豐田 Coaster Toyota Coaster
編號 Class：AT
在二零一三年的今天，空氣調節已經是專利巴士必需的設備，但回顧八十年代，乘搭空調巴士仍然是一個奢侈的體驗，除了機場巴士的丹尼士獵鷹，鮮有空調巴士行走專利巴士路線。雖然九巴於八十年代初，曾經嘗試引進雙層空調巴士，行走當年遭地下鐵路重創的豪華路線，但受制於營運成本高昂，加上巴士表現未如人意，最終空調巴士服務未能作進一步推廣。
時為一九八七年年初，當時九巴車隊仍有一批亞比安13型短車陣單層巴士，行走往返彩虹及調景嶺的90號線，但當時這批亞比安已經到達需要退役之年，奈何90號亦只有它們能勝任，在別無選擇下，九巴需要尋求新車作繼任車款。早於一九八五年，豐田汽車代理皇冠車行已向九巴推介旗下的小型巴士Coaster，於是在經過考慮之後，九巴終於在一九八七年二月訂購首九架長陣版本Coaster，載客量為二十四個座位，不設企位，作為接替亞比安之用。豐田Coaster雖然仍是前置引擎及手動傳動系統設計，但在乘坐舒適度及自引擎傳進車廂的噪音水平方面，Coaster表現的確是勝人一籌。還有一個不爭的事實，Coaster是繼獵鷹之後，九巴另一款空調單層巴士，換句話說，在作車型更替同時，90號線亦一併改作全空調服務，提升服務水平之餘，亦標誌著九巴在空調巴士服務方面，邁出了一大步。
Coaster在90號線上的表現，促成九巴於之後再增購八架新車，用作替代另一款亞比安成員，208豪華路線的55型豪華巴士，而隨後為著拓展空調巴士網絡，尤其新落成的私人屋苑接駁服務，最終再有七十四架Coaster加入九巴車隊。曾經使用過Coaster行走過的路線除90及208，亦包括38M(238M)，211，212，219M，270，273，281，282，284，289，290，298及299等。而除一般路線，九巴亦曾將若干的豐田Coaster加裝行李架，減少座位至二十一個，用作行走機場路線A5及A7。
無可否認這批豐田確實在九巴空調巴士服務史上，扮演過重要角色及立下汗馬功勞，但在專利巴士的營運環境下，Coaster明顯力有不逮。在空調巴士服務愈來愈受乘客歡迎同時，九巴改為購入更大容量的單層及雙層空調巴士，至於Coaster本身在九巴服役年期並不長，最後一架亦於一九九七年退出車隊。退役後的豐田Coaster，有兩架Coaster被調往訓練學校，成為首批空調訓練巴士，餘下的則被商人購入，再轉售內地行走外，部份被捐贈予社福機構作接駁巴士用途。
最後，特別鳴謝友人Watt Yung提供本分頁的相片，否則這分頁是沒有可能完成。
Air conditioning is an essential element for franchised bus route today in contrast to 1980s, a luxurious experience for riding on an air conditioned bus. Though KMB already carried out evaluation on air conditioned bus in early 1980s with a pair of Leyland Victory Mk 2 and Dennis Jubilant on coach service, routes adversely affected by the opening of MTR, the idea was proved to be unsuccessful and the project was turned down. In 1985, with the commission of Dennis Falcon, full-sized single decker coach, the air conditioned service was finally launched but still only limited to airport service.
Route 90 operated between Rennise's Mill and Choi Hung was served and can be only served by Albion CH13AXL single decker, however, it was a high time to find their successor in 1987 without other choices. Backed in 1985, the distributor of Toyota Motor recommended their best seller minibus, Coaster, to KMB and finally, the first 9 coaster purchasing order was made in Feb., 1987 as a replacement of the Albion served route 90. Only 24 seats offered within the Coaster and the most distinctive feature was air conditioned. When they deployed on route 90, a milestone of air conditioned service in KMB was started.
In order to promote air conditioned service, further 8 Coasters were joined about 4 months later and the Albion EVK55CL coach on route 208 was replaced. More and more Toyota Coaster minibuses were acquired when KMB extending their air conditioned bus service networks and eventually total 91 Coasters were introduced. Total seats of some Coaster was reduced from 24 to 21 and with a luggage rack fitted for serving airport service A5 and A7.
With the help of Coaster, KMB successfully launched air conditioned service on conventional bus routes and positive feedback was resulted. On the other hand, the Coaster cannot satisfy the demand and they were replaced by other single and double decker air conditioned bus models. The last Toyota Coaster was left KMB in 1997 and after withdrawal, two samples were as driver trainer, the first air conditioned bus trainer in the fleet. The remaining was sold to mainland while some were donated to charity organization as feeder bus.
The following routes was once served by Toyota Coaster like 38M(238M), 211, 212, 219M, 270, 273, 281, 282, 284, 289, 290, 298 and 299 etc.. Many thanks to my friend Watt Yung for providing the following photos and let me complete this chapter.
請按圖放大圖片 Please click the photo for an enlarge version
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