Volvo B9TL
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The Volvo B9TL (also known as the Volvo Olympian) is the latest low floor double decker bus model from Volvo Buses. The B9TL supersedes the older Volvo B10TL, also known as the Super Olympian.
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[edit] Chassis
The B9TL chassis shared the same design of the B7TL. The key difference from both its predecessor, the B10TL Super Olympian and B7TL, is the new 9.4-litre D9B engine originally designed by Renault. Two versions were offered - the D9B260 rated at 260bhp for 2-axle version, and a higher powered D9B310, rated at 310bhp, for 3-axle version. The new engine uses Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which inject urea solution into the exhaust to reduce pollutant. Volvo claims the new engine is capable to meet the stringent Euro IV and Euro V emission standards. The radiator is located at the rear offside, similar the smaller B7TL.
The B9TL was initially offered in 3-axle format, and the 2-axle variant was added in 2006 to replace the B7TL. The driveline comprises a Volvo D9A Euro III engine (later the aforementioned Volvo D9B engine) and a ZF 5/6-speed gearbox. Volvo also offer the Voith 4-speed gearbox as an option.
The front wheels of 3-axle B9TL are usually supplied by ALCOA of the USA, but some buses (including the 3 prototypes) have all their wheels supplied by ALCOA. The front module design is shared with other low-floor bus chassis built by Volvo, and independent suspension is fitted at the front axle.
[edit] Hong Kong
[edit] KMB AVD1
A Volvo B9TL prototype was delivered to Hong Kong in July 2003 for Kowloon Motor Bus as a demonstrator for the Eco-Driveline concept (a large differential ratio, an engine with high low-end torque, and a 6-speed automatic gearbox with double overdrive ratios). However, the Volgren CR223LD body (which is actually known to have been assembled in Switzerland) had a width of only 2500mm instead of the usual 2550mm. After months of testing, the bus was licensed as LJ7006 and numbered AVD1 in March 2004. It was put into service in April 2004.
As a result of these tests, Volvo Buses and ZF adopted the Eco-Driveline system as the primary driveline option on the B9TL.
Later it was confirmed that AVD1 would leave Hong Kong after its evaluation, and a farewell tour was held by Bus Fan World on 12 December 2004. The bus was delicensed on 15 December 2004 and left Hong Kong at noon on 21 December 2004.
In August 2005, AVD1 was shipped back to Hong Kong after its D9A engine was replaced by a D9B unit. Pre-October 2005, the bus was kept by Volvo in the Hong Kong United Dockyard. Later in 2005, the bus was transferred to KMB for installation of service equipment. The bus was re-licensed as MF5119 in February 2006, and re-entered service on 24 May 2006. The bus is one of the first two to meet the Euro IV emissions standards in Hong Kong (the other is an Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 with fleet number ATEU1, originally ATE257).
[edit] KMB AVBE/AVBW
In early 2004, a Volvo B9TL prototype with a modified version of the TransBus Enviro 500 body arrived in Hong Kong. It had a slightly different front and rear design, and its rear route box was moved beneath the upper deck rear window. After TransBus International was renamed Alexander Dennis in May 2004, it became the only TransBus Enviro-series bus with a non-Dennis chassis.
Later in the same year, a Wright-bodied B9TL prototype was also delivered. The rear design of its Wright body was different from that of the Wright-bodied Volvo B10TL (AVW-class), with the upper rear indicators and the number plate moved beneath the glass of the upper deck rear window.
On 12 January 2005, the Transbus Enviro 500-bodied B9TL was finally licensed as LU3721 with fleet number AVBE1, and the Wright-bodied B9TL was licensed as LU3739 with fleet number AVBW1. Both of them entered service on the night of 8 February 2005.
In early 2005 Kowloon Motor Bus ordered 25 B9TL chassis with Wright bodywork which entered service in 2005/2006. One of them (fleet number AVBW25) had participated in the EFE Showbus 2005 event in the UK before delivery.
In late 2005, Kowloon Motor Bus placed a further order of 38 Wright-bodied B9TL and 50 Enviro 500-bodied B9TL. The Wright-bodied buses entered service in mid/late-2006, and the first 12 Enviro 500-bodied buses entered service in November 2006.
[edit] United Kingdom
In tri-axle form, the B9TL made its debut in Britain when Weavaway Travel of Newbury placed an order for 6 B9TL with East Lancs Myllennium Nordic bodywork in late 2004 and put them into service in April/May 2005, becoming the first UK operator of the type. Since then, 2 more were sold to Roadliner of Poole and Provence Private Hire of St Albans for school contracts and commercial work.
The 2-axle Volvo B9TL did not make its debut in Britain until the middle of 2006. The first demonstrator, with Wright Eclipse Gemini body, was delivered to London General (part of the Go-Ahead Group) in July 2006 for evaluation, it is used on route 11 along with the current Wright-bodied Volvo B7TL. The first order was secured from Delaine for 2 examples with the new East Lancs Olympus bodywork. This, along with a Alexander Dennis Enviro 400-bodied version, were unveiled in "Euro Bus Expo" show in November 2006.
Initial order of the 2-axle version has been slow in Britain, particularly in London, where its predecessor B7TL was very popular. The B9TL managed greater success recently with Lothian Buses order 50 examples, and more significantly, First with 254 for use in its UK operations.
[edit] Ireland
Dublin Bus of Ireland placed an order for 20 B9TL with single-door Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 bodywork in early 2005. The first of them entered service in December 2005. These "VT" class buses run high-demand routes and are the largest in the fleet.
[edit] Singapore
SBS Transit of Singapore placed an order for 150 B9TL chassis, the largest order to date, which were fitted with bodywork from ComfortDelgro Engineering, part of SBS Transit's parent company. These are Singapore's first wheelchair-accessible buses. However, instead of automatic ramps, SBS Transit has decided to use manually-operated ramps. While the ramps would need more time to deploy, they would be more reliable than automatic ones and would be cheaper to install and maintain because of the absence of complicated mechanical parts.
The buses were launched on 15 February 2006 by Singapore's then Minister for Transport, Yeo Cheow Tong. They were supposed to be deployed from April onwards, but this was delayed till June 2006 - they were slightly wider than most other buses in Singapore, bus stops had to be retrofitted for the wheelchair-bound, and it was necessary to survey which bus routes in Singapore had the most pressing need for such buses.
Fourteen such buses were registered in the range of SBS7300P to SBS7320G (not all registration numbers inclusive). Ten such buses were then put into service on Route 21 (between St. Michael's Bus Terminal and Pasir Ris Interchange) on 27 June 2006, with an official launch ceremony held at Pasir Ris Bus Interchange on 26 June 2006. Route 21 was chosen after consultations with various welfare organisations serving the needs of the handicapped, as well as the Land Transport Authority. This route also passes the premises of the Handicaps Welfare Association as well as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, among other medical facilities.
As B9TLs continue to roll out of the bodywork assembly plant at SBS Transit's Hougang depot, they are being deployed on selected routes served by several Depots. The additional routes that have received these new B9TLs will be put on trial to determine if the route is suitable for this type of bus. Most of the routes on trial are expected to serve large numbers of elderly commuters.
[edit] External links
- Product description in the Volvo website
- Pictures of Dublin Bus's VT class, the Enviro 500-bodied B9TL
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
Other Volvo low floor bus models:
- B7L/B7LA
- B7RLE
- B7TL
- B9L/B9LA
- B12BLE/B12BLEA
Similar bus models:
