丹拿/利蘭Fleetline Daimler / Leyland Fleetline

編號 Class：LF / SF

丹拿/利蘭Fleetline在香港的故事應該如何說起？在七十年代初期，兩巴面對海底隧道通車所帶來的巨大客量增長，一方面帶來可觀的收益，另一方面卻面對因此而帶來的營運壓力，尤其對當年中巴車隊來說，雙層巴士只佔車隊大約一半，要調動巴士應付龐大的客量更為艱難。同一時間，因應英國市場需要，各大廠家都陸續停止生產前置引擎巴士，改為生產後置引擎巴士，更令到中巴一時間未能購買更多新巴士應付需要。早於一九七一年中巴作出一個重要決定，購入全港首架後置引擎巴士丹拿Fleetline以作評估，新車全長三十呎，底盤運送到中巴北角車廠，裝嵌由Metal Sections提供的車身散件。完成車身裝配之後，中巴於一九七二年二月替新車作首次登記，車牌AX6001，車隊編號RLX1，值得一提是由RLX1開始，所有新登記專利巴士都不再採用預留的車牌號碼登記 。為隆重其事，車廠及中巴於中環皇后碼頭廣場進行交車儀式，並邀請嘉賓及傳媒於儀式過後，試乘新巴士前往淺水灣。RLX1投入服務後先後被安排行走前往山頂的15號線及港島幹線2號線，而在海底隧道通車後，就立即被安排行走過海隧道線102。憑藉低矮的底盤結構，造就了一個不設梯級的登車地台，令到SF1在眾多行走行走過海隧道線的前置引擎巴士中，顯得別樹一幟。

有感RLX1表現滿意，於是中巴便向丹拿車廠發出首張三十架Fleetline新車訂單，不過在規格上與RLX1有所分別，首先車長由原來的三十呎加長至三十三呎，為配合車廂裝配三加二座位，車身高度亦由原先四點三米修改至四點二米，至於車身組件仍然由Metal Section供應。首批量產型Fleetline巴士投入服務後，馬上安排行走過海隧道路線，替中巴帶來非常可觀的收入，而為了區分不同長度的Fleetline，量產型版本稱為LF，而RLX1則改稱SF1。而在往後時間，中巴亦透過不同訂單批次，購買二百七十五架Fleetline，當中最後一個訂單屬長三十呎版本新車，以便行走山頂，淺水灣及赤柱等地區路線。而隨後新車車身亦有所改良，首先Metal Section自LF31開始率先為中巴帶來改良版本車身，而為應對來自亞歷山大的威脅，廠方更替車身作進一步改良並安裝在LF106上，只可惜由LF107開始，中巴選購亞歷山大提供的車身，從而進一步與對岸的Fleetline區別出來，好讓乘客知道這是中巴的巴士。往後遇上配Metal Section車身的Fleetline因火警，交通意外及其他原因而需要翻裝車身，中巴亦會採用亞歷山大提供的車身組件。

中巴當年為宣傳Fleetline這款高載客量的全新巴士，將其比喻成珍寶747波音客機，並且在若干新車張貼「Jump On A CMB Jumbo」口號橫額，令到珍寶成為Fleetline家傳戶曉的名字。而在得到中巴悉心保養之下，珍寶巴士一直發揮良好表現，替中巴帶來豐厚的收入，只可惜踏入九十年代，巿民對巴士服務質素不斷提高，加上中巴未能完全滿足乘客需要，運輸處先後於一九九三及九五年，兩次削減中巴路線網絡，最終更加在一九九八年未有延續中巴專營權，全數路線分別直接轉交城巴營運或作公開競投。新巴經過投標程序後，成功奪得當中八十八條路線，並於同年九月一日開始服務巿民。由於籌備時間倉促，除了向英國廠商趕緊訂購新車來港，新巴同時決定向中巴購買七百一十架巴士，當中包括七十二架LF及二十八架SF，並且全數裝有亞歷山大車身，以應付接辦中巴路線需要。新巴在投得相關專營權後，已經表示將用兩年時完成車隊空調化的工作，年事己高及缺乏空調的珍寶巴士，雖然在新巴營運初期，仍然如常行走於港島各個角落，但在車隊中明顯只能扮演過渡角色，其中LF早於一九九九年七月全數退役，而在接近一年的新巴服役時間中，LF未曾翻鬆新巴車隊色彩。

至於車身長度較短的SF，由於新巴訂購專門行走山頂路線的十點三米丹尼士三叉戟未能及時抵港，故此一直在山頂路線佔有一個重要席位，其中SF8及SF31更曾披上新巴特別設計作為推廣15號路線的全車身廣告，形象突出。至於其他服役於新巴的SF，除了披上由新巴贊助的政府機構廣告外，亦有部份成員披上新巴的綠白橙企業色彩，為了區別車隊中的空調巴士，新巴更於車身標貼「非空調巴士」字句以資識別。隨著丹尼士陸續交付十點三米長的三叉戟新車，亦標誌著短陣版本珍寶巴士來到功成身退的一刻，最後一架SF亦於二零零零年八月退役，從此珍寶巴士便絕跡於本港專利巴士公司中。從新巴車隊退役後的珍寶大多數被送往廢車場拆毀，除了LF26及SF8有幸被私人保留，而SF3新巴一度計劃用作完成興建巴士博物館後的展品，唯有關計劃擱置後，輾轉由香港巴士迷會保留，直到二零二零年再度交還到新巴手上作保育。作為最後一架中巴及新巴珍寶巴士的SF31，則於退役後被一名英國巴士迷購入並運返蘇格蘭收藏，但不幸地巴士近年缺乏適當保養，狀況未能令人滿意。

另外，SF15於退役後被新巴改裝成員工溝通巴士(車隊編號重編成SV60)，定期巡迴於各個巴士總站收集員工意見，不過相關任務在數年後便告終止，自此SF15便閒置於創富道車廠內，直到二零一七年十二月獲有心人士購入並進行復修，經過一番努力最終於二零一九年五月以「特別用途車輛」身份重新登記出牌，車牌編號WD3519，成為目前本港唯一擁有有效行車牌照的珍寶巴士。其後車主再替SF15翻鬆一個中巴於七十年代採用忌廉及紅色為主的車身色彩，並於二零二零年一月重新配上原先的車牌號碼CD1446。

*特別鳴謝友人K.H Ng 及 Watt Yung 提供相片以完成本分頁。

The story of Daimler / Leyland Fleetline in Hong Kong was started in early 1970s. The operated of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel brought a dramatic increased of passenger flow brought together with a great pressure on both franchised operators and especially for CMB. Only about half of the fleet in CMB was composed of double deckers and it was a great challenge to allocate sufficient bus to meet the demand of the cross-harbour routes. In addition, British bus manufacturer was focus on the rear-engined bus market and ceased the production of traditional front-engined bus and increased the difficulty in acquiring more new buses for fleet expansion. In the mid. of 1971, CMB decided to introduced a 30ft Daimler Fleetline for evaluation, the first rear-engined double deckers in Hong Kong. Bodywork kits was from Metal Section and completed by CMB at North Point depot and registered as AX6001 in Feb., 1972 with fleet number RLX1. Starting from RLX1, all franchised buses were not registered with reserve registration number anymore. To celebrate the first Fleetline entered service in Hong Kong, a handover ceremony was held at Queen's Pier Concourse and after the ceremony, guests and press were invited to have a ride on RLX1 to Repluse Bay. RLX1 was first deployed on route 2 and 15 until the opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, it was scheduled on route 102 running between Lai Chi Kok and Shau Kei Wan. With the help of the low frame chassis, step-free entrance can be found on RLX1 and made it become outstanding from the other front-engined double deckers running along the Tunnel.

Further order for 30 Fleetlines was soon be made as a result of the satisfactory performance of RLX1 but this time a 33ft version was introduced, 3+2 seatings arrangement was adapted with an overall height of 4.2m low-bridge bodywork supplied by Metal Section. CMB assigned these Fleetlines serving cross-harbour routes once they were registered and substantial revenue was resulted. The 33ft version Fleetline was classed as LF while RLX1 was re-classed as SF1 and repeated order for Fleetline was made with total 335 Fleetlines in the fleet and among 31 of them were SF class for the use on routes serving the Peak, Repluse Bay and Stanley. Modified Metal Section bodywork was first seen on LF31 and to response the competition from Walter Alexander, LF106 was fitted with a further modified bodywork, however, Walter Alexander become the bodywork supplier of Fleetline starting from LF107. With the help of Alexander bodywork, CMB Fleetline can be more easily to be distinguished from the KMB Fleetline. When the Metal Section sample involved with accident or fire damage and need to be re-bodied, Alexander bodywork would be the choice.

Fleetline was promoted as Jumbo Jet with their high carrying capacity and a slogan "Jump On A CMB Jumbo" can be seen on some Fleetline and even the nickname Jumbo was become much popular than the original model name Fleetline. Fleetline in CMB fleet was healthy through their useful service life as a result of good maintenance. Appreciable revenue was once brought by Fleetline but as passengers in pursuit of a much higher standard service, CMB and Fleetline were failed to live up with their expectation . Transport Department redistributed 26 CMB routes to City Bus with a further 14 routes transferred in 1995 and finally, the franchised of CMB was ceased in 1998 and NWFB successfully gained the tender of 88 CMB which started operation since 1 Sep., 1998. As only limited new buses available for operation in Sep., 1998, NWFB acquired a total of 710 buses from CMB with 100 Fleetline with Alexander bodywork included (72 of them was LF class). Though Fleetline still serving the Island with NWFB, however, fully air-conditioned fleet was the goal of NWFB and target to be completed before the end of 2000, the LF-class was fully retired in Jul., 1999 and none of them was re-painted with the standard NWFB livery.

Before the delivery of the Dennis Trident 10.3m delivered, SF-class still the backbone for the routes serving the Peak and to promote the service, SF8 and 31 were decorated with an all-over advertisement while the other, instead of advertisement sponsored by the Government, NWFB repainted them into the standard green, white and orange livery with a "Non Air-conditioned Bus" label to distinguish them from the brand new air-conditioned bus. Fleetline finally withdrawn from the fleet as the commission of the low-bridge bodied Trident and the last one was retired in Aug., 2020 and mark the end of the Fleetline era in the franchised bus sector. Most of the Fleetline was scrapped after their withdrawal with only few samples to be preserved. LF26 and SF8 were currently under private preserved while SF3 was first preserved by NWFB as an exhibit for the proposed bus museum, however, after the proposal was turned down, it was passed to Hong Kong Transport Society for preservation until 2020 and returned back to NWFB afterwards. SF31 was shipped back to Scotland for preservation but unfortunately, it was in a poor condition as a result of poor maintenance.

NWFB converted SF15 to a Staff Communication Bus (with a new fleet number SV60) to collect staff advice at different terminus regularly for several years, it was stored at Chong Fu Road depot after the the programme was ceased. In Dec., 2017, SF15 was purchased for restoration and finally re-registered as Special Purpose Vehicle with new registration number WD3519 in May, 2019 and to be the only Fleetline with valid registration in Hong Kong. SF15 was then repainted with CMB cream and red livery used in 1970s and it registration number was changed back to CD1446 in Jan., 2020.

*Special thanks to assistance from my friend Mr K.H. Ng and Watt Yung for providing photos within this page.

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

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF28 車牌 Registration No.：BG3633 路線 Route：88 拍攝地點 Location：興華邨巴士總站 Hing Wah Estate Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF105 車牌 Registration No.：BL482 路線 Route：2/暫停服務 Not In Service 拍攝地點 Location：柴灣(東)巴士總站 Chai Wan (East) Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF113 車牌 Registration No.：BL5497 路線 Route：2 拍攝地點 Location：中環(港澳碼頭)巴士總站 Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF116 車牌 Registration No.：BL7958 路線 Route：88 拍攝地點 Location：興華邨巴士總站 Hing Wah Estate Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF126 車牌 Registration No.：BM2340 路線 Route：10 拍攝地點 Location：北角碼頭巴士總站 North Point Ferry Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF154 車牌 Registration No.：BN2648 路線 Route：110 拍攝地點 Location：筲箕灣 愛秩序灣道 Aldrich Bay Road, Shau Kei Wan

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF222 車牌 Registration No.：BS4521 路線 Route：10 拍攝地點 Location：金鐘 金鐘道 Queensway, Admiralty

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF264 車牌 Registration No.：BU9524 路線 Route：113/暫停服務 Not In Service 拍攝地點 Location：中環渡輪碼頭巴士總站 Central Ferry Concourse Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：LF281 車牌 Registration No.：BW4606 路線 Route：- 拍攝地點 Location：中環(港澳碼頭)巴士總站 Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF3 車牌 Registration No.：CB5930 路線 Route：15 拍攝地點 Location：金鐘 金鐘道 Queensway, Admiralty

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF6 車牌 Registration No.：CB6090 路線 Route：43X 拍攝地點 Location：華貴巴士總站 Wah Kwai Bus Terminus

路線 Route：88 拍攝地點 Location：中環 民耀街 Man Yiu Street, Central

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF7 車牌 Registration No.：CB8043 路線 Route：23A 拍攝地點 Location：金鐘 金鐘道 Queensway, Admiralty

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF8 車牌 Registration No.：CB8696 路線 Route：88 拍攝地點 Location：柴灣 常安街 Sheung On Street, Chai Wan

路線 Route：94A 拍攝地點 Location：香港仔 華富道 Wah Fu Road, Aberdeen

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF13 車牌 Registration No.：CD1098 路線 Route：- 拍攝地點 Location：中環(港澳碼頭)巴士總站 Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF15 車牌 Registration No.：CD1443 路線 Route：私人保留 Preserved 拍攝地點 Location：中環 大會堂巴士總站 City Hall Bus Terminus, Central

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF16 車牌 Registration No.：CD1532 路線 Route：3A 拍攝地點 Location：中環渡輪碼頭巴士總站 Central Ferry Concourse Bus Terminus

路線 Route：91 拍攝地點 Location：中環 民耀街 Man Yiu Street, Central

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF19 車牌 Registration No.：CD2957 路線 Route：15 拍攝地點 Location：中環交易廣場巴士總站 Central Exchange Square Bus Terminus

車隊編號 Fleet No.：SF31 車牌 Registration No.：CE2543 路線 Route：暫停服務 Not In Service 拍攝地點 Location：柴灣(東)巴士總站 Chai Wan (East) Bus Terminus

路線 Route：私人保留 Preserved 拍攝地點 Location：The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum

珍寶巴士下層車廂，Lower deck compartment of Fleetline

珍寶巴士駕駛室，Driving compartment of Fleetline

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