SBS Transit : Mercedes Benz Citaro O530 / EvoBus

The first of the SBS Transit Citaro, SBS6000L debuted on 1st of June 2011 on revenue service 28. The appearance is very similar to the SMRT Buses' Citaros introduced earlier in 2011 save for the livery and customisations with no major design changes in its exerior.

300 buses are ordered by SBS Transit as announced by Daimler on its press release.

SBS Transit's Citaro's features set is very similar to the SMRT Buses' production batch Citaro; there are only minor configuration/specification differences between the SBST and SMRT version. Therefore we recommend to further read the production batch Citaro's writeup to compliment this article.

SBS6000L on 28 is the first SBS Transit Citaro to debut on revenue service.

The destination signage is by LAWO, the same as SMRT's Citaro specification with its LAWO Benefit system. All SBS Transit Citaros are fitted with Alcoa rims as standard as it is lighter.

The front rims captures attention with its unique design and Mercedes Benz badge in the middle, adding a classy feel to the entire bus.

The front Alcoa rims have the Mercedes Benz rim caps installed.

The 300 Citaros are expected to be fitted with Voith DIWA 854.5 gearboxes and to fitted with Konvekta air-conditioning as standard.

SBS6000L on a familiarisation run before its debut.

No blue wheelchair logo is found on the bumper that was seen in the press release photo, it is replaced by the removable wheelchair accessible logo on the windscreen.

The rear of the Citaro

 The placement of the rear signage is customised by SBS Transit to be placed on the top left.

Interior

Going on board the Citaro.

Stickers pasted by SBS Transit to caution passengers to stand clear of doors

Passenger handrails are purple.

The fire extinguisher compartment is covered up and flush with the interior.

The door movement area stickers is now curved instead of the triangles found on the previous low floor wheelchair accessible buses.

The dashboard console. The small Voith lettering can be seen gear selector's N button.

The information sticker advising passengers to pay the correct fares is above the bus captain.

The signage controller, CCTV screen and additional vents located above the driver.

The door system and emergency control.

The interior of SBS Transit's Citaro is configured with SBS Transit's standard colours of red/yellow seat covers and purple grab poles. The brown colour from the Gemilang bodied K230UBs is not used, instead grey and white is the interior colour.

The bus stopping sign says "Stopping".

Speakers. Though there are no announcements played.

The aircon ductings have advertisment panel holders installed.

The aircondition filter.

The entire front half of the bus is designated for priority seats (marked with yellow seats) on the non-step space.

The interior of SBS Transit's Citaro.

The left and the right wheelarch seats are designated to be priority seats, have side handrails installed to for the convenience of the passengers.

The left wheelarch seat.

Grab poles behind the left wheelarch seats.

The right wheelarch seat.

The grabpoles behind the right wheelarch seats. the grey colour thing could be a headrest of sorts for the rear-facing seats.

The left rear facing seats, with a grabpole installed.

And also at this rear facing seat for one adult and one child only, with another grabpole installed.

Left side seats.

And the right side seats.

The space in the aisle at the front half of the bus is adequate

The Passenger-In-Wheelchair (PIW) bay/standee area.

Two posters pasted on the bus windows at the PIW/standee area showcasing the features of the new Mercedes Benz Citaro bus.

Two posters describing the features of the new Citaro.

The PIW bay as seen from the back.

The door closing sign and emergency control.

The door system. There are two additional small grab poles at each side of the exit, below the ezlink card reader.

Wheelchair ramp.

Towards the rear half of the Citaro.

The rear half of the bus.

The left wheelarch seats.

The wheelarch seats on the right arch.

The seat is higher and will leave the feet dangling in the air.

The rear row of seats.

Part of the engine components is housed here.

Please mind your head sticker. There is also a CCTV camera to provide a view of the rear, complimenting the installed CCTV systems.

In short, though despite the similarities (given its based on the standardised Citaro design), SBS Transit's Citaros are decidely different from its SMRT cousins. The SBS Transit Citaros are also the "spritual successor" for the retired Mercedes Benz O405 (WA/DM) buses, carrying on the legacy of Mercedes Benz in SBS Transit.

Misc

Please move to the rear plate, instead of small "Please move to the rear" stickers.

The blue touch-sensitive Passenger In Wheelchair button.

Bus stopping bell.

Wheel chocks comes as standard in the Citaros.

**As of post date, the delievery of the 300 Citaros are in progress.