KMB Scania K310UB ASU7
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

My thanks to Philip Chan for sending me a couple of photographs of two Scania K310UBs that have just entered service for Kowloon Motor Bus and these have just been added to the  section of the site.

New pages have also been added to the  section for the Citybus and New World First Bus 'Year of the Tiger' buses.

The 'Hong Kong Transport YearBook 2009', published by the 'JR Team' is due to be published in April. Priced at HKD$200, it is B5 size with a hard cover and around 180 pages. Topics include Hong Kong buses, aircraft, railways & ferries and articles include New World First Bus new 11 metre Enviro500, new Kowloon Motor Bus Scania K230UB single-deckers, open top series, Cathay Pacific's 10th Anniversary One World, the first Airbus A380 to Hong Kong, etc ...  Further details will be added when known.

New World First Bus No. 5501
Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Jonathan Liu

Citybus No. 8106
Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Alex Cheng

My special thanks to both Alex Cheng and Jonathan Liu for sending me, so promptly after my appeal, the above photographs of the New World First Bus and Citybus 'Year of the Tiger' decorated buses. New pages will shortly be added to the  section of the site for each of these buses.

I am grateful to Skills Holidays for sending me the following press release together with the above photograph of former China Light & Power Olympian No. 308, now registered BIG 8385.

"Nottingham based Skills Holidays has acquired the business and principal contracts of Patron Travel of Newark.  No jobs will be lost and Skills’ fleet will be increased with the acquisition of the largest coach in the Midlands.

The 102 seat double decker, complete with seat belts and coach style seating, will primarily be used for contract customers including schools.  Already nicknamed ‘Hong Kong Fuey’, the coach began its working life in the former crown colony before being repatriated in 2000.  Its layout, safety features and, above all, size make it ideal for the daily school run to Nottingham from the eastern parts of the county. 

Chairman, Nigel Skill says the acquisition will add an asset and driving skills to his team.  “This deal will allow us to improve our already considerable contract hire division by maintaining parents’ child transport costs and offering new opportunities for large scale business, recreation and entertainment travel.” 

The routes will continue to operate as Patron Travel.  No details of the consideration are being released. "

I am able to confirm that the above book is set to be published during February and I hope to be able to provide further details shortly.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Leo Kong

As reported yesterday, Kowloon Motor Bus have now registered their Enviro400 and allocated it the fleet no. ATSE1. My special thanks to Leo Kong for not only supplying the above photograph, but several more which have now been added to the  section of the site.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Barry Wong

Australia Day (26th January) saw former KMB Leyland Olympian BL66 take part in Motorfest 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Thanks to Barry Wong for sending me the above photograph and information.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Billy Chengcy

... and finally, thanks to Billy Chengcy who just managed to capture KMB Scania K310UD ASU12 (PC 4032) whilst on route no. 66X. Also added to the  section of the site tonight are photographs of several of the ASU class just prior to entering service. 

... and finally (again!), believed to have been launched recently, and well worth a look, is the Cars Workshop website - just click on the image.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Master Pebble

My thanks to Master Pebble for sending me a selection of photographs of the new Kowloon Motor Bus Scania K310UDs just prior to entering service. Further photos will be added to the  section of the site tomorrow.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Network Shuttle

Released today in Hong Kong is the above Best Choose Leyland FG lorry (10761), which carries registration number AK 1668.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Network Shuttle

Released today in Hong Kong is this Shanghai SK6105HPI single-deck bus from 52BUS (52001-red). Operating for Shanghai 2rd Bus Co. it features fleet number 6105HPI-082 (registration no. A 67526) on route 49. It is limited to 1,000 pieces. A new page and further photographs will be added shortly.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Wei Shen

Sentosa Leisure Group has released another bus model, this time modelled on RU 3720L.  It is believed that the model was issued sometime in 2009.

This new model is exactly the same as their previous release, the only difference being the registration (was RU 3722G). The box also contains a similar description but is packaged in white instead of orange.

With the release of this new model, it is believed that the previous model on RU 3722G is no longer available.

The official Sentosa website can be found by following the link.

Photographs courtesy and copyright of
Network Shuttle

Photograph courtesy and copyright of 
Alan Wong

My special thanks to Alan Wong, Alex Cheng and Network Shuttle for kindly sending me a superb selection of photographs taken at today's Rally organised by the Hong Kong Transport Society. These have just been added to the  section of site.

Calendar kindly provided by
Network Shuttle

My thanks Network Shuttle for kindly sending me an Alexander Dennis (Far East) calendar, as shown above. 

Photographs courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

The two Kowloon Motor Bus 'Year of the Tiger' models are set for release in Hong Kong tomorrow. Further photographs have now been added to the respective pages (DW10506) and (39409). Please note that the quantity of the Enviro500 is 2,000 pieces and not 3,000 as previously reported. Both models will retails for HK$298 each. Two 'Year of the Tiger' 'cute' buses are also set for release tomorrow.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of www.3cubian.com

Best Choose are set to release another version of the Leyland 'FG' lorry towards the end of January. Like the first release it features a red cab and green back, although the canopy has been revised and it carries 'Keung Kee' signwriting.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Network Shuttle

Now available in Hong Kong is the third and final version of the Shanghai SK5105GP trolleybus (52002C) from a 52Bus. It carries the pink livery of the Shanghai 3rd Tram Co. and features registration no. B5006 on route 11. It is limited to 1,000 pieces.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

It is now confirmed that Kowloon Motor Bus will issue two 'Year of the Tiger' models. On the left is Cars Workshop Alexander-Dennis Enviro500 ATE236 (39409) on route 1A to Sau Mau Ping (Central) whilst on the right is Volvo B9TL/Wrightbus AVBW44 (DW10506) on route 905 to Lai Chi Kok. Each model is limited to 3,000 pieces. (Note : see News for 15th January for revised quantities)

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
80M Bus Model Shop

As reported below, the second Star Ferry release, Day Star (23002), is now available. It is limited to 2,000 pieces and retails for HK$328.

Two yellow buses from Creative Master Northcord were added to my collection today. The first is ex-Citybus Leyland Olympian 173 now in Stagecoach Western's School Bus livery (hkbus2011). Further photographs will be added as soon as time allows. The second, and not an 'oriental', is the former Alexander Dennis Enviro400 demonstrator now operating for Yellow Buses of Bournemouth, and featuring a destination of Poole, my home town! 

My thanks to Donald MacRae for sending me a selection of photos of the above 1/64th scale Beijing Jinghua BK670 articulated bus. A separate decal sheet gives the owner a choice of fleet numbers and route numbers. A new page and further photographs will be added as soon as time permits! Any further information on the model, which is believed to have been issued in June last last, would be most welcome.

I have just received Issue 61 of Bus Fan World's magazine 'Bus Focus'. This edition features articles (in Chinese) on the New World First Bus 'Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus', Citybus's 'Citytours' Leyland Olympian, the new Ankai double decker for The Big Bus Company, newly liveried MTR buses, the ex China Light & Power Olympians now with Kinch in the UK, Dave Rogers former Citybus Olympian No. 102 , Skool Buses in Scotland, Lothian Buses and the usual features including details of all fleet additions and withdrawals. new model buses released and advertisement buses.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of
Network Shuttle

Now available in Hong Kong is the second release of the Shanghai SK5105GP trolleybus from 52Bus (52002B). This version carries a blue and white livery and is on route 15 with registration no. C0571. It is limited to 1,000 pieces and is expected to retail for HK$338. 

In the absence of clear product codes for the two trolleybuses, I have allocated the first release the code 52002A and the second 52002B.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Alan Wong

My thanks to Alan Wong for sending me photographs of Kowloon Motor Bus 'Year of the Tiger' liveried Enviro500 ATE104. Further photographs have just been added to the  section of the site.

Also added to the  pages are higher resolution photographs of the recently released Leyland FG lorry from Best Choose.

My first task of 2010 is to thank all of you who contributed news, photographs and information during the past year to make 2009  the site's most popular year. There are too many to name individually, however, several do deserve a special mention for their continued long-term support, these being, in no particular order:-

80M Bus Model Shop, Jotus.com, Network Shuttle, Concorde Hobby Shop, Creative Master Northcord Ltd, Bus Fan World, 312 Model, Hong Kong Model Co., Kowloon Motor Bus, UTFA, Dennis Law, Donald MacRae, Philip Chan, Stephen Cho, Dave Rogers, Edward Yeo, Grant Ng Kwok Kuen, Vincent Chong, Pan Tsang, Kennis Tam, Wei Shen, Dennis Wong, Dennis Tang, Albion Kwok, Alex Wong, Mark Lee, Neo Mak, Patrick Chan, Alan Wong and David Lam.