exceed the current maximum allowed for two axle buses. | |
| The first glimpse of these new buses was on 26th October 2009, when they were photographed leaving the ADL premises in Guildford, England by Mark Taylor. They arrived in Hong Kong on 23 November 2009. These buses differ quite considerably from the standard UK version, losing the large curved upper windscreen and the rather ugly, in my opinion, front upper side window. The rear is also much improved and they feature full air-conditioning |
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| The
Citybus example was allocated
fleet number 7000 and made its first public appearance at the Hong Kong
Transport Society's annual bus rally held on 17th January 2010, when it
still awaited registration. It was subsequently registered PC6795 on
1st February
2010
and it began operating on route 117 on 8th February.
A second example arrived in Hong Kong in May/June 2010. It was allocated fleet number 7001 and registered PH4891 on 2nd July. It was first was spotted undergoing tests on Friday 9th July. On 2nd November 2010, at Euro Bus Expo 2010 held at the NEC in Birmingham, ADL announced an order for 38 similar vehicles for NWS Holdings. A formal press release issued on 11th November confirmed the order was for Citybus. All will be bodied in China with kits supplied from the UK. The first of the production buses, fleet no. 7002, was registered on 23rd August 2011 and entered service soon afterwards. The seating arrangements of these differed from the two 'trial' buses in that the upper-deck seating is increased from 41 to 47 and lower-deck standing is decreased from 24 to 20.A model of fleet number 7000 was issued by 80M Bus Model Shop in July 2011 - just follow this link. |
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HKBuses.fotopic |
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Stanley (left) and approaching Exchange Square Bus Terminus (right) |
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| As mentioned above, the first of the production buses, fleet no. 7002, was registered on 23rd August 2011 and entered service soon afterwards. | |
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| Fleet no. 7005 - 4th September 2011 | Fleet no. 7007 - 4th September 2011 |
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| Fleet no. 7010 - 13th September 2011 | |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan | |
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| In
October, fleet no. 7003 and New World First Bus Dennis Dragon fleet no.
DA96 received an all-over livery for the campaign "Arts Bus: On the Move!". Further details of this campaign can be viewed here. |
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| Fleet no. 7003 is seen here on 20th October 2011 at Moreton Terrace Bus Terminus | |
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| the
upper front seats of 7001 - one pair of seats are placed between the stairwell and the front giving plenty of legroom |
the
upper front seats of 7003, clearly showing a revised layout and an additional pair of seats |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com | |
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| Whilst
in Stanley on 29th November 2011, I witnessed the 'aftermath' of a collision between 7007 and a taxi |
7018 seen here at Stanley - 24th November 2011 |
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| 7026 leaving Stanley Bus Terminus - 24th November 2011 | 7031 approaching Stanley - 29th November 2011 |
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| 7033 at Stanley Bus Terminus - 29th November 2011 | |
| The final three of the batch were registered on 23rd December 2011. | |
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