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Hong
Kong Bus Operators ... KMB
Volvo B9TL/Wrights Eclipse Gemini 2 - AVBWU class |
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Hong
Kong Bus Operators ... KMB
Volvo B9TL/Wrights Eclipse Gemini 2 - AVBWU class |
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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 fulfil 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. A total of 290 of this class were eventually delivered, the final example, AVBWU290 being registered on 31 May 2012. |
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| Above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Tim Chan | |
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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) before being loaded onto a ship to Hong Kong. | |
| Above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Alistair Liddle | |
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| Four
further vehicles at Heysham Docks
on 5th April 2010 Courtesy and copyright of Alistair Liddle |
AVBWU1,
the first of the class
entered service in early April 2010 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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| AVBWU2
was registered PF2802 on 28th
April 2010 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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Photographs courtesy and copyright of Neo Mak |
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Photograph courtesy and copyright of Samuel's Bus |
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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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Kam Ying Court on 26th July 2010 |
An rear offside view of AVBWU17 |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Samuel's Bus | |
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| Pictured in early August 2010, soon after entering service are AVBWU23 and AVBWU28 | |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Samuel's Bus | |
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| AVBWU41 was registered PK2713 on 24th August 2010 and is seen here in September without '2010' decals. | |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan | |
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| On display at at the Bus Expo 2010, held at the NEC, Birmingham, UK in November 2010 is this example, later identified at AVBWU70, which was registered in Hong Kong in early May 2011. | |
| Above photographs courtesy and copyright of Andy Higgins | |
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| The following are a selection of night shots taken by Slash Chan during December 2010 | |
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| AVBWU12 | AVBWU13 |
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| AVBWU21 | AVBWU31 |
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| AVBWU44 | AVBWU45 |
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| AVBWU46 | |
| All above photographs courtesy and copyright of Slash Chan | |
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| A batch of 15 (AVBWU47 - AVBWU61)
were registered on 28th February 2011, and entered service soon after. AVBWU50 and AVBWU59 are seen here on 5th March operating on route 104. |
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| Photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan | |
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All above photographs courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong |
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on 30th June 2011 |
AVBWU169
seen here on 17th July 2011, having been registered on 15th July. |
| Above photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan | |
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| AVWU185
on route 102 Location: Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po |
AVWU189 on
route 42A Location: Mong Kok Police Station, Nathan Road, Prince Edward |
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| AVWU195
was registered on 4th August 2011 and is seen here at Kwai Chung Road, Mei Foo on 13th August 2011. It is fitted with Gorba destination equipment. |
On
13th August 2011, when this photograph was taken, AVWU196 was KMB's newest bus. Again, seen travelling along Kwai Chung Road, Mei Foo. It is fitted with Shanghai HongLong destination equipment. |
| Above photographs courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong | |
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| AVBWU213 is seen here on 2nd September 2011, the day after being registered. | |
| Above photographs courtesy and copyright of Heka Inpu | |
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| AVBWU238 seen here on 5th March 2012, having been registered on 1st March with ten other class members. | |
| Above photographs courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong | |
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