News - February 2014

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	*February 2014 - News*
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Photograph courtesy and copyright of Network Shuttle

Two further Albion Victor VT17ALs from A & K Model are expected to be released shortly. 38803 features L68 (HK4569) on route 38 to Kwun Tong and is limited to 200 pieces. 38804 features L79 (HK4580) on route 64K to Un Long and is limited to 300 pieces.

I am grateful to to Rüdiger Schreiber from www modellbus info for advising that the first part of this year's model bus report of the Nuremberg Toy Fair is now online.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of www.modellbus.info

Above are just a few images from his report, and a direct link is http://www.modellbus.info/modellbus-neuheiten-2014-nuremberg.htm. Whilst the report is in German, Google translator is provided for visitors!

27th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Hong Kong Transport Society

A new page has now been added to the

section of the site for the Hong Kong Transport Society's Bus Rally held yesterday.

24th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Grant Ng Kwok Kuen

The Hong Kong Transport Society held their annual bus rally today in glorious sunshine and I am grateful to Grant Ng Kwok Kuen for allowing me to use his excellent photos, more of which will be added shortly.

23rd February 2014

Photographs courtesy and copyright of David Rowe

My thanks to David Rowe for sending me these shots of Hong Kong Tramways Tram 110, showing the effect of the reflections in the bare metal panels.

22nd February 2014

Photographs courtesy and copyright of Dennis Law

Hong Kong Tramways has launched their 110th anniversary campaign at Whitty Street Depot today. I am grateful to Dennis Law for providing a number of photos of the event.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Mark Chua

A new page featuring further photographs of the new SBS Transit Gemilang bodied Volvo B9TL has tonight been added to the

section of the site.

18th February 2014

Following Friday night's storm here in Southern England, my weekend has been spent working, hence the lack of updates.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Mark Chua

Noted on Saturday was this new SBS Transit Volvo B9TL Euro 5 with Gemilang bodywork - the interior is the same as the Wright bodied buses (fully low floor). The bus, whilst showing route 7 on its destination, was on driver familiarisation duties. It is registered SBS7777Y and it entered service today.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Yesterday saw the Standard Chartered Marathon take place in Hong Kong and several Citybus Leyland Olympians were used for the occasion. It is believed that Government plans will prohibit the use of Euro 1 engined buses or before, in 2015. My thanks to Dennis Wong, who has since confirmed this deadline is 31st December 2015.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Keith Wood

Whilst Borismaster LT3 was featured in the news article below, today's news features London United's LT150. Transport for London (TfL) has declared 2014 as the year of bus, and LT150 carries this special livery and advert to promote the campaign. Seen here operating on route 9, it is believed this bus will be moved onto route 10, which is the next route to receive these vehicles from late April (also a London United route).

17th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Mark Chua

My thanks to Mark Chua (Buses(IN)gapore) for the above recent shots of 'Borismaster' LT3 in Singapore.

On the subject of Singapore buses, I am grateful to Tim Williams for informing me of a letter/statement posted in The Straits Times on Friday 7th February by a Director of SMRT Corporation in response to an earlier letter. It reads:-

We thank Mr Felix Kim for his letter ("Double-deckers more efficient"; Wednesday).
While we agree that double-decker buses do occupy a smaller vehicular footprint on our roads, it has also been observed that young children, persons with disabilities and elderly passengers may find it difficult to make their way to the upper deck, especially when they are travelling on shorter-distance routes.
In these instances, articulated buses will be a more efficient way of commuting for them.
In addition, articulated buses are able to accommodate larger passenger loads and, as they come equipped with three doors, facilitate swifter boarding and alighting.
That being said, we have procured a new batch of double-decker buses, which will be plying the roads alongside the articulated buses in the later part of this year.
Both types of buses are needed to fulfil different passenger needs.
SMRT remains committed to delivering safe and reliable bus journeys for all our passengers, and we will continue to explore ways to enhance our commuters' experience.
Alina Boey (Ms)
Director, Media and Marketing Communications
SMRT Corporation

12th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Anthony Sham

The newest bus in the Citybus fleet is 8364, a 12-metre Enviro500NG, having been registered on Friday (7th) and spotted yesterday. My thanks to Anthony Sham for allowing me to use this excellent shot.

9th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Jotus.com

Further details have been received for the two Kowloon Motor Bus Albion Victor VT17ALs issued on 31st January. Produced by A & K Model, a new name in the Hong Kong model bus scene, 38801 (top) features L17 (HK4518) on route 70 to Sheung Shui and is limited to 300 pieces. 38802 (bottom) features L51 (HK4552) on route 35A to Shek Yam and is limited to 200 pieces. New pages will be added shortly.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Badenwurttemburg

My thanks to Badenwurttemburg for the above photograph showing the changing face of the Alexander bus in Hong Kong - from left to right - Citybus 695, a 1998 Volvo Olympian with R type bodywork: Citybus 9117, a 2013 11.3metre new generation Enviro500; New World First Bus 5555, a 2013 12-metre Enviro500; New World First Bus 5025, a 1999 Volvo Super Olympian with ALX500 bodywork.

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Mark Chua

New Bus For London LT3 is now in Singapore, after its journey from Hong Kong. Noticeable is the application of a Metroline fleetname, placed strategically over the Arriva fleetname!

7th February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Bobby Liu

12-metre Alexander Dennis Enviro500NG 8361 is Citybus's newest vehicle, having been registered on 28th January. This is the first of the batch to have an increased seating capacity of 90 (previous members of the batch seated 86), matching the seating layout of KMB's examples.

2nd February 2014

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan

Some attractive all-over advertising liveries - Citybus Enviro400 7017 (top) carries that for Double Cove Starview, a new development at Ma on Shan - Citybus Enviro500 8221 (middle) carries that for Riva, another new development at Kam Tin - KMB Enviro500 ATEU72 (bottom) carries an appropriate brand for the photographer!

Photograph courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong

Delivery of new Enviro500NGs for KMB continues at pace, with ATENU249 being the newest to be registered om 30th January along with ATENU247, which is pictured above.

1st February 2014

	*February 2014 - News*
Previous month's News	To find a specific month's News, click here	Next month's News

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This page last updated Thursday, 27th February 2014