Volvo B9TL

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Volvo B9TL
SG5602T-145-20240530-130858-02.jpg
SBS Transit Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied 3-axle Volvo B9TL in May 2024, Singapore
Overview
Manufacturer Volvo
Production2002–2018 (3-axle)
2005–2016 (2-axle)
Assembly Borås, Sweden
Body and chassis
Class Double-decker bus
Doors1-2
Floor type Low floor
Powertrain
Engine Volvo D9A/D9B/D9C
Power outputVolvo D9A: 300hp, 340hp
Volvo D9B: 260hp, 310hp
Transmission ZF Ecomat
ZF EcoLife
Voith DIWA
Chronology
Predecessor Volvo B7TL (2-axle)
Volvo Super Olympian (3-axle)
Successor Volvo B5TL (2-axle)
Volvo B8L (3-axle)

The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo from 2002 until 2018. It superseded the Volvo Super Olympian and the Volvo B7TL. The 2-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B5TL in 2014 and the 3-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B8L in 2018.

Contents

Chassis

The Volvo B9TL chassis shared the same design of the Volvo B7TL. The key difference from both its predecessors, the Volvo Super Olympian and Volvo B7TL, was a new 9.3-litre engine originally designed by Renault Trucks, now a subsidiary of Volvo. The radiator was located at the rear offside, similar to the smaller B7TL. The front module design was shared with other low-floor bus chassis built by Volvo, and independent suspension is fitted at the front axle (replaced by conventional front suspension after some years of production).

The B9TL was initially offered in three-axle format, and the two-axle variant was added in 2006 to replace the B7TL. The driveline comprises a Volvo D9A Euro III engine (rated at 300 bhp or 340 bhp), which was later replaced by the Volvo D9B Euro IV/V/EEV engine (using selective catalytic reduction technology; two versions were offered - the D9B260 rated at 260 bhp for two-axle version, and a higher powered D9B310, rated at 310 bhp, for three-axle version), and coupled to a ZF 5/6-speed gearbox. Volvo also offered the Voith four-speed gearbox as an alternative gearbox option.

The front wheels of the three-axle B9TL are usually supplied by Alcoa, but some buses (including the three prototypes) had all their wheels supplied by Alcoa.

Asia Pacific

Hong Kong

Kowloon Motor Bus

Volvo B9TL prototype with Volgren CR223LD bodywork AVD1.jpg
Volvo B9TL prototype with Volgren CR223LD bodywork
Kowloon Motor Bus' Gemilang-bodied Volvo B9TL on its first day of service AVG1 at Mong Kok East Station (20190314132228).jpg
Kowloon Motor Bus' Gemilang-bodied Volvo B9TL on its first day of service

A Volvo B9TL prototype with a Volgren CR223LD body was delivered to Hong Kong in July 2003 for Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) as a demonstrator for the Eco-Driveline concept. It was put into service in April 2004 and registered as MF5119.

In early 2004, a Volvo B9TL prototype with a facelifted version of the TransBus Enviro500 body arrived in Hong Kong and registered as LU3721. It had a slightly different front and rear design, and its rear route box was moved beneath the upper deck rear window. After TransBus International was renamed Alexander Dennis in May 2004, it became the only TransBus Enviro-series bus with a non-Dennis chassis as well as the only facelifted version of the Enviro500 to be manufactured during this period.

Later in the same year, a Wright-bodied B9TL prototype was also delivered. The rear design of its Wright body was different from that of the Wright-bodied Volvo Super Olympian, with the number plate moved beneath (and a little to the right of) the rear route box. In 2005, KMB ordered 63 B9TL chassis with Wright bodywork and 50 with Enviro500 bodies. The Wright-bodied buses entered service between 2005 and 2006, and the Enviro500-bodied buses entered service in late 2006/2007. These were followed by another 35 buses with Enviro500 bodywork, they entered service in 2007/2008.

In 2009, KMB ordered 60 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied B9TLs, [1] quickly followed by another 115, they have begun delivery as of early 2010. These were followed by an order for a further 115 Wright-bodied B9TLs in 2010. [2] All these buses entered service between 2010 and 2012.

A 10.6-metre 2-axle B9TL was put into service by KMB in 2010. It was equipped with a Volvo D9B-310 engine and a ZF EcoLife 6AP1403B gearbox.

Starting from June 2017, some of the new B9TLs were painted with the new livery of red and silver stripes, with the motto "Heartbeat of the City" shown on the top of the vehicle. The last Wright-bodied 12-metre B9TL was put into service in August 2019.

KMB ordered three Gemilang bodied B9TLs in 2017. They were registered in September 2018 and entered service in March 2019.

As of July 2020, there are 953 Volvo B9TLs in service with KMB.

Long Win Bus

Long Win Bus received 10 B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bodywork which entered service in 2007/2008. All vehicles in this batch are almost identical to those with Kowloon Motor Bus.

Due to a surplus in Long Win's fleet, all of them have been transferred to KMB from 2020 to 2022.

Citybus and New World First Bus

11.3-metre Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied B9TL 4520 NWFB 4 22-12-2019.jpg
11.3-metre Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied B9TL

Citybus received one Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied two-axle B9TL (fleet number 7500) on 31 July 2010. This vehicle was first registered in November 2010 and entered service in the following month.

Citybus and New World First Bus placed an order for 51 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied tri-axle in March 2014, including 50 11.3-metre buses and a 12.8-metre bus for Citybus. [3] [4] They were assembled by Wrightbus's new partner, Masdef, in Malaysia.

Citybus and New World First Bus placed another order of 65 B9TLs in 2015, including 40 11.3-metre and 25 12-metres buses. All of these have been put into service since 2016.

DBTSL

Discovery Bay Transit Services (DBTSL) from Discovery Bay placed an order of six 12m Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied B9TL in 2014. They are equipped with Volvo D9B-310 engine and ZF Ecolife 6AP1403B gearbox. All vehicles were delivered between June and July 2015. They entered service on 16 August 2015.

MTR Bus

MTR Bus took delivery of 68 11.3-metres Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied B9TLs in 2016/2017. [5] This batch of buses are equipped with Volvo D9B-310 engine and Voith DIWA 864.5 gearbox. They are used to replace the aged Dennis Tridents buses.

Singapore

SBS Transit Volvo B9TL with ComfortDelGro Engineering bodywork SBS Transit Volvo B9TL Euro III (CDGE) - 47193730021.jpg
SBS Transit Volvo B9TL with ComfortDelGro Engineering bodywork
Under the bus contracting model, other operators, such as Tower Transit, also leased Volvo B9TLs from the Land Transport Authority for operations. SBS3380J 143.jpg
Under the bus contracting model, other operators, such as Tower Transit, also leased Volvo B9TLs from the Land Transport Authority for operations.

SBS Transit of Singapore placed an order for 150 B9TL chassis on 28 December 2004, then the largest single order, which were fitted with bodywork from ComfortDelGro Engineering (CDGE), part of SBS Transit's parent company. An additional order for 50 more chassis was placed in 2006 at a cost of S$29 million soon after putting its first B9TLs into operation, bringing the total fleet size to 200. These buses were delivered by October 2007. These were the only SBS Transit buses during the lifespan to be repainted into Lush Green livery. All these buses began to be retired from March 2021 to September 2023 except for one bus which was converted as a Bus Engineering Lab at ITE College West. [6]

On 13 August 2009, SBS Transit announced an order of 150 Volvo B9TL, with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodies, replacing 55 Leyland Olympian 3-Axles and 8 Volvo Olympian 2-Axles. Those were delivered between 13 September 2010 and 26 August 2011. One of the demonstrator was built by Wrightbus in August 2010, whereas all other buses were bodied by ComfortDelGro Engineering at Hougang. [7] [1] On 6 September 2010, SBS Transit ordered another 300 Wright-bodied Volvo B9TLs, delivered between 21 September 2011 and 28 December 2012, replacing the rest of Leyland Olympian 3-Axles and 3 Volvo Olympian 3-Axles (Batch 1). 30 buses were delivered as low-entry, while the remaining 270 buses were delivered completely low-floor. In 2012, 30 of the low-floor buses were diverted to the Land Transport Authority's Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP). [8]

On 9 July 2012, SBS Transit ordered another 565 Wright-bodied Volvo B9TLs, delivered between 30 January 2013 and 18 June 2015, to replace most of their older buses, as well as fleet additions and introduction of new bus routes under the BSEP. [9] SBS Transit's final order of 415 Volvo B9TLs was announced on 1 July 2014, two years before the transition of Singapore's bus industry to the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) Bus Contracting Model in 2016 having only 94 units delivered. [10] [11] The orders for the remaining 321 Volvo B9TLs were subsequently inherited by the LTA for the BCM and additional 176 Volvo B9TLs were also subsequently ordered by the LTA, and were operated by all public transport operators. The last batch of Volvo B9TLs to be delivered were registered on 27 December 2017. [12]

Australia

Volgren bodied B9TLs were purchased by CDC Melbourne and Thompsons Bus Service. [13] [14]

Europe

United Kingdom

Delaine Buses East Lancs Olympus-bodied 2-axle Volvo B9TL, this was the first Olympus built Delaine Buses 141 AD56 DBL.JPG
Delaine Buses East Lancs Olympus-bodied 2-axle Volvo B9TL, this was the first Olympus built
Translink Metro Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied (left) and Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied (right) 2-axle Volvo B9TLs SEZ2214 12b KFZ9361 9a.jpg
Translink Metro Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied (left) and Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied (right) 2-axle Volvo B9TLs

In three-axle form, the B9TL made its debut in the United Kingdom when Weavaway Travel of Newbury placed an order for six B9TL with East Lancs Myllennium Nordic bodywork in late 2004 and put them into service in April/May 2005. Since then, two more were sold to Roadliner of Poole and Provence Private Hire of St Albans for school contracts and commercial work.

The two-axle Volvo B9TL did not make its debut in the United Kingdom until the middle of 2006. The first demonstrator, with Wright Eclipse Gemini body, was delivered to London General in July 2006 for evaluation, it is used on route 11. [15] [16] The first order was secured from Delaine Buses for two examples with the new East Lancs Olympus bodywork. [17] The first Olympus-bodied B9TL, along with an Alexander Dennis Enviro400-bodied version,[ citation needed ] were both unveiled at the 2006 Euro Bus Expo at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham during November. [18]

Initial sales of the two-axle version were slow in Britain, particularly in London, after falling foul with the noise and capacity requirements imposed by Transport for London. Eventually orders were also received for the Volvo B9TLs by First London, Go-Ahead London and Metroline. The B9TL had success with Lothian Buses, FirstGroup, East Yorkshire Motor Services, Highland Scottish, Yorkshire Coastliner and Flights Hallmark, Tower Transit where orders were received from 2007 to 2014.

The first order from Arriva was for 10 East Lancs Visionaire open top buses for The Original Tour in January 2007; and delivered in April - November 2007. An additional 16 buses were delivered in October 2011 - February 2012. [19]

It was followed by an order for 16 buses with Darwen Olympus bodywork in high specification featuring leather seats for Arriva Yorkshire entering service between January and May 2008.

London General brought three buses on the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 bodies for use on route 85. Afterwards, they are then reallocated to Sutton Bus Garage, operating on routes 93, 151, 154, and 213. These buses are now operated by metrobus - across the Crawley area - as in 03/09/24.

In Northern Ireland, Translink purchased 125 Volvo B9TLs, all bodied by Wrightbus.

Ireland

Dublin Bus of Dublin, Ireland placed an order for 20 B9TL with single-door Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bodywork in early 2005. [20] These buses were the largest in the fleet and also the first tri-axle double deckers for the Irish capital, the first of them entered service in December 2005. They were withdrawn and sold in December 2018.

In 2007, Dublin Bus ordered 50 B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodywork and another 50 B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bodywork for delivery in 2007/2008. The two-axle buses entered service in summer/autumn 2007, and the three-axle buses entered service in December 2007/early 2008. Later Dublin Bus ordered 50 B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodywork and 50 B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork for delivery in 2008/2009. In 2012, Dublin Bus received 80 B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork, but retaining the older Eclipse Gemini front. A further 80 B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork, were received by Dublin Bus in 2013.

Bus Éireann also put 10 Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B9TL into service in late 2008, and a further 10 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TL in 2012.

Other European cities

A sightseeing B9TL in Berlin Berlin B9TL 517.jpg
A sightseeing B9TL in Berlin

A number of two-axle Volvo B9TL open top buses were sold to a number of cities in Europe for sightseeing purposes.

Successors

The 2-axle Volvo B9TL was replaced by the Volvo B5TL in 2014. [21] The 3-axle Volvo B9TL was replaced by the Volvo B8L in 2018. [22]

Related Research Articles

SBS Transit Ltd is a multi-modal public transport operator in Singapore operating bus and rail services. With a majority of its shares owned by Singaporean multinational transport conglomerate ComfortDelGro Corporation at 75%, it was formerly known as Singapore Bus Services before rebranding to SBS Transit on 1 November 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro500</span> Three-axle double decker bus

The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 is a three-axle double-decker bus built by Alexander Dennis in the United Kingdom. It was unveiled in 2002 and is one of the Enviro-series bus models made by TransBus/Alexander Dennis. The bus was sold on diesel or hybrid-electric powertrains and on Volvo chassis as a bodywork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo Super Olympian</span> 1998 low-floor double-decker bus

The Volvo Super Olympian was a low-floor double-decker bus manufactured by Volvo. It replaced the 3-axle version of Volvo Olympian. The chassis had the designated manufacturer code B10TL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrightbus</span> Northern Irish bus manufacturer

Wrightbus is a Northern Irish bus manufacturer and a pioneer of the low-floor bus. The company was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and was later run by his son William Wright, until it was acquired in 2019 by British businessman Jo Bamford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7RLE</span> Low Entry, single deck bus chassis

The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7TL</span> Low-floor longitudinal double-decker bus chassis

The Volvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus chassis which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of the Volvo Olympian. It was built as the British bus operators seemed hesitant to purchase the B7L double decker with a long rear overhang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7L</span> Low-floor rear-engined bus chassis

The Volvo B7L is a fully low floor single-decker bus, double-decker bus and articulated bus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang. It was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L, and the Volvo Olympian, used as both a single-decker bus and a double-decker bus chassis largely in Continental Europe. The Volvo B7L was superseded by the Volvo B9L in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400</span> Low-floor double-decker bus chassis and bodywork

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 is a twin-axle low-floor double-decker bus that was built by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis between 2005 and 2018. It replaced the Alexander ALX400. In 2014, the Enviro400 was succeeded by the updated Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC and production of the classic Enviro400 ceased in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL DB250</span> Twin-axle double-decker bus chassis

The VDL DB250 is a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Eclipse Gemini</span> Low-floor double-decker bus body

The Wright Eclipse Gemini is a low-floor double-decker bus body that was built by Wrightbus since 2001, based on the single-decker Wright Eclipse design. The second-generation Eclipse Gemini 2 was launched in 2009, followed by the third-generation Gemini 3 in 2013. Additionally, the body was available on Volvo Super Olympian chassis in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2005, marketed as the Wright Explorer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Trident 3</span> Low floor tri-axle double-decker bus

Dennis Trident 3, is the first low floor tri-axle double-decker bus chassis built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, with a large number purchased by bus companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo Olympian</span> Step-entrance double-decker bus chassis

The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engined 2-axle and 3-axle double decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo at its Irvine, Scotland factory. The first was built in 1993 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Dragon</span> Three-axle step-entrance double-decker bus

The Dennis Dragon is a three-axle step-entrance double-decker bus manufactured by Dennis in England between 1982 and 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Pulsar Gemini</span> Double decker bus body

The Wright Pulsar Gemini is a design of double-decker bus bodywork built onto VDL DB250LF chassis by Wrightbus between 2003 and 2006. It was visually almost identical to the Wright Eclipse Gemini that was mounted on the Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Eclipse</span> Single-deck bus body on Volvo low-floor chassis

The Wright Eclipse is a low-floor single-deck bus body that was built by Wrightbus between 1999 and 2019. The second-generation Eclipse 2 was launched in 2008, followed by the third-generation Eclipse 3 in 2015. The Eclipse, and its sister design the Solar, were named for a solar eclipse which was visible in the UK in 1999, the year of its introduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B5LH</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo B5LH is a low-floor hybrid electric bus chassis for both single-decker buses and double-decker buses manufactured by Volvo since 2008. It is the basis for Volvo's integral 7700 Hybrid full low floor city bus and its successor, the 7900 Hybrid from 2011. In 2008, pre-production batches of both types of chassis were manufactured. Serial production started in June 2010. From 2013 it is also available as an articulated bus chassis. First entering service in London, the B5LH is the only current double decker type in service in the United Kingdom that uses a parallel hybrid drive system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B5TL</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo B5TL is a 2-axle low-floor double decker built by Volvo. It replaced the B9TL as Volvo's Euro 6 2-axle double decker product for the UK and Irish markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC</span> 3-axle double-decker bus

The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC is a low-floor, three-axle double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis since 2012, replacing the Alexander Dennis Enviro500. The Enviro500 MMC is available powered by either Euro VI diesel or hybrid-electric and later fully-electric powertrains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B8L</span> 3-axle bus chassis manufactured by Volvo

The Volvo B8L is a 3-axle bus chassis, for double-decker buses, manufactured by Volvo Buses since 2016, with pre-production batches being produced as early as in 2016. It is powered by a 6-cylinder, 350hp 7.7 litre Volvo engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network Norwich</span> Bus service

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References

  1. 1 2 Wrightbus wins 150 bus Singapore order Bus & Coach Professional 26 August 2009
  2. ↑ KMB orders more deckers Bus & Coach Professional 24 May 2010
  3. ↑ Weir, Clare (6 March 2014). "Ballymena's Wrightbus to build flat-pack buses for Hong Kong". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Wrightbus to assemble in Malaysia". Bus and Coach Magazine. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "World News" Buses Worldwide issue 209 April 2018 page 45
  6. ↑ SBS Transit 2021
  7. ↑ "SBS Transit Invests $ 159 million In New Buses; Half of its Bus Fleet Will Be New By 2010" (PDF). SBS Transit Press Release. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  8. ↑ 600 for SBS Transit Bus & Coach Professional 10 September 2010
  9. ↑ SBS orders 1,000 buses Bus & Coach Professional 16 July 2012
  10. ↑ Wrightbus International and Volvo Bus win fourth consecutive contract from SBS Transit Singapore Route One 9 July 2014
  11. ↑ Major order from SBS Bus & Coach Professional 17 July 2014
  12. ↑ Land Transport Guru 2016
  13. ↑ A little bit of London in Melbourne CDC Victoria
  14. ↑ Thompsons Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  15. ↑ Volvo's first Euro 4 on trial in London Bus & Coach Professional 18 July 2006
  16. ↑ "Volvo's first Euro 4 on trial in London". Bus & Coach Professional. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "East Lancs reveals new double-deck look". Bus & Coach Professional. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  18. ↑ "Euro Bus Expo '06: New show, new vehicles". Bus & Coach Professional. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2024. The company's new double-decker, the Olympus, is being shown on Volvo's new B9TL chassis for Delaine of Bourne.
  19. ↑ Open Optares for London Sightseeing Bus & Coach Professional 12 September 2011
  20. ↑ Hong Kong and Dublin back Enviro500 Bus & Coach Professional 29 April 2005
  21. ↑ First drive of Euro 6 Wrightbus Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL Route One 25 June 2014
  22. ↑ Volvo launches B8L tri-axle Route One 30 January 2018

See also

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