Volvo B9TL

SBS9818A SG

Recently a Volgren-bodied B9TL has been delivered to KMB, changes from the B10TL is that the radiator has been moved from the offside to the rear, like the B7TL, and uses a D9C engine, instead of a D10A. This bus is the replacement of the B10TL as we know it.

Photos : http://www.omb-extra.fsnet.co.uk/volvob9tl.htm

Do you think SBST will buy this bus to replace 2-axle LOs, 3-axle LOs, etc when the time comes? Comments?

SBS9810X SG

Darryl,this is the same type of bodywork used on our Singapore vsos,looking at this,I think Sbs Transit will rather buy vsos than this bus as they have made an order of 90 vsos and Sbs Transit prefers to use olympians.

SBS9816E SG

Huh!? 90 VSOs ordered by SBST? I thought that there's only 51 of it!

Anyway, this bodywork is as similiar as Singapore's bodywork. What I like about the B9TL is that the radiator is placed at the back of the bus.

Superbus SG

More VSOs? Unlikely, as Darryl had stated that the B9TL is the replacement for VSO. We might see new VSOs on our roads, that is IF SBST purchased the bus recently. If not, then B9TL is the only option should SBST decides to purchase more Volvo DDs.

Of which, it reminds me of 3-axle B7L DD bus, operated by First Glasgow of Scotland and a couple of operators in Denmark. Is the bus a low-floor model?

Regarding the bodywork, I just think it's an updated version of the CR222LD bodywork. But notice that the upper windscreen is 'sunken' and the more obvious one, smaller lower deck windows.

Cheers and warm regards

SBS9818A SG

Wrong. Dorothy has confirmed with me that NO FURTHER VSO order has been made. Not to mention that this bus will take over from the VSO, so SBST has no choice.

SBS9818A SG

The B9TL designator denotes that it is a low-floor. The B7L is definitely a low-floor with vertically-mounted engine. VSO speculation can end, SBST only ordered 50, no further order has been placed according to Dorothy and her wonderful letter(I'm not joking, this time it was well-written!).

SBS9810X SG

I thought SBST ordered a total no of 90 vso and 49 have arrived?The 49 vsos are from 9800A-9849K.

SBS9818A SG

Nope. Only 51 are on record, including 9888Y. How you count one? SBS 9800A - SBS 9849K comprises of 50 buses. SBST has not made any further order, to my and Dorothy's knowledge.

Superbus SG

I thought someone said that there is an uncompleted VSO chassis at HGDEP. Which means that there should be 52 VSOs. SBS9810X is not in the batch of 50, which explains why it was built at Melbourne instead of HG/BA.

Cheers and warm regards

SBS9818A SG

Yes, but that uncompleted chassis is unconfirmed, we have to see it for real. SBS 9810X could be part of a deal with Volvo, buy 50-get-1-free thing, same for Volgren.

Apparently, the assembly plant has been closed, so be prepared to see CBU buses being driven from the docks to the depot instead of trucks towing chassis!

Superbus SG

I see.

It's good to see new SBST buses being imported fully built from now on. But what if SBST gave out contracts to, say Soon Chow to body their buses? Shocked

Cheers and warm regards

AntiDennisLance SG

Yeah it will be good if the SBS buses are CBU. Those locally assembled ones mostly have problems like noisily creaking frames or loose panels etc.

Soon Chow? They were the prime bodyworks contractor in the 70's and early 80s. It can be possible now too. Heh. It would be a nice rennaisance. Imagine an O405 chassis with the corrugated steel, marsten matting flooring bodyworks! Ha ha ha. It would certainly be interesting. Nolstagic.

SBS9818A SG

Hahaha!! Maybe Toh Kay Yat Bus Company could do the job as well. However, these are so unlikely, SBST will probably contract bodywork to Volgren now, since they seem to be the distributor for Volgren body parts in SG.

SBS9810X SG

You will notice most of sbst new buses now are bodied by Volgren.

SBS9810X SG

For SBS9800A-SBS9849K that has 50 vsos and I said 49,paiseh Embarassed .But many sbst staff said that there will be 90 vsos and 50 have arrived??????Why is that so?

SBS9818A SG

You think I don't know ah?

SBS9818A SG

They were lying to you. CorpComms took a month to reply to my question regarding the VSOs and they have confirmed only 50 are on order, and there is NO FURTHER order AS YET.

xin1jun2 SG

IMHO

soon chow buses windows will look very volgrenish if locally built. we could mistake them for volgrens only by looking at the side.

but the back of soon chow bodied buses sure are ugly not to mentioned the not really smiley front.

ZYX