MAN 24.310 HOCL N
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sorted into the following entries:
KMB MAN 24.310s outside
Tuen Mun Depot (2 pages)
Interior details of KMB
24.310 (2 pages)
More KMB 24.310s in Tuen
Mun Assembly Plant (1 page)
KMB 24.310s practising 60X (1 page)
KMB 24.310s serving 60X (1 page)
AMN1-20 in service (3 pages)
AMN 21-30 in Tuen Mun Assembly Plant (1 page)
AMN 21-30 in service (3 pages)
Kowloon Motor Bus Volgren bodied
24.310s (5 pages)
Kwoon Chung Motors MAN 24.310 (1 page)
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After the introduction of the MAN 24.350 in 1997, Citybus found that it was satisfactory and placed orders for more double deckers from MAN. but the engine was derated to 310hp. Therefore, it is called 24.310. In that order, 30 buses would receive Volgren CR223LD bodies and another 30 would receive Berkhof bodies. They would be assembled in Vologren's and Berkhof's factories in Australia and Belgium respectively. However, in early 1999, the Transport Department of Hong Kong set quota to the number of buses in franchised operators in Kong Kong. Citybus could not receive more buses. They discharged the contract.
However, at that time, The 30 Berkhof bodied buses and 3 Volgren bodied buses (including a pyototype) had already been produced. MAN had to find other operators for these buses. Since only Hong Kong and Singapore would use 3-axled double-deck buses of this format, they encountered difficulties in finding buyers.
In mid-1999, Kwoon Chung Motors Co. Ltd, the owner of New Lantau Bus (1973) Limited, bought the pyototype through Dah Chong Hong (the distributor of MAN in Hong Kong). In late 1999, Kowloon Motor Bus took the 30 Berkhof bodied buses, so that they have become the first MAN buses in KMB fleet. The buses were said to have been bought at a "special" price, as ordinary MAN buses should be more expensive than buses from Neoplan, Dennis or Volvo, which are the other common suppliers of super low floor buses for Hong Kong operators. They have been delivered to Hong Kong, but no operator has bought the buses until this moment.
In January 2000, the Berkhof buses came to Hong Kong. In mid-February, they were transferred to Dah Chong Hong, repainted into gold, and were fitted with pink seats. Then these buses were transferred to KMB Tuen Mun Depot for other minor renovation work, including sticking logos and installing cashers.
These buses have been deployed to Route 60X since 25 April 2000. To passengers, the general impression was good as the buses were new. But there had been something wrong with the Berkhof bodies, especially water seepage from various locations in the beginning. In mid-2000s, some of the buses suffered sudden smash of windows ahead of exit door. Bodies were then strengthened to minimise the risk.
They had Fainsa Cosmic 1.0 seats, which were unique in Hong Kong. They were comfortable and had much room to accommodate the legs. Unlike other new KMB buses, it had no radio on the upper deck. Buses were retrofitted with ramps.
In 2001, KMB ordered two Australian-built demonstrators and another 15 German buses with Volgren bodies. All of them entered service in 2002.
Specifications:
Chassis type: MAN 24.310
Chassis configuration: Rear engine integral driveline
Length (mm): 11990
Width (mm): 2500
Height (mm): 4450
Wheelbase (1st to 2nd axle) (mm): 5400
Wheelbase (2nd to 3rd axle) (mm): 1350
Gross vehicle weight: 23100kg
Front door width (mm): 1200
Rear door width (mm): 1080
Engine type: MAN D2866LOH-25 Euro 2
Engine position: rear horizontal
Engine capacity: 11.97 litres
Engine power: 228kW at 2000rpm
Maximum torque: 1250Nm at 800-1600rpm
Bore: 128mm
Stroke: 155mm
Air conditioning: Nippondenso
Passenger capacity (suggested by MAN, Kwoon Chung): H59/33D+26+1WCH
Total capacity (suggested): 118
Passenger capacity (KMB): H59/33D+30+1WCH
Total capacity (KMB): 122
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Page created: 12 March 2000
Last updated: 19 February 2012