MAN 24.310

MAN 24.310 HOCLNR-NL
MAN 24.350 HOCLNR-NL

KMB's MAN 24.310 with Berkhof bodywork.
Overview
Manufacturer MAN
Body and chassis
Doors 2 door
Floor type Low entry
Powertrain
Engine
  • MAN D2866LOH25
  • MAN D2866LOH27
Transmission ZF 5HP590
Chronology
KMB's MAN 24.310 with Volgren bodywork.

MAN 24.310 HOCLNR-NL and 24.350 HOCLNR-NL, with internal codes MAN A57 and MAN A59, was a series of low-entry double-decker bus chassis built for right-hand drive markets, hence the R in the model designation. Unlike other low-floor double-decker buses in Hong Kong, there are steps in the lower deck aisle after the rear exit.

For the type designation 24.310, 24 means that the bus has the maximum gross weight of 24 tonnes, whilst 310 means that the maximum power of the engine is 310 hp (231 kW).

Hong Kong

History before introduction

In 1998, Citybus ordered a number of MAN 24.310 buses with Berkhof/Volgren bodywork after the trial of an Australian-built MAN 24.350. However in early 1999, Transport Department of Hong Kong set quota on the number of buses owned by Citybus, and therefore the order was cancelled involuntarily.

At that time, construction of 32 Berkhof-bodied buses and 2 Volgren-bodied buses had been completed, so MAN had to find buyers for these buses. Finally, one Berkhof-bodied bus was retained by MAN for testing, and the others were sold for operations in Hong Kong.

Kwoon Chung Motors

In 1999, Kwoon Chung Motors, a coach and rental bus operator in Hong Kong, took one of the Berkhof-bodied MAN 24.310 that had been built for Citybus and the bus entered service in 2000.

The bus was primarily used on worker services (for staff working at the some of the companies at the Hong Kong International Airport). But during rush hours, it could be seen allocated to New Lantao Bus, (a subsidiary of Kwoon Chung), routes in Tung Chung.

Kowloon Motor Bus

Kowloon Motor Bus took delivery of the other 32 MAN 24.310 buses from the Citybus order. The 30 buses with Berkhof bodywork entered service in 2000. The 2 buses with Volgren bodywork, which had been stored in Volgren's facility at Perth, Australia, entered service in 2002.

Later, KMB ordered 15 MAN 24.310 buses with Volgren bodywork. They had the staircase moved forward, had yellow instead of red handrails and no seats were fitted above the front wheels. They entered service in 2002.

All of these 47 buses are allocated to Tuen Mun Depot and mainly run on express routes serving Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing Districts and Kowloon.

See also

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