Volvo B6LE

Photographs are sorted into the following entries:
Plaxton bodied Volvo B6LEs (5 pages)
Jit Luen bodied B6LEs (5 pages)
Alexander ALX200 bodied B6LEs (1 page)
Alexander ALX200 bodied B6LEs in Stanley (2 pages)
Interior details of Plaxton bodied B6LEs (4 pages)
Interior details of a Jit Luen bodied B6LE (3 pages)

Volgren bodied B6LE (1 page)

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In 1996, Volvo has derived a super low floor variant of B6, called the B6LE, to compete with Dennis Dart SLFs in the British bus market. Citybus placed orders for 60 B6LEs between 1996 and 1998.

Citybus: 1302-1311

The first ten buses became the first super low floor buses in Hong Kong when they arrived in 1996. These Plaxton Pointer bodied buses have single entrance/exit, with kneeling function and platform for wheelchair/baby cart access, which was new to Hong Kong. Note that only 1302 and 1303 have ramps and wheelchair areas. 1304 and 1305 have returned to Great Britain. The other eight buses have been transported to New Zealand.

Citybus: 1312-1321

In late 1997, the newly developed Alexander ALX200 body and Nippodenso roof-mounted air-conditioning unit were chosen for another ten new buses. They have usually been deployed to southern leisure routes like 260 and 314. They are very luxurious because they have foot rest, heaters and overhead parcel racks. These buses, together with the B6R (1301), 2 Plaxton bodied B6LEs (1304 and 1305) and 7 Dart SLFs, have been sent to Stagecoach Plc. in Britain for village shuttle buses in the near future. Since these buses are very luxurious, they have no handrails at behind the front axle, so it is not intended for standees, although permitted. From my experience, the buses are very powerful, although they are quite noisy. They faster than any other type of bus when they travel uphill on Chai Wan Road. On other roads with many sharp curves, they show their superb manoevurability. Bus spotters in Hong Kong refer them as smiley buses as the front end looks like a person smiles.

Citybus: 1322-1331

In early 1998, a further batch of ten buses arrived. The choice of bodywork and air-conditioning unit has been switched back to Plaxton Pointer and Suetrak. However, they are dual-doored. They all have ramps and wheelchair compartments. All these buses have been shipped to Stagecoach in New Zealand.

Citybus: 1332-1361

The latest batch of 30 B6LEs came in late 1998. They are dual-doored. They are bodied by Jit Luen Auto Body Works, a local bodybuilder for non-franchised buses and coaches in Hong Kong. Apart from these B6LEs, its profile includes bodywork of MAN coaches in Mitsubishi Style, including those Tai Fung Buses for Mass Transit Railway Corporation 13.220s, and a Dennis Dart school bus of Argos. The B6LEs became their first order from a franchised bus company in Hong Kong and the first design on low floor buses. However, like other B6s, they have no ramps. According to officials of Citybus, local bodywork shortens the delivery time of buses, and the quality is acceptable. These buses were deployed in various routes, like mid-level routes and routes linking Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok International Airport. In 2001, 1355 was sold to China Motor Bus, painted in silver and received Fleet no. VC1. It usually serves the free bus route between Island Place and North Point Government Offices during lunch hours.

Specification

Photographs

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Page created: 9 July 1999

Last updated: 18 July 2003