SBS intake of SMRT MAN buses

CB2883J SG

Hi all,

So as we know SBST has taken in SMRT-spec MAN buses, including MAN A95s (first hand) and A22/A24 (second hand). Perhaps we can use this thread to collate information and discussion.

There is currently more discussion on the A95s under the A95 thread, but does anyone have more information or photos on the A22s/A24s? Am very curious about them and there is little information or even speculation.

A22:
SMB3076Y
SMB3079P
SMB3096P
SMB3097L
SMB3122Y

A24:
SMB8003A
SMB8004Y
SMB8008L

There remain some curiosities about them. SMRT transferred so many over at one go, yet SBST has not deployed any of them on revenue service or training. If it were just for mechanic familiarisation, wouldn't one or two of each type do? All they have done is stick logo stickers (any photos btw, all I've seen is one photo of 8003 with SBST logos; but it seems the other two bendies did not have logo).

The other thing is, some people have assumed the A24 will be used on 24, but notice that when T4 opens, 858 is among the services that will skip T4. It has been suggested that this is because T4 is not bendy friendly. But 24 will serve T4. So will 24 still get the bendies?

Mods, if this thread is irrelevant feel free to close thanks

carbikebus SG

What make you think T4 isn’t bendy friendly?Care to elaborate more?

carbikebus SG

First of all,There isn’t much Citaros and B9TLs for Yishun service thus SBST have no choice but to intake those MANs.At 480m for 5 years operating contract,SBST can’t earn more profits let alone spending another chunk sum of money to maintain those MAN buses.About the bendies,Most probably LTA persuade them to use.About those A95 at Hgdep/Bndep,Most probably to replace Tridents/VSOs earlier given there isn’t much new B9TL to run around.

LTA should just standardised those A95 to all operators.

TTS can transfer over 15 Enviros and 15 B9TL to SMRT/SBST

GAS can transfer over 30 B9TL to SMRT/SBST.

CB2883J SG

What make you think T4 isn’t bendy friendly?Care to elaborate more?

All right. This wasn't my personal speculation, but I saw some comments online where people were speculating about airport services (it was linked to the news of airport svc fleets being replaced with full Citaro). Then someone brought up 858 not going T4 and said maybe cos T4 not bendy friendly. After that, someone else noticed the services not going T4 are 27, 53 and 858 which are all high loading services, hence speculated that these services not going T4 cos T4 cannot fit bendy and then next time these 3 services use bendy.

carbikebus SG

I don’t think T4 isn’t bendy friendly.

carbikebus SG

By the way,SBST didn’t takd SMRT buses but LTA buses.

array88 SG

I think these 3 services are not going T4 because they do not have additional capacity to take pax from T4...

SMB128B SG

I think these 3 services are not going T4 because they do not have additional capacity to take pax from T4...

But so doesn't 34...

A22 fan SG

Service 34 and 36 are GA. Which is the anchor operator for CGA bus terminal at T2. So naturally they have to cover all 4 terminals.

A22 fan SG

A24 was not the BCM model initially in the list till Seletar package commerce date getting closer. Their transfer to SBS from SMRT by LTA arrangement still a surprise to me even by now.

carbikebus SG

A24 was not the BCM model initially in the list till Seletar package commerce date getting closer. Their transfer to SBS from SMRT by LTA arrangement still a surprise to me even by now.

LTA already bought over those A24 else how could SMRT transfer to SBST?

CB2883J SG

A24 was not the BCM model initially in the list till Seletar package commerce date getting closer. Their transfer to SBS from SMRT by LTA arrangement still a surprise to me even by now.

So I still wonder why SBST need take in A24. To me there's only two possibilities - one is that one or more of the Yishun services in the package cannot use DD but has high loading, other is for 24. So it all boils down to which services have fleet restriction.

A22 fan SG

@carbikebus. LTA might have bought over these small number of second hand A24s meant for BCM purpose then they allocated them to SBS. Thats the process I know.

array88 SG

I remember last time 811 and probably some other Yishun feeders/intra-towns had DD trial but no followups on that... Could it be that the trial failed because of fleet restriction?

carbikebus SG

811/812 no fleet restrictions..Its just that AMDEP doesn’t have enough A95/E500 to play around..Unless they intake B9TL.

A22 fan SG

Amkdep SMRT seems to be relctant to intake B9tl just like KJ and WL relctant to intake citaros.

carbikebus SG

Amkdep SMRT seems to be relctant to intake B9tl just like KJ and WL relctant to intake citaros.

In fact,They should take all the Wldep B9TL for their 804,806,807,811 & 812 and exchange A95 for that.

carbikebus SG

I really hope SBST doesnt detuned the MAN buses like how they did it for their Citaro/KUB & B9TL.For 6 speed ZF its always the 2nd/3rd gear they detuned and Voith 4 speed its the 2nd gear.

CB2883J SG

Land transport guru has a picture of the A24s as well as what I presume to be 3076 sporting SBST logo. Notably, the side logo has been revised to the smaller "BCM size" one.

http://landtransportguru.net/web/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SBS-Transit-MAN-A24.jpg

CB2883J SG

SMB3076Y in HGDEP for training, heard