丹尼士三叉戟 Dennis Trident

丹尼士三叉戟 Dennis Trident

編號 Class：2700

當丹尼士成功推出三叉戟低地台巴士後，最初只有十二米版本供巴士公司選擇，但因應香港對短車軸雙層空調巴士的需求，廠方迅即推出長度只有十點六米的版本。全港首輛配用都普提供的單門車身，長十點六米的三叉戟，便於一九九九年初以樣板車身份運抵香港，並投入城巴車隊作試驗，車隊編號2700，亦成為城巴車隊中，唯一一架同款巴士。

在機械配搭上，十點六米版與十二米版三叉戟一樣採用康明斯引擎，不過波箱則未有如當年常見一樣，採用福伊特的出品，而是由ZF提供的5HP590波箱。2700裝配的都普車身屬客車規格，配置與同時期城巴為行走東涌及機場對外路線所訂購的十二米三叉戟相近，這包括豪華客車座椅，以及手提行李架，另外在上層擋風玻璃裝有水撥，但於稍後時間被拆除。至於載客量方面合共提供了四十七個上層座位，三十個下層座位以及二十個企位。一如以往採用都普車身之丹尼士新車一樣，城巴委託了葡萄牙的Salvador Caetano替2700完成車身裝嵌工作。城巴在接收2700之後，隨即進行一連串測試及驗車程序，並於一九九九年五月取得行車牌照，車牌JB5571。值得一提是2700在投入服務時，未有裝配供輪椅乘客上落的斜板，車廂內亦未有安排任何輪椅停泊位置，直到二零零八年七月，城巴除了增設斜板，同時拆除下層三個座位並改作輪椅停泊位置，企位限額亦同時修改至二十八個，總載客量亦增至一百零二人。

2700在投入服務初期主要服務港島南區，主要行走往返中環及赤柱之260路線，以及偶爾行走往返鴨脷洲大街及中環的90C路線。在行走260一段時間之後，城巴編配2700到東區過海隧道線606行走，然後便長時間服務於往返藍灣半島及北角碼頭的85線，直到該線於二零一三年七月與529合併並延長到寶馬山作終站為止。隨後時間2700曾被安排行走以蒲飛路作終點站的3B及103路線，當3B於二零一五年五月取消服務後，2700便改為行走12M線，直到二零一六年年中，2700再一次服務南區路線，不過是香港仔區內循環線48，以及稍後行走往返利東邨及香港仔的98路線。

按照香港專利巴士使用期限，2700原定於二零一七年五月初退出營運行列，但可惜到了二零一七年四月下旬，2700因機件問題被逼提早退役，而在2700退役之後，亦表示本港再沒有單門設計的雙層巴士於路面上行走。

When Dennis successfully launched the production of low-floor designed Trident, only 12m version was available for operators, as the need for short wheel-based air conditioned double decker in Hong Kong, the 10.6m variant was immediately introduced. In 1999, the first Dennis Trident 10.6m fitted with a single door version bodywork from Duple Metsec was delivered to City Bus in early 1999 and fleet number was classed as 2700.

2700 was fitted with Cummins engine as the 12m variant in the fleet but with transmission unit from ZF instead of the Voith fully automatic gearbox. The bodywork of 2700 was built to coach specification with coach seats and handy luggage rack. in addition, a wiper was fitted on the upper windscreen but removed afterwards. Total 97 passengers can be accommodated with 20 standees offered. Bodywork of this demonstrator was completed by by Salvador Caetano of Portugal as the other Dennis buses with Duple Metsec bodywork in the fleet. 2700 was registered as JB5571 after a series of tests in May, 1999 and it should be mentioned that no wheelchair ramp and parking bay provided when 2700 entering service. After the modification works carried out in Jul. 2008, a wheelchair ramp was finally added with a wheelchair parking bay provided after the removal of 3 seats, and the total carrying capacity was changed to 102 as a result of 8 more standees allowed.

City Bus first arranged 2700 serving the Southern District and mainly seen on route 260 running between Central and Stanley and sometimes on route 90C between Ap Lei Chau and Central. 2700 later transferred to Eastern Harbour Tunnel route 606 before deployed on route 85 operated between Island Resort and North Point Ferry. After route 85 merged with route 529 and extended the terminus to Braemar Hill, 2700 was withdrawn form the route and allocated on route 3B and 103 until cancellation of route 3B in May, 2015. City Bus deployed 2700 on circular route 12M for a short period of time before reallocated to Southern District for route 48 and 98.

The lifespan of Hong Kong franchised bus normally is 18 years and 2700 was supposed to be withdrawn from revenue service in early May, 2017, however, due to mechanical failure, this last single door double decker in Hong Kong was forced to retire in the end of Apr., 2017.

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路線 Route：3B