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Oriental Buses
in the UK ... Ex-Citybus Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M 1273 (FC9356) |
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Operating non-franchised
route 61R between City One Shatin and
Lam Tin MTR - 20th June 2003 © LT Digi Photography 1273 was one of ten Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10Ms purchased by Citybus in the 1990s. At the time, these coaches were unique in being the only Van Hool coaches imported into Hong Kong. They were purchased as part of the on-going Citybus programme to improve the quality of services operated and also for developing new markets. They operated on a variety of work, including residential services and private hires. Several Two of them were also used on express services between Hong Kong and mainland China. The first batch of five (1266-1270) were registered in 1990, with the second batch of five (1271-1275) being registered in March/April 1992. They were withdrawn from service in 2004 and several (if not all) were shipped to the UK. 1273 and 1275 were acquired by Galleon Travel, Hunsdon, with 1273 becoming J579 CEV, but later received the registrations LSK 607 and J894 CEV before finally being registered XIL 8125. It was subsequently acquired by Whitelaws of Stonehouse, Scotland in whose ownership it remained until September 2020, after which it was acquired by Dave Rogers. Dave is, of course, well know for his restoration of buses, especially those from Hong Kong. My special thanks to Dave Rogers, Donald MacRae, Grant Stallard, LT Digi Photography, Wayne Stanton, Gary Mitchelhill, James Dymock and Simon Lee for allowing me to use their photographs. If you are able to provide any further information or are able to share photographs of 1273, please e-mail me.
Operating service
757 to the Airport, 1273 is seen approaching City
One Shatin bus terminus whilst the second photograph shows it at the
Royal Park Hotel, Shatin - November 1992
© Donald MacRae
The above photograph
shows 1273 at the parking position outside the Kai Tak Airport Bus
Terminal.
© Derek Cheng
© Simon Lee's
Collection
A rare shot of 1273 on cross-border duties - note the addition of a Chinese registration number and 'Shenzhen Airport Transportation Company' lettering on the side, the joint operator of this service. Citybus commenced cross-border services in 1996 using Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10Ms 1267 and 1275 alongside Neoplan Norinco coaches 1801-1803. The latter were subsequently replaced by 1268-1270 although, for a short time, 1273 was used, but it was soon replaced by 1269 with 1273 returning to normal Hong Kong non-franchised work.
© Simon Lee's
Collection
January 1999 © Dave Rogers (left) 30th May 1999 © 回 憶總是美麗的 (right)
Operating route 62R
at City One Shatin, 21st June 2002
© Bobby Liu
This photograph was
taken at Ensigns Yard soon after its arrival in the UK - 2004
© Dave Rogers
Photographed on
13th October 2013 it is seen in yellow school contract livery
whilst on 18th May 2018 it is seen in full company livery.
© Gary Mitchelhill
Still carrying its
former owner's livery - 10th
October 2020
© Dave Rogers On 17th July 2022,
1273 made its debut appearance at the Alton Bus Rally & Running
Day.
© Dave Rogers
Sister vehicle 1275 was the subject of two models issued by Corgi in 1998, with that on the right displaying an additional Chinese registration plate.
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