2003短車大事回顧 The Review of Cute Bus 2003

在二零零三年，香港巴士界發生了一些跟短車有關的大事，現在就讓本網在此作一個簡單的回顧，如果閣下有一些認為都算得上是短車大事，歡迎電郵給我們，但請留意我們不一定會採納閣下的資料，敬請留意！

In 2003, there were several shocking news about Cute Bus happened, here is a brief review of them. If you have something that you think is shocking about Cute Bus, do not hesitate,  sending them to us. But we do not guarantee we will use your materials provided.
短超豪再下一城 More Baby Super Olympian in service
九巴於二零零二年加訂的富豪超級奧林比安十點六米已於二零零三年陸續投入服務，新車目前主要服務東九龍地區路線，包括有2F，3M，7B，15A及203E等線，接替原有的丹尼士巨龍九點九米空調巴士。
More Volvo Baby Super Olympian ordered by KMB last year were commenced from early 2003. Most of them were deployed on Eastern Kowloon routes to replace the non super low floor Dennis Baby Dragon.
西貢告別短熱車 Good Bye Sai Kung, Said by Cute "Hot Dog"
隨著西貢最後三條有非空調巴士服務的路線(94，96R及99)於16/05/2003轉作空調服務，亦標誌著所有短熱車會告別西貢區，即使將來西貢再出現它們蹤跡，也不是以載客身份出現。從此以後，在西貢郊區再不能享受自然涼風的車程。
As the last three routes (94, 96R and 99) operated by non air-con buses were converted to fully air-conditioned service, this indicates that no more cute "hot dog" served in Sai Kung area. Passengers cannot enjoy a journey with natural "air-conditioner".
電動短車入侵珀麗灣 Electric Buses heading for Park Island
全港首架電動巴士正式投入珀麗灣客運，主要行走往返青衣機鐵站之路線，該車是由紐西蘭 Designline設計及提供，而珀麗灣已經增購兩架同款車輛，為珀麗灣區內環保添一分力。
Park Island Transport Co. Ltd. received their first electric bus and deployed on the route to and from Tsing Yi AR Station. Two more electric buses will be delivered in late 2003.
(相片由3AV50提供 Photo by 3AV50)
處處現龍蹤 ADS, everywhere in Hong Kong
因新界西北路線空調化計劃，大量市區十一米及十二米空調巴士被徵調到該帶服務，加上短超豪投入服務，令到大量丹尼士短龍成為後備車，故此空調巴士路線要使用後備車時，短龍便成為首選，令到多條九巴巿區路線，甚至長途特快線出現它們蹤影。
As a lot of 11m and 12m air-con buses were deployed in North West New Territories to meet the demand, and more Volvo Baby Super Olympian in service, more Dennis Baby Dragon were become spare in depot and when there need of air-con buses, Baby Dragon will be the first choice and as a result, they were very easily seen on routes serving the urban area including the long journey express route.
機鐵接駁巴士新舊交替 Alternation of AEL Shuttle fleet 
為抵港的機鐵旅客提供接駁服務的機鐵接駁巴士，其車隊於今年出現改變，所有於九八年從泰豐旅運租用，配澳洲Volgren車身猛獅10.160巴士，已經於二零零三年退役，由新款三菱Rosa及富豪B7R巴士取代，目前所有10.160巴士停泊於代理商處，等候其他買家買入或被拆卸的命運。
The AEL fleet got some changed in 2003. Those Volgren bodied MAN 10.160 hired from TAI FUNG were withdrawn. Now they are waiting for other buyers or to be scrapped. Their role have been taken by Mitsubishi Rosa and Volvo B7R.
九巴的「新」飛鏢 "New" Dart join KMB fleet
九巴於二零零三年中向新巴購入為數共十架長十點七米的丹尼士飛鏢低地台巴士，這批「新」車成為了九巴車隊中首款雙門單層低地台巴士。所有「新」飛鏢已經於同年十一月尾開始投入服務，聯同其他非低地台版飛鏢前輩，行走往返翠竹花園及黃大仙地鐵站的211線，接替載客量較少及地台較高的三菱巴士。
In mid. of 2003, KMB purchased a batch of 10 10.7m Dennis Dart SLF from NWFB. This batch of buses are the first dual doors designed super low floor buses in the fleet. All of them now working on East Kowloon route 211 with other Dennis Dart so as to replace the Mitsubishi MK. 
飛鏢再現城巴 The return of City Bus Dart
新巴車隊中除了低地台版本飛鏢巴士獲其他巴士公司垂青外，連停牌近一年，來自中巴的飛鏢巴士也被城巴購入，作替代利蘭奧林比安十一米空調雙層巴士之用。跟九巴一樣，城巴共引進十架飛鏢巴士，令城巴自早年放棄所有手上飛鏢巴士後，再次擁有這款深受香港巴士公司歡迎之中型巴士。
Instead of the NWFB SLF Dart have new life with new owner, the DC from CMB also find their new lives with City Bus after the previous Dart withdrawn from the fleet. City Bus totally order 10 Dart with Carlyle bodies from NWFB to replace Leyland Olympian 11m air-conditioned buses. Those City Bus Dart now mainly working on residential service.
長陣小巴倍添舒適 Longer wheelbase with more spacious cabin
於二零零三年中，多間小巴營運商，不論綠色專線小巴還是紅色公共小巴，大量湧現一批長陣豐田Coaster新力軍，雖然車輛本身可以載客二十人，但由於法例所限，故此新車仍然是以十六人為限,，同時因此，車廂較舊款小巴寬敞舒適得多。
In mid.2003, a lot of GMB and RMB operators introduced a batch of long wheel based Toyota Coasters. Although they can carry up to 20 passengers, only 16 seats allowed due to the law. Thus, more spacious cabin is resulted.
29M全空調服務，永別九巴短熱車
Fully air-conditioned service of 29M and time to say Good Bye to KMB Cute "Hot Dog"  
隨著29M於二零零三年八月三十日提供全空調服務，九巴龐大路線網絡中再沒有一條以短熱車作主力，繼續服務乘客的重任，將會由新一代的短陣空調巴士接捧。另一方面，對乘客而言，車費因此作出下調，絕對是一件好事。另一方面，原有服務於該線的短陣都城嘉慕都城型，在往後數日被用作開學加班車後，正式退出載客行列。除了九廣鐵路巴士部依然擁有同款巴士外，本港再沒有短陣兩軸雙層巴士服務乘客。
With effect from 30, Aug, 2003, 29M was converted into fully air-conditioned service and the role of 2-axles non air-con double-decker model, the MCW Metrobus was replaced by other short wheel-based  air-con models. In addition, passengers can enjoy more comfortable journey with a lower fare. The Metrobuses used to serve 29M were withdrawn after used as reserve in the early day of new school year. At present, KCRC Bus Division become the sole bus operator operates 2-axles non air-con bus double-decker to serve passengers in Hong Kong.
夕陽殘照三菱巴士  Sunset stage of Mitsubishi
正當大家為林林總總的熱狗巴士之退役而奔波，九巴車隊中毫不突出，車隊編號AM的三菱MK中型空調巴士，也於二零零三年被九巴開始有計劃淘汰掉。大部份到期不獲續牌的巴士都是服務新界西北郊區─大部份AM再次煥發青春的地區。
KMB planned to abandon some Mitsubishi MK (class: AM) together with other non air-con buses. Most of the withdrawn AM mainly served North West New Territories, where most AM find their new lives.

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