Mitsubishi Fuso U-MK117J

Photographs are sorted into the following pages:
Hong Kong
KMB MK117J Training Bus (1 page)
KMB MK117Js promoting routes on Nathan Road (1 page)
Kowloon Motor Bus MK117Js (8 pages)
Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation MK117Js (1 page)
MK117Js of private operators (1 page)

Japan
Sentochi Bus MK117Js (1 page)

New Zealand
Ritchies MK117Js (1 page)

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The MK117 was a single-doored city bus designed for Japanese service. It is said to be an off-shelf product because the buses were manufactured in factory and stored in warehouse before sale. In the late 1980s, Kowloon Motor Bus Co. would like to provide better service with single-deck air-conditioned buses. They found that those in Great Britain, such as National 2, Dart and Lynx, were very expensive. They then switched to Japanese buses, as they are more economical and faster to deliver. Therefore, they placed orders for 168 MK117s in 1990-1992. A small number of them have been converted to training buses and the others remained service. These buses can carry 35 seated passengers and 10 standees. Some of these buses were converted to Airbus to serve Kai Tak Airport routes.

The MK117 is a typical bus of Japanese style. It has very high floor level with three steps. The seats are different from those in British buses and there is no retarder. This type of bus is not as comfortable as other air-conditioned vehicles in KMB fleet. It is because the high-backed seats are not well cushioned, the high floor produces access problem and the noise made by the engine and compressor is among the highest in the fleet.

Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation also ordered a small number of MK117s in 1990. They had more spaces for standees to carry more passengers.

The safety record of MK117 was mediocre. The most serious accident to date happened on 2 September, 1997. An MK117 (EV9984?) ran into a store when It was turning right from Nathan Road to Mongkok Road at night. One passer-by was killed and several injured, including a shop assistant who had her finger cut off in the scene. The accident report showed that there was insufficient time for a driver to make a turn within the time when the signal was green. It was 4 seconds only. This is one of the busiest junctions in Hong Kong and is one of the most notorious blackspots in Kowloon.

Specification
Chassis type: MK117
Length: 9100mm
Width: 2300mm
Height: 3000mm
Body make: Mitsubishi
Window type: fixed
Engine type: Mitsubishi 6D16-OA
Torque: 450Nm
Passenger capacity: B35F+10, B27F+10 in Airbus

Photographs

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Page created: 4 August 1999

Last updated: 5 February 2012