利蘭/富豪奧林比安空調 Leyland/Volvo Olympian A/C
早於一九八三年，新加坡巴士公司已經推出空調巴士服務，首批空調巴士為八架改裝自機場巴士的平治O303，而隨後時間，更多來自歐洲及日本的單層空調巴士陸陸續續出現於新加坡巴士車隊。到了一九九二年，隨著三百架富B10M開始付運及投入服務，迅即加強空調巴士服務網絡。面對高載客量路線，雙層巴士仍然是首選，鑑於香港早於九十年代已經成功推出雙層空調巴士服務，新加坡巴士公司亦向英國利蘭招手，連同樣板車購入合共二百架奧林比安空調巴士，不單是新加坡首批雙層空調巴士，同時是首批三車軸雙層巴士。
利蘭奧林比安貴為利蘭最引以為傲的產品，除了香港營運過千輛奧林比安，早於一九八六年新加坡巴士亦合共購入二百架兩車軸版本奧林比安，配用亞歷山大R型車身，成為八十年代中期到九十年代初，新加坡巴士的標記。至於這二百架三車軸奧林比安空調雙層巴士，屬最長的十二米版本，車身同樣由英國亞歷山大提供，但在設計上，都較昔日新加坡巴士車隊及香港同型巴士有所分別，車頭組件重新設計，上下層採用一幅式擋風玻璃，這跟後來丹尼士三叉戟面世時，所配用的ALX500車身設計十分相似，而這款車身日後亦命名為Royale，並於英國取得可觀成績。在機械配搭上，這批利蘭奧林比安跟昔日車隊的利蘭巴士不一樣，並沒有採用原廠引擎，而是像香港一樣，採用美國康明斯引擎配合德國ZF自動波箱，驅動日本電裝或德國超卓的空調系統，這或許是基於香港用家的成功經驗，而作出的一個選擇。除了樣板車是於英國裝嵌成型外，餘下新車均於新加坡完成車身裝配，而首十架新車於一九九三年八月二十七日正式投入服務。
新加坡巴士除了替利蘭奧林比安空調巴士，設計一款全新色彩外，更冠以「Super Bus」作為名稱，標榜其可運載一百三十一名乘客的運載能力。事實上，憑藉高客量及空調服務，利蘭奧林比安空調巴士迅速被新加坡巿民所接受，而新加坡巴士亦積極拓展空調巴士服務網絡，以回應乘客需求。值得一提是，新加坡巴士公司在引進利蘭奧林比安空調巴士時，已經被富豪收購，但由於面對大量包括來自香港及加坡的訂單，令到設於Workington的生產線，亦需完成全數訂單才能關閉，當中SBS9168S更是全球最後一架披上利蘭名字出產的巴士。
而當富豪完成將奧林比安生產線遷移至蘇格蘭Irvine後，亦立即將改良完成的富豪奧林比安向舊有客戶推介。另一方面，新加坡巴士公司亦繼續擴充旗下「Super Bus」車隊，於是連樣板車，在一九九四年向富豪訂購二百零一架富豪奧林比安。對比利蘭時代，引擎已經全面改用富豪出品，這批新車配用的TD102KF引擎，早已出現於車隊同廠產品B10M上，而傳動組合繼續由ZF供應，至於空調系統全數改由德國超卓供應。在外觀上，若非各自貼上不同的廠徽，是很難分辨出是那一家車廠製造。值得一提是首一百輛富豪奧林比安，上層兩邊玻璃是各設有一扇太平窗。
因應兩款「Super Bus」優良的表現，在更新車隊時，新加坡巴士亦不作他想，雙層巴士繼續向富豪招手，一九九六年增購二百架富豪奧林比安。這批「Super Bus」在車身組件上跟首批有些微變化，車頭大燈由圓型改作方型，車內扶手亦由銀色變黃色，而最明顯分別是打從這批奧林比安開始，再沒有出現上層尾窗，這設計亦提供了一個平台，供廣告設計師發揮所長，同時全車不再設有太平門。另一方面，第二批訂單中排在隊末的五十輛奧林比安，空調系統改由日本電裝提供。最後一批共七十架富豪奧林比安訂單於一九九九年落實，並全數於二零零零年前投入服務，這批奧林比安主要分別在，新車投入服務時，下層車廂外側已經預留大面積作企位，藉此提高載客量至一百三十九人。
在低地台巴士加入車隊前，全數奧林比安都是車隊中一個重要組成部份，在每條幹線上擔當重任。一九九九年，當新加坡巴士公司開始引進低地台雙層巴士時，亦繼續將「Super Bus」這名稱展示於車身上，由此可以推測，由這六百多架奧林比安空調巴士所建立品形象，是如何深入民心。新加坡巴士公司於二零零一年改稱新捷運時，一併推出全新企業色彩，全數奧林比安都被翻油這紫白紅色彩，但同時，「Super Bus」名字亦同時陸續消失於車隊之中。
在新捷運年代，首兩批富豪奧林比安亦仿傚最後一批奧林比安，下層車廂外側的座位被拆除，改作企位增加客量。另外，全數最後一批的富豪奧林比安亦裝上電子路線牌箱。隨著更多的富豪B9TL低地台巴士投入服務，不論利蘭及富豪奧林比安空調巴士亦陸續步入晚年，昔日大街小巷遍佈「Super Bus」的畫面，陸續換成是Wright車身的富豪B9TL。時至二零一三年四月二十六日，利蘭這名字伴隨最後一批奧林比安退下火線而消失於車隊中，而新捷運亦陸續淘汰車隊中餘下的富豪奧林比安。
Air-conditioned bus service in Singapore was first introduced by SBS in 1983 with a fleet of 8 Mercedes Benz O303 used to serve as airport coach service. This service was proved to be successful and more air conditioned bus from Europe and Japan joined the fleet afterwards. The service networks of air conditioned bus was strengthened in 1992 when 300 Volvo B10M Mk IIl with Duple Metsec bodyworks started to deliver. However, the air conditioned service only limited to single decker and cannot satisfy the route with high demand. As Hong Kong introduced air conditioned double decker successfully, 200 (included the prototype) Leyland Olympian 12m A/C were ordered in 1993 and they are not only the first air conditioned double decker, but also the first 3-axle double decker in Singapore.
Olympian is the most successful Leyland's product and total more than thousand samples already running in Hong Kong and Singapore. Leyland Olympian was first appeared in Singapore with a 2-axle demonstrator tested in 1983 and finally SBS ordered 200 2-axle samples in 1986. All of them was bodied by Walter Alexander with R-type bodywork. Alexander was successfully supplied their Royale bodywork on the Leyland Olympian A/C chassis featured with one-piece, wrap-round screens, similar to the later ALX500 bodyworks fitted on the Dennis Trident. All Leyland Olympian are powered by Cummins LT10 engine with ZF fully automatic gearbox, powerful enough to drive air conditioning unit supplied by Nippon Denso or Sutrak. All Olympians received their bodyworks locally except the demonstrator completed in UK. The first batch of 10 were entered service on 27 Aug., 1993.
To promote the air conditioned bus service, not only a unique livery applied but also branded them as "Super Bus", as they can carry 131 passengers, the highest record in Singapore. The "Super Bus" service was widely welcomed by the public and more air conditioned service were introduced to meet the demand. Leyland was already acquired by Volvo in 1988, however the plan of shutting down the Workington plant was delayed to 1993 as a result of the bulk order from both Singapore and Hong Kong. SBS9168S in SBS is the very last bus manufactured by Leyland in the world.
As SBS is an important overseas customer beside Hong Kong, Volvo send a prototype Olympian from Irvine plant, Scotland to SBS and gained further 200 Olympians purchasing order in 1994. The main differences between Leyland is Volvo TD102KF engine was chosen, the same engine model used on the B10M single decker, and transmission unit still supplied by ZF. Air conditioning unit of all Volvo Olympian was supplied by Sutrak and it is not easy to tell which "Super Bus" was Leyland or Volvo as they shared the same design of Royale bodyworks. A pair of emergency exits were located at both side of the upper deck in the first hundred Volvo Olympian, the most outstanding feature of them among the "Super Bus" family.
An additional purchasing order for 200 "Super Bus" was made in 1996. There are some differences of bodywork kits between two batches: Rectangular headlights was chosen and the handrails was yellow in colour. To go one step further, no more emergency exits were placed including the one located at the upper deck rear. The first 150 units were fitted with Sutrak air conditioning unit while the balance, Denso unit was chosen. The last order of Volvo Olympian was made in 1999 with 70 chassis delivered to Singapore and commissioned by the end of 2000. A large standing bay was provided at the offside of the cabin when entering service and total 139 passengers can be carried.
The Olympian "Super Bus" should be the main component of SBS before the age of super low floor double decker started. In fact, the first batch of super low floor double decker still using the "Super Bus" brand name and we can see how successful of the "Super Bus" in Singapore. A purple, red and white livery was introduced to all members in the fleet in 2001 when SBS renamed as SBS Transit, however, the brand name of "Super Bus" become a part of history at the same time.
During the SBS Transit era, the seats at the lower deck offside were removed in the first two batch of Volvo Olympian to provide standing bay as the last batch of Olympian and more standees provided was resulted. In addition, for the final batch Volvo Olympian, electronic route display was installed. All "Super Bus" reached their sunset stage when more B9TLs undergoing delivery. The last Leyland Olympian was retired on 26 Apr., 2013, marked the end of Leyland in the fleet while the Volvo Olympian, also gradually abandoned by SBS Transit.
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[ Leyland Olympian ] [ Volvo Olympian ]
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