Neoplan Centroliner
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Neoplan Centroliner is a series of low floor bus which was unveiled in 1997 and mainly built for the European market.
The product range of Centroliner included midibus, full-size/articulated single-decker and 3-axle double-decker in different body lengths. After the merger of Neoplan and MAN, new version of Centroliner full-size/articulated single-decker was launched, it was also known as Neoplan Centroliner Evolution.
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[edit] Hong Kong
Neoplan Centroliner was the third type of German double-decker introduced in Hong Kong (the first one being Mercedes-Benz O305, and the second type is MAN 24.350). A total of 193 Neoplan Centroliner double-deckers were introduced to Hong Kong by Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) and New World First Bus (NWFB).
[edit] Kowloon Motor Bus
KMB received the first Neoplan Centroliner in September 1998, after the test-drive of 15-metre Neoplan Megashuttle in 1997. A total of 20 Centroliner N4026/3 (fleet number AP1-AP20), equipped with Cummins M11-305E21 engine and ZF 5HP590 gearbox, entered service in August 1999.
In 2000, KMB received 60 Centroliner N4426/3, followed by 50 similar buses in 2000/2001. They (AP21-AP130) were allocated to long-distance routes serving North/Yuen Long/Tuen Mun Districts.
In April 2001, KMB acquired 2 Centroliner N4426/3 (AP131-AP132) which were fitted with MAN D2866LOH-27 Euro III engines and Voith DIWA864.3E/ZF 5HP602C gearbox. They were coated with special metallic paint, which shows different colours (mainly green and purple), depending on the angle of light reflection angle. They entered service in August 2001.
Later in 2002, KMB acquired 30 Centroliner N4426/3 (AP133-AP162) with MAN Euro III engines. Two of them (fleet number AP144, AP159) are the world's first two city bus to be equipped with 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is a modified ZF 5HP602C. They were the testing buses of Eco-driveline (with large differential gear ratio, engine with high low-end torque and 6-speed automatic gearbox) system.
In May 2003, KMB received one Centroliner N4426/3 (APM1) with MAN A34 chassis and straight staircase. The width of the bus has increased from 2500mm to 2550mm, and is equipped with MAN D2866LUH-24 engine, Voith DIWA864.3E gearbox and ventilated disc brakes on all wheels. The bus was painted in gold colour with dark brown colour bands at the bottom part, which is the standard livery for other straight-staircase low-floor buses such as TransBus Enviro 500 and Wright-bodied Volvo Super Olympian. It was registered in October 2003. Recently, it is being criticized for its frequent breakdowns and extra difficulty in maintenance in the primary serve.
[edit] New World First Bus
After KMB put its first 20 Centroliners into service, NWFB announced the order of 30 Neoplan Centroliner N4426/3 in October 1999. They were delivered in 2000 and entered service in 2000/2001.
Since 2004, a few of these buses have been suspended from service. Some are guessing that it is caused by the difficulty in maintenance by NWFB, or due to the fleet quota limit set by the Transport Department of Hong Kong. However, the actual reason is not clearly known. All of them had been put back to the fleet.
[edit] Premature withdrawal
- Further information: Tuen Mun Road#Bus accident near Ting Kau
One Kowloon Motor Bus-owned Centroliner (fleet number AP69) was forced off a viaduct on Tuen Mun Road on 10 July 2003 and was subsequently written off. The remains of the bus were then sent to Long Win Bus's depot in Siu Ho Wan for inspection and storage. Until now, the remains are still there.
[edit] See also
[edit] Competitors
[edit] Double-deck
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 500
- Dennis Trident 3
- MAN 24.310
- Scania K310UD
- Volvo B9TL
- Volvo Super Olympian
[edit] External links
