三菱Rosa Mitsubishi Rosa

三菱Rosa Mitsubishi Rosa

編號 Class：請參照下列相片介紹，Please refer to captioned of photos below

歸功於三菱Rosa空調小巴，香港公共小型巴士於一九八三年開始步向空調化時代，而Rosa小巴亦迅即得到不同客戶的垂青。不過，論之後巿場佔有率，則是遲來先上岸的豐田Coaster佔優。愉景灣區內出現日本小型巴士並不是新鮮事，在一九九一年，愉景灣交通服務有限公司向三菱購入首兩架Rosa BE439F型，以配合開辦區內的購物專線時候，車隊中早已擁有十架豐田Coaster服務區內居民及訪客。

為了迎合購物專線營運需要，愉景灣特別委託本地車身廠捷聯，替這批三菱Rosa進行改裝，原先採用的摺門改成為一道寬闊的四扇門，以方便乘客攜帶手推車或嬰兒車進出，同時加裝行李架，並且預留大面積位置作企位，而經過捷聯改裝後，這批三菱Rosa合共提供十個座位及十六個企位。愉景灣交通服務有限公司車身色彩，亦隨著這批Rosa投入服務，出現了橙白色的購物專線專用塗裝。為了增強購物專線服務，愉景灣先後於一九九二年及九五年向三菱增購兩架Rosa，同樣先由捷聯完成改裝才投入服務。這四架經改裝的三菱Rosa小型巴士，最終分別因載客量低及車齡漸高，先後於二零零零年及零三年退役，位置分別由低地台版丹尼士飛鏢及猛獅12.220中型單層低地台巴士所取代。

除了上述四架三菱Rosa外，愉景灣交通服務有限公司為替換兩架豐田Coaster，於二零零一年購入兩架Rosa BE649J型(編號HKR75及77)，與前述用作服務購物專線的三菱Rosa比較，除了未有進行任何車廂改裝工程外，亦未有設置任何企位及行李架，合共只提供二十九個座位。HKR75及77主要安排行走區內客量需求少的路線如1及6號，兩車車隊編號隨後因配合全新企業形象，而於二零零八年改成DBAY75及77。愉景灣交通服務有限公司隨後於二零一二年年尾，向另一營運商購入一架二手三菱Rosa，車隊編號DBAY155，值得一提是這架二手三菱Rosa投入服務初期，未有以愉景灣企業色彩取代原先的車身色彩，隨後於二零一三年初才更改成愉景灣標準色彩。

DBAY75先行於二零一一年退役，並由一架長陣版本豐田Coaster取代，而於二零一三年及一五年，愉景灣先後再向三菱購入兩架歐盟五型Rosa(BE641J型)小巴，替換原先的DBAY77及DBAY155。另外，因應愉景灣酒店於二零一三年落成開幕，愉景灣除了購入大型旅遊巴士作接駁服務外，亦有引進若干的三菱Rosa，部份行走酒店專車的Rosa更設有行李架方便酒店住客。

Though Toyota Coaster gained the largest market share in Hong Kong minibus market, however, the air-conditioned era of minibuses in Hong Kong was started by the introduction of Mitsubishi Rosa in 1983 and soon welcomed by different operators. When acquired minibuses for the newly launched Shoppers' Bus service in 1991, a pair of Mitsubishi Rosa BE439F was chosen instead of the Toyota Coaster which DBTSL already run a fleet of 10.

Modification works was carried out on these two Rosa by the local builder Jit Luen to cope with the operation environment of the Shoppers' Bus, a four-leaf door and luggage rack was fitted together with a large standing area provided. The total carrying capacity of them was 26 passengers which including 16 standees after conversion works. A special livery which composed of orange and white colour of Shoppers' Bus was introduced along with the commission of the Mitsubishi Rosa and a further 2 samples were acquired to enhance the service in 1992 and 1995 respectively which also modified by Jit Luen before entering service. DBTSL finally replaced all the Rosa with Dennis Dart SLF and MAN 12.220 afterwards due to their low carrying capacity and getting old.

Further delivery of Mitsubishi Rosa to DBTSL was made in 2001 with two Rosa BE649J (HKR75 and 77) as a replacement of the aging Toyota Coaster in the fleet. HKR75 and 77 were 29-seated with no standees allowed and without any further modification works made locally. The Mitsubishi Rosa BE649J mainly served the low demand route 1 and 6. As part of new corporate image, the fleet number were changed to DBAY75 and 77 respectively in 2008. A second-hand Rosa was acquired as DBAY155 in the end of 2012 and it original livery not yet repaint into standard Dbay livery until early of 2013.

DBAY75 was de-registered in 2011 and substituted by a long wheel-based Toyota Coaster while the remaining two were withdrawn and replaced with the brand new Euro 5 Rosa (model BE641J) in 2013 and 2015 respectively. To go one step further, to cope with the opening of Auberge Discovery Bay HK, instead of a batch of full-sized coaches purchased, several Rosa were introduced and some of them fitted with luggage rack for convenience to the residents of the hotel.

請按圖放大圖片 Please click the photo for an enlarge version

Mitsubishi Rosa BE649J