Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Kowloon Motor Bus

The on-line version of 'KMB Today' gives details and a photograph of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz 0.305 demonstrator from Drumwell. The model appears to have been modified to represent fleet no. ME1 with a shallower front windscreen and sliding side windows.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Dennis Law

My thanks to Dennis Law for confirming that the first of New World First Bus's order for twenty 11.3 metre Alexander Dennis Enviro500 have now entered service. They have been allocated the series of fleet numbers 4xxx with 4000 being registered NX204 and 4001 NW9472. Further photographs have been added to the  section of the site.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

Set for release on 1st August is Drumwell's Kowloon Motor Bus air-conditioned Leyland Victory in its original guise (DW10902).  It is on route 206 to Tsim Sha Tsui and is limited to 2,000 pieces. 

Issue 60 of Bus Fan World's magazine 'Bus Focus' has just been published and features articles (in Chinese) on KMB's new Scania K230UB single deckers, the construction of ADL's Enviro500s, Enviro500s operating in Glasgow, Big Bus operations in Hong Kong, a  six-page feature on Dennis Dominators now operating with Big Bus and their former owners both in Hong Kong and in Scotland, 'Say No to the Relocation of Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Bus Terminal' and the usual features including details of all fleet additions and withdrawals. new model buses released and advertisement buses. 

In my opinion one of the best editions yet to be published, with 46 high quality pages in superb colour. 

The latest in series of the Fleet Directory of Hong Kong Buses has now been published, and this edition covers Citybus and New World First Bus. Like the last edition covering KMB and Long Win Bus, it is to the larger size (182mm x 256mm). It is believed to retail for HK$128.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Dennis Law

My thanks to regular contributor Dennis Law for sending me the above photograph showing New World First Bus Volvo Olympian fleet no. VA54 undergoing open-top conversion. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Olympians VA51-55 will be converted into open-toppers for two proposed tourist routes.

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Martin Wong 

My thanks to Martin Wong for sending me the above photograph of KMB fleet no ASC3, a 12 metre example of the Scania K230UB/Caetano. A higher resolution image has been added to the  section of the site.

 Citybus 205 (left) and 191 (right) pictured today. 
Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Philip Chan 

Further 'real' bus news, is that Citybus has commenced operating a new open-top bus sightseeing route, under the Citytours Hong Kong brand. Details can be found on the flyer below. My special thanks to Philip Chan for providing this news.
 

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Dennis Wong 

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Pan Tsang 

My thanks to Pan Tsang for sending me the above photograph of a new 11.3 metre Alexander-Dennis Enviro500 for New World First Bus undergoing a tilt test.

 Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Mac Lee

My thanks to Mac Lee for advising me that Drumwell's Mercedes-Benz 0.305 in plain white livery was released in Hong Kong yesterday (DW10404). It features DF9520 on route number 68M with a destination of 'Private'. It is limited to 500 pieces and retails for HK$298. It carries an incorrect fleet number of ME16 - it should be ME19.

Photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

My thanks to Philip Chan for confirming that MTR's new Enviro500s, carrying the new livery, have now entered service. Further photographs can be found on Philip's excellent Picasaweb Album. (site no longer available).

Having made the significant success of its cnbus 1014 model, Creative Master Northcord Limited has proudly released its latest example of the newly re-tooled Sunwin model, cnbus 1015. It is carrying the Shanghai Ba-Shi / Pudong Goon Chung livery.

Demonstrating the flexibility of the cnbus 1000 castings, cnbus 1015 incorporates features drawn from both mainstream styles issued to date as well as brand new items.

cnbus 1015 has the original style front, with individual front bumper and one-piece “rabbit ear” style mirrors. The model has two brand new items on the roof. These are a newly designed air-conditioning unit and a ventilation unit towards the rear of the roof. Both items are seen for the first time on cnbus 1000 castings.

cnbus 1015 features bus number SVK-001 (registration ?A-H2499) in service on route 982.

Pudong Goon Chung operated route 982 between Pudong International Airport and Oriental Road in Pudong district in October 2002 at the time Pudong International Airport had more international and regional flights (Hong Kong and Macau) transferred from Hungqiao International Airport. Route 982 was replaced by the new Airport Express Route 7 in May 2004 with new deluxe coaches that have luggage racks on board.

cnbus 1015 features excellent detailing, inside and out. This is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and application of the famous livery on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible on the paint. The model has no unnecessary metal poles to hold it together.

The cnbus 1015 model is limited to 1000 pieces for worldwide distribution. They will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), Transit Graphics (Australia), cnmycar.com (P.R. China) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Vincent Chong

The above photograph shows the last of the 10.6 metre Scania K230UB for Kowloon Motor Bus (ASB20 - NV8110). It is seen here on driver training duties in Yau Ma Tei. My thanks to Vincent Chong for sending me the photographs, both of which have now been added to the  section of the site..

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

Due for release on Tuesday 7th July is the 80M Bus Model Shop Citybus Volvo Olympian, fleet no. 9042 (92205). On route no. 10 to North Point, it is limited to 1,500 pieces and will retail for HK$298. 

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Stephen Cho

My thanks to Stephen Cho for sending me the above photograph, taken last Sunday in Sydney, Australia. Former China Motor Bus MCW Metrobus ML1 was joined by two new arrivals from Hong Kong, former Kowloon Motor Bus Leyland Olympian BL66 and Mercedes-Benz 0305 ME30. To celebrate the occasion all three buses took part in a special tour. 

I am grateful to Sherman Sham for informing me of his new website entitled SSFOTO. He has just uploaded some photographs of the Las Vegas 12.8m 2-staircase Enviro500s. The site also features buses from Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh together with videos in his"Bus Video" section. It also features some excellent 'non-bus' photography - why not take a look by clicking on the above image. 

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

The above two models were released in Hong Kong today (see News for 5th July 2009). 39406 (top) features ATEU1 (MJ2927) on route 276A to Tin Heng Estate carrying Euro 4 ads on the nearside. 39407 (bottom) features the same vehicle, but carrying Euro 5 ads, on route B1 to Lok Ma Chau Railway Station. Each is limited to 1,000 pieces. 

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
www.Network-Shuttle.com

Pictured above is the new kit from Best Choose, featuring a Daimler 'Jumbo' Fleetline (03013S).