| SBS Transit's latest demonstrator is yet again from another European manafacturer, but this time, from Germany's automobile company, MAN AG. This bus was supplied by ST Kinetics, a dealer of MAN trucks and buses, and comes about three months since the introduction of the Volvo B7RLE Demonstrator, SBS 8030L. It is also the second MAN bus owned by SBS Transit after it's 16.240 counterpart, SBS 0081S, which has been deregistered.
Thereafter registered SBS 8031J, this new MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL Demonstrator resembles that of SBS Transit's Scania K230UB - the bodywork is made by Malaysia's Gemilang Coachworks. However, following MAN's recommendations to have a customised look, it's front was actually modeled to a Lion City front instead. A D0836 (LOH52) engine from MAN AG powers up the bus, connected to a Voith DIWA 854.5 transmission. Alongside with its usual whistles and bells, the bus also boasts some new features not found in new single deck wheelchair accessible buses introduced earlier. New to this bus is seating for five elderly, the disabled and passengers with children instead of the usual four, in order to showcase the MAN's ability of a small wheel hub. The performance of the bus has been given a thumbs up by bus fans, most significantly the absence of vibration and noise from the engine, which is noted in the Scania K230UB. This is despite of it's low, 6871 cc engine. SBS 8031J came under the purview of SBS Transit's Bedok North Depot (BNDEP) and went out onto the roads on Tuesday, 22 July 2008, about a month behind schedule. It was first deployed to Service 6 (Pasir Ris to Loyang Link) and subsequently became a crossover bus starting from Thursday, 31 July 2008 to Feeder Service 354 (Pasir Ris to Downtown East) following completion of the EDS programming on the route details of Service 354. The bus now joins the fleet of Scania K230UBs on Service 17 from Tuesday, 9 September 2008 onwards, plying between Pasir Ris and Bedok via busy Tampines and the deserted end of Bedok North Avenue 4, where BNDEP is situated. Bodywork: Gemilang Coachworks with MAN Lion City front VIN: WMAA69ZZ46C007603 Length: 12 m Seating Capacity: 31 Standing Capacity: Unknown ---------- Engine: D0836 (LOH52) with Common Rail Diesel Technology Displacement: 6871 cc Gearbox: Voith DIWA 854.5 Air-Con Model: Coachair EDS Model: CoolAir ---------- Registration(s): SBS 8031J Date of Registration: 2008 Service: 17 (Pasir Ris to Bedok) |
SBS 8031J - Service 6 8031J_006_IMG_1168.jpg 2008-07-22 19:00:32 |
