富豪B9TL Volvo B9TL

富豪B9TL Volvo B9TL

編號 Class：7500

二零零九年，為了尋找新車型接替短陣利蘭/富豪奧林比安及丹尼士巨龍，行走赤柱路線，城巴向亞歷山大丹尼士訂購兩架Enviro400兩軸空調雙層巴士作試驗，希望在尋找到適當車型作替換外，更重要是希望透過引進兩軸空調巴士，減低運作成本。除了向亞歷山大丹尼士訂購兩軸空調巴士來港試用，城巴亦向富豪訂購一架兩軸富豪B9TL來港試用。

城巴上一次引進富豪巴士新車已經是一九九八年，再於二零零一年向中巴購入兩架富豪奧林比安二手巴士，但富豪這名字一直再沒有出現於城巴購車訂單中，這是由於當年城巴為新機場及東涌新巿鎮路線尋求雙層低地台巴士車款，可惜當年富豪仍未能提供相關產品。另外，巴士公司在之後進一步受到車隊配額限制，以及路線發展亦不需要再大量購入新車，相反城巴更要出售過剩的巴士，這令到城巴於二零零一年至零七年期間，再沒有購入任何全新巴士。

隨著香港巴士公司考慮引進兩軸空調巴士作試驗行走，富豪向城巴提供了一架長十點六米配用Wright Eclipse Gemini 2車身兩軸B9TL樣板巴士，這除了是城巴首架雙層富豪低地台巴士，更是城巴首架配用Wright車身的巴士。這架樣板車總載客量設計為八十四人，而樓梯設計為傳統曲樓梯，亦同時是全港首架Wright車身雙層巴士採用曲樓梯。

這部樣板車於二零一零年七月三十一日抵港，隨後於八月四日於港島區作廣泛試車。由於受制於載重要求，在出牌前這架B9樣板車需要重新編排座位，最終於二零一零年十一月二十六日牌，並隨於十二月二十日投入服務行走260路線，成為全港首架投入服務的兩軸富豪B9TL。經過在赤柱路線約九個月測試時間，這架獨特的富豪巴士，改為行走其他南區路線，以及於周末時間，行走隧道路線690。而目前為止，兩軸富豪B9TL仍未能像對手Enviro400一樣，得到任何本巴士公司的訂單。

Bus operators in Hong Kong would like to reduce the operation costs by introduced 2-axle air-con. buses on some low demand routes. In addition, some roads especially in the Island, are narrow and winding that only suitable for short wheel-based bus. As a need for new short wheel-based bus model was resulted, City Bus then introduced the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Volvo B9TL for trial in 2009.

Volvo was failed to provide super low floor bus for the new airport and the Tung Chung new town. As a result the last brand-new Volvo buses joined City Bus were Olympian and B6LE in 1998 and followed by two second-hand Olympians from CMB in 2001. In addition, as the Government imposed limitation of the growth of bus fleet, City Bus did not order any new buses between 2001 and 2007.

As bus operators in Hong Kong tried to introduce new bi-axle air-con. buses, Volvo supplied a B9TL demonstrator with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork. This Volvo B9 made two records in City Bus fleet: first Volvo super low floor double decker and first bus with Wright bodywork. The capacity of this B9TL is 84 passengers with spiral staircase fitted which is the first in Hong Kong.

The Volvo B9TL demonstrator was arrived in Hong Kong on 31, Jul., 2010 and was tested widely in the island on 4, Aug., 2010. As the limitation of the gross vehicle weight, the seating arrangement need to modify to comply the rule. This Volvo B9TL was finally registered on 26, Nov., 2010 and first entered service on route 260 on 20, Dec., 2010. After almost 9 months trial on Stanley routes, 7500 is now deployed on various Southern District routes and serving cross-harbour route 690 during weekends. Unlike competitor Enviro400, there was no any purchased order from bus operators in Hong Kong at this moment.

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