富豪B9TL Volvo B9TL

富豪B9TL Volvo B9TL

編號 Class：AVBWS

面對營運成本不斷上升，同時要提供高質素巴士服務，在如何平衡這兩方面利益時，引進兩軸雙層空調巴士，成為了其中一條可行的出路。繼亞歷山大丹尼士為香港提供三架Enviro400兩軸雙層空調巴士，富豪也於二零一零年年中，向香港供應了兩架雙軸B9TL空調樣板車，分別提供予九巴及城巴測試營運。

兩架樣板車都是於英國由Wright裝嵌Eclipse Gemini 2車身後才運往本港，當中九巴的樣板車較城巴的樣板車遲完成車身裝配，因此於二零一零年八月二十二日才運抵本港。跟城巴的樣板車一樣，由於要通過運輸處的限重要求，故此新車並未有立即交予九巴，反而一直由代理處理有關改動，例如拆除上層車尾的一排座椅，直到十月底，九巴的樣板車才獲接受運輸處的測試。九巴的樣板車最終於二零一零年十二月二十二日出牌，車牌PP9062，編號AVBWS1。

在外觀上，AVBWS1跟大哥十二米三軸的AVBWU近乎一樣，但內裡卻配上了曲樓梯，亦是自二零零二年引進Enviro500之後，首次採用曲樓梯的新車。而再跟城巴的樣板車比較，九巴的採用了標準的玻璃太平門，亦不再設有「客滿」顯示燈，改為於有需要時，利用Hanover電子牌箱間歇顯示巴士滿座的訊息。AVBWS1載客量分別為上層設有四十二個座位，下層二十三個座位及二十個企位，總數為八十五名乘客，比較對手Enviro400還要少，成為九巴車隊中運載能力最少的雙層巴士。

在完成各種調校及測試後，AVBWS1最終於二零一一年四月七日正式投入服務，同樣被安排行走東區海底隧道路線606，這或可比較兩款兩軸雙層巴士各方面的表現，從而日後作批量訂購的參考。二零一一年十二月三十日，AVBWS1被安排披上七十年代九巴車隊色彩，配上「愛上巴士」標題，以慶祝巴士迷世界成立二十周年。

The introduction of bi-axle air-con double decker can be considered as a solution to how to provide high quality bus service against the rise of operation cost. In mid. of 2010, as a response to Alexander Dennis Enviro400, Volvo supplied Hong Kong with 2 Volvo B9TL 2-axle demonstrators for trial with KMB and City Bus respectively. Both B9TL demonstrators received their Eclipse Gemini 2 bodyworks by Wright in UK. The KMB demonstrator was arrived Hong Kong on 22, Aug., 2010 and same as the City Bus demonstrator, the seating arrangement need to change to comply with limitation of the gross vehicle weight imposed by the Transport Department. Until the end of Oct., 2010, this B9TL demonstrator was sent to undergo different tests for registration and finally, received registration no. PP9062 (fleet no. AVBWS1) on 22, Dec., 2010.

Though same bodywork of 3-axle B9TL (the AVBWU-class) was chosen on AVBWS1, there is a difference in the interior, a spiral staircase was fitted and the first after the introduction of Enviro500 since 2002. Different with the City Bus demonstrator, single piece of toughened glass was chosen for the safety door at the lower saloon as the Enviro400. In case of full load, the electronic display will show the message instead of using indicator box in the past. There are 42 seats on the upper saloon while 23 seats on the lower saloon with 20 standing. AVBWS1 is the bus model with lowest capacity of double decker in the fleet.

After all essential tests and adjustments required, AVBWS1 first served passengers on 7, Apr., 2011 on Eastern Cross Harbour route 606. In Dec., 2011, AVWBS1 was decorated with a special livery, KMB livery in 1970s for celebration of the 20th anniversary of Bus Fan World.

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