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The New Hong Kong Bus Company has purchased five new Gemilang bodied MAN NL323/R A22, similar to those currently being delivered to Singapore operator SMRT Buses. One is pictured above prior to being registered. A larger image has been added to the  section of the site.
Vehicle Model Studio (VMS) has announced their second product - a little plastic key chain/mobile phone rope. Orders will be taken from 4th March 2013. It comes in two sizes. The smaller one (Route 95) represents the original plastic route plate used on the hot-dog buses and some early air-con buses. The larger one (Route N170) represents that used in the front of the later air-con buses. They will retail for HK$30 for one piece or HK$50 for two pieces. Watch out for further details on the VMS Facebook page. 28th February 2013
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| Both SBS
Transit and SMRT Buses are continuing to take
delivery of new buses as part of their fleet renewal programme, these
in the main being Wrights bodied Volvo B9TLs
and Mercedes-Benz Citaros for SBS Transit and MAN NL323F A22s
for
SMRT Buses. The registration of new buses has been rather confusing of late following the introduction of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) by the Singapore government which will see about 40 new bus services introduced and 800 new buses added to the existing bus fleets. New buses funded under this scheme are registered using a pre-allocated sequence - SBS Transit buses are allocated the series SBS x3xx (e.g. SBS3301M & SBS6318J) whilst SMRT Buses are allocated the series SMB3xxx (e.g. SMB3001M). New pages with photographs have been added to both the SBS Transit and SMRT Buses pages of the section of the site.
Remaining in Singapore, but away from the two main bus operators, a pleasant surprise is the introduction of a fleet of three brand new MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL (A69) open-top buses acquired by Duck and Hippo tours, a local sightseeing and tour company - see http://www.ducktours.com.sg/. The MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL is the same chassis type as ex-SBS Transit SBS8031J, which was rejected by SBS Transit and sold off - the buses are bodied by Soon Chow. 23rd February 2013
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Citybus Enviro400s nos. 7042 and 7043 were registered yesterday and were noted in service today, along with 7040. Also spotted undergoing road tests was 7046. Further photographs have been added to the section.
...... and pictured above are the buses they are replacing. Dennis Dragon nos 725, 729 and 730 are now withdrawn, destination blinds removed and parked at the company's Wong Chuk Hang Depot.
21st February 2013
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New Citybus ADL Enviro400 no. 7042 was spotted yesterday in Shau Kei Wan undergoing road tests.
20th February 2013
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Another possible model? Kowloon Motor Bus Alexander bodied Trident ATR428 has been decorated in 'Friends of KMB' livery and is seen here earlier today on route 46X.
Fleet no. YM20 is the latest New Lantao Bus Youngman, registered last week and seen today operating route 38. A larger photograph of both YM19 and YM20 have been added to the pages.
Believed to be one of only three remaining in the Citybus fleet is this Jit Luen bodied Volvo B6LE, noted today on staff duties in Tung Chung. 17th February 2013
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The 1996 intake of Citybus's ten 10.4 metre Dragons (fleet nos. 721-730) have now been retired with the exception of 727, which is expected to follow suit shortly. It is seen here in November 2010 approaching Stanley Market.
Enviro400s are now the norm, fleet no. 7026 seen here departing the same location. Larger 'clickable' images are available for both the above photographs.
Whilst carrying out the above updates, photographs of some more new Citybus Enviro400s have been received. 7040, numerically the first of the second batch, was spotted this afternoon undergoing testing. Further photographs have been added to the section.
15th February 2013
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I have just received the above 'Hong Kong Transport Yearbook 2012', published by JRTeam. A new page, with a review and 'page shots', has just been added to the section of the site. Certainly one for
the bookshelf!14th February 2013
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| It
has been the norm for me in the past to carry out a survey
every
couple of years to seek feedback from visitors to the site of their
particular likes, dislikes, suggestions for improving the site, the
device used to view the site, etc., etc. The
information
obtained has always been interesting and useful in deciding upon
changes to the site. The last survey was carried out three years ago
(how time flies!) and I feel that it is time to take stock of
the
site generally - it is all too easy for me to carry on doing
my
own thing when you, the visitor, has other ideas and views. I do not
plan to carry out a further survey, but would welcome any thoughts,
ideas and comments generally that you may have about the site
(both good and bad please). As you will have noted, the site has
increased its news coverage to include real buses - is a name change
warranted to reflect this? My personal interests are in the buses, both
model and real, of Hong Kong and not those in China or Japan -
should the site just focus on Hong Kong? Does the site appear in an
acceptable layout on the device you use, be it a desktop, laptop, iPad,
etc.? I must say that owing to the site's large
size, there will be no complete revamp and the web
editing
software I use remains fairly basic, so there will also be
no fancy bells and whistles! Please do have a think and let me
have your thoughts, using the e-mail link above - Many thanks. 13th February 2013
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Once again I am indebted to regular contributor Philip Chan for providing photographs of the latest batch of New World First Bus Enviro500s. Fleet nos 5557 and 5558 were registered on 29th January and are believed to have only just entered service. 5558 is pictured today at So Uk at it was departing for its cross harbour journey to North Point. A new page has now been added to the section
This attractive livery, which is carried by Citybus Enviro400 7003, promotes 'Imperial Kennedy' a new development in Kennedy Town which is set for completion in 2015. 12th February 2013
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| Received
today was the 'Far East Update', a regular and invaluable
resource
provided by Paul McNamara, which details all new vehicles, allocations,
withdrawals, vehicle re-registered and much more for the fleets of the
Hong Kong bus operators and those in Singapore. This update
includes vehicles registered as recently as last Thursday! Anyone wishing to receive this update can contact Paul at the following e-mail address:- paul.fareast @ btinternet.com - but please remove the spaces each side of the '@'
section of the site under the Hong Kong
Buses category are currently being updated 11th February 2013
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The Modellbus.info website has a full report of the this year's Toy Fair in Nuremberg, which can be viewed by following the link. Whilst the report is in German, Google translator can be used to read it. 10th February 2013
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| My thanks to Tony Tsang for allowing me to use the above photograph. | |||||||||||
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5My thanks to Alan Wong and Bobby Liu for allowing me to use their photographs of new Citybus Enviro400 7041 captured today operating route M47. Further photographs have been added to the section of the site.
A new page has just been added for the the recently published 'Hong Kong Bus Review 2012', published my OverGround Publishing. A full review will be published in due course. My thanks to Dominic Kung for providing these details.
Discovery Bay DBAY73 is believed to be last Mercedes bus in public service in Hong Kong. Seen here just over a week ago about to depart from the Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.
New
tram no. 157 seen here in Central carrying 'Boots' all-over
advertising.
9th
February 2013
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A
new page has tonight been added
to the
section of the site for the Kowloon
Motor Bus ADL Enviro500 in Old Master Q comic livery. My thanks to Watt
Yung for providing the photographs. 8th
February 2013
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A number of the second batch of ADL Enviro400s for Citybus are now stored at the Company's Wong Chuk Hang Depot with 7041 already noted in service tonight. A new page with further photographs is currently being added to the section of the site.
7th February 2013
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Kowloon Motor Bus ADL Enviro500 ATEU28 has received a special livery marking the 50th anniversary of the comic Old Master Q, based on the attractive livery initially carried by KMB's Mercedes-Benz 0305 ME class in 1985. 5th February 2013
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Following the announcement on 1st February that three new bus related books had been published, I have today received details from JRTeam of their Hong Kong Transport Yearbook for 2012. Once again there is a choice of a softback edition or a limited hardback edition. The former (left) retails for HK$168 whilst the latter retails for HK$220. Each contains 188 pages. A special discount is being offered until 9th February for those visiting the JRTeam at their stall at the Victoria Flower Market - Stall no. 287. I hope to receive a sample copy in due course and a review will be published soon after. 4th February 2013
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KMB's MCV bodied Volvo B7RLE AVC50 has received an all-over advertising livery for Old Master Q, a popular Hong Kong comic. The livery is believed to mark the comic's 50th anniversary.
My thanks to Danny Chan for providing the above image and details of his new book, 'Hong Kong Buses Yearbook 2013' which, as reported yesterday, has just been published. A new page has tonight been added, just follow the link.
An unusual item is currently listed on eBay is a 1:13 scale remote control S3BL class Leyland Olympian. Measuring approximately 85cm in length, 20cm wide and 35cm high, it weighs in at over 6kg. The model is built to order and a 'buy it now' option is available - the following link will take you directly to the item in eBay. Please note I have no interest or connection with the seller (this link is no longer available).
Just added to the Network Shuttle website are two of the three resin 9.5m Leyland Olympians announced on 19th January by 312/P&T Model. BL16 (top) (B00421-113) is on route 113 to West Point whilst BL20 (B00421-81M) is on route 81M to Sun Tin Wai. 3rd February 2013
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| Three Hong Kong
bus related books are now available. The Hong Kong Transport Yearbook 2012 from the JRTeam, the Hong Kong Buses Yearbook 2013 from Danny Chan and published by Northcord Transport and the Hong Kong Bus Review 2012 by Dominic K H Kung and published by OverGround Publishing. I hope to add further details for each in due course. 1st February 2013
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