猛獅 RC2 MAN RC2

編號 Class:MN

一九九八年,嶼巴為配合開辦機場路線A35,向丹尼士購入三架全港獨有配手動波箱的低地台飛鏢,正式打開了低地台巴士服務嶼南地區的序幕。可惜,當年東涌道環境實非這批配用Plaxton Pointer車身的飛鏢所能應付,所以其地位很快便被五十鈴巴士取代,而當嶼巴開辦行走逸東邨的38東涌區內路線後,便安排這批飛鏢作主力。在二零零四年,嶼巴嘗試安排其中一架飛鏢行走往返塘福及梅窩的4號線行走,但再一次証明飛鏢不適宜長期行走嶼南道,除了往後時間,於有需要時才偶爾駛到嶼南,嶼巴未有再安排這批飛鏢服務嶼南區域。當嶼巴引進國產青年巴士之後,亦曾經嘗試安排青年巴行走接駁東涌及嶼南路線,只可惜效果仍未能叫人滿意。

為了回應地區人士要求嶼南區路線提供低地台巴士服務,嶼巴於二零一四年向猛獅購入四架RC2(19.320)單層低地台巴士,並選用馬來西亞順豐提供的車身。這批猛獅巴士全長十一點三米,長度介乎飛鏢及青年巴士之間,這能確保巴士保持載客量,又不失行走嶼南道的靈活性。另外,針對嶼南道路面陡斜特性,增加低地台巴士頭尾部件與路面碰撞機會,順豐特別在前跨及尾跨組件上作出相應修改。

猛獅RC2巴士總共可運載六十七人,數字上與其他穿梭嶼南地區的猛獅客車一樣,甚至運載較多乘客,但提供的座位數目少於猛獅客車,意味著較多乘客需要於車程中站立。另外,猛獅19.320並不像車隊中的同廠NL系般提供全低地台車廂,低地台區域只到中門為止,輪椅停泊區安排於內側中門前位置,外側則安排有七個座位,而車廂中亦配備有行李架方便乘客。機械配搭方面由一台歐五排放猛獅引擎搭配ZF Ecolife全自動波箱,驅動日本電裝空調系統為乘客提供一個舒適的旅程。

首架猛獅RC2於二零一五年五月中抵港,但未有安排加入嶼巴車隊服務,反而其中三架曾經像早年最後一批青年巴士一樣,短暫安排於機場停機坪禁區內作穿梭巴士之用。最終於同年十月中,嶼巴陸續替四架新車登記出牌,並於十一月初安排行走東涌區內路線作熱身,並隨於十二月初開始行走嶼南區域,為該區有需要乘客,提供更完善巴士服務同時,亦標誌服務近三十年的五十鈴巴士,完完全全退出嶼巴車隊。

NLB acquired total 3 Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer bodywork in 1998 for the opening of airport route A35 and started the chapter of super low floor bus serving Southern Lantau. Though this batch of Dart already fitted with manual transmission for climbing the Tung Chung Road, they soon replaced by the Isuzu and finally find their new home in route 38 serving Tung Chung New Town. In 2004, one of the Dart was allocated on route 4 running between Mui Wo and Tong Fuk, however, proved that Dennis Dart cannot serve Southern Lantau and unless in necessary, NLB did not assigned the Dart serving routes in Southern Lantau. After the introduction of China made YoungMan, NLB tried to put YoungMan serving Southern Lantau and unfortunately, still cannot have a satisfactory performance.

As response to the public in Southern Lantau, NLB acquired a batch of 4 MAN RC2 (19.320) full-sized super low floor single decker and bodied by Gemilang from Malaysia. The overall length of MAN 19.230 is 11.3m and good maneuverability together with high carrying capacity resulted. To make them to be more suitable for the conditions of South Lantau Road, both front and rear overhang parts were modified.

Though total 67 passengers can be accommodated and much higher than some MAN coaches serving alongside the South Lantau Road, only 32 seats offered and more passengers need to stand through their journey. In addition, the low floor area ended at the exit in contrast to the NL-series in the fleet which offered full low floor until the end of the compartment. Within the low floor area, wheelchair parking bay located at the nearside while the offside provided 7 seats. The standard luggage racks also seen on the MAN RC2. All of them fitted with a MAN Euro 5 emission standard engine with ZF Ecolife fully automatic transmission, powerful enough to drive the Nippon Denso air conditioning and commuters can enjoy a comfortable journey.

The first MAN RC2 arrived in Hong Kong in mid. of May, 2015 and did not join NLB immediately and 3 of the batch were temporary assigned as shuttle bus within the ramp. Finally, NLB registered all MAN 19.320 in mid. of Oct ., 2015 and first serving public in Tung Chung in early Nov ., 2015 before started their duties on routes connecting Tung Chung and Southern Lantau in Dec ., 2015. The commissioned of this batch of MAN super low floor single decker not only upgraded the service standard but also marked the end of the Isuzu era in NLB fleet.

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車隊編號 Fleet No.:MN92
車牌 Registration No.:TS8262
路線 Route :37M
拍攝地點 Location: 東涌 達東路 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung

車隊編號 Fleet No.:MN93
車牌 Registration No.:TT583
路線 Route :11
拍攝地點 Location: 大澳巴士總站 Tai O Bus Terminus
TT583車廂,The interior of TT583

車隊編號 Fleet No.:MN94
車牌 Registration No.:TT1858
路線 Route :2
拍攝地點 Location: 梅窩碼頭巴士總站 Mui Wo Ferry Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.:MN95
車牌 Registration No.:TU1242
路線 Route :37H
拍攝地點 Location:  東涌 順東路 Shun Tung Road, Tung Chung

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