SMRT Buses : MAN NL323F A22 Production Batch / Gemilang (MAN Lion's City Hybrid) (Production batch)

>> Do read here for the preview and writeup of the exterior of the new MAN A22, SMB189A last month.

SMB191S, the other bus registered.

On the handover day on 1st Oct 2011 from MAN to SMRT Buses, 2 buses were brought in, Of the two buses, SMB191S was newly registered the day before the launch.

The launch poster, featuring the Lion mascot.

A paper replica of the MAN NL3232F A22 for the guests.

With the purchase of 200 MAN A22 buses, it marks an exciting first for Singapore's public transport that MAN public buses will be widely used by a public transport operator. For the launch, both buses sport a full body advertisement promoting the features of the MAN A22.

SMRT Buses : "Bringing you a new travel experience!"

Given that the bodywork is based on the Lion's City Hybrid, it's also the basis for the Lion mascot. The Lion's City in the Lion City, Singapore!

SMB191S exiting Hort Park after the launch.

The rear with advertisement. The tail lamps components uses LED, enhancing visibility.

A first for SMRT Buses, the MAN NL323F A22 are equipped with Alcoa rims with rimguards. Very stylish!

Alcoa rims!

The layout of the production MAN A22 buses and SMB138Y is very similar. Therefore we recommend to read SMB138Y's writeup to compliment this article

INTERIOR

Gemilang-designed components

The design of the driver cabin is brought over from SMB138Y

Welcome Aboard SMRT!

The similar driving cab.

The interior layout is identical to SMB138Y. You can see what's behind the bus with the rear window in the production batch. The middle bus stopping bell is retained for visiblity for the rear half of the passenger cabin.

Interior of SMB189A

The Mobitec electronic display signage (EDS) signage on the production MAN buses have a new longer side EDS signage, replacing the traditional number only display and allowing for the display of route number & route details on the side.

The new long Mobitec side EDS

There is a new EDS formatting that is justified to the left, allowing for more space to show the places passing by in a longer name rather than abbreviations (varies by route details).

The aircon filter is a flat filter intake on the roof, while aircon outlets are not the adjustable types found on the OC500LE and SMB138Y.

The Denso aircon filter is flat, and not the design found on SMB138Y, which protrudes (rather uglily) into the passenger cabin.

The aircon outlet is non-adjustable.

Unlike SMB138Y, there is no wifi/LG advertisement TV fitted.

No mobile advertising/wifi installed.

Like the demo, there is an exta foldable seat at the wheelchair bay.

The door closing system.

The exit door system is sliding plug door like SMB138Y, though it looks like a different model of the door system.

Exterior view.

A GIF by SMRT Buses on the door opening and closing.

A minor difference in the rear half of SMB189A and the rest of the production batch, as SMB189A was a production interior demonstrator.

  

SMB189A's rear half has a step leading to the rear row of seats. "BEWARE OF STEPS"

Feedbacks saw the step removed and the rear gently sloped up to the rear row of seats from SMB190U onwards. Also there is a headrest on innermost right seat in the second last row.

Gentle slope replaces the step for the other 199 MAN production buses.

On the morning of 3rd Oct 2011, SMB189A debuted on 963E, and in the evening, it did 963.

On 963E in the morning towards Harbourfront

On 963 at night towards Woodlands Interchange.

For more information on the new MAN A22, do check out this webpage by SMRT: http://smrt.com.sg/manbus/

Daimler Buses delivers SBS Transit's 300 Mercedes Benz Citaros

SBS Transit's Mercedes Benz Citaros (Photo courtesy of Diamler Buses)

Following the press release in September 2010 annoucing the order of 300 award winning stepless bus, the first batch of SBS Transit's Mercedes Benz Citaros are currently being delivered into Singapore.

It is the largest order from Asia to date for Mercedes Benz, and the Citaros are are Euro V compliant.

Read the press release from Daimler here @ http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-7153-1-1385999-1-0-0-0-0-0-16694-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html

Mercedes Benz Citaros for SBS Transit.

SBS Transit Invests In Award-Winning Stepless Buses


SBS Transit's next batch of single-deck buses will crank up the comfort level several notches - thanks to a completely stepless aisle.
Known as a through low-floor bus, the aisle of the Mercedes Citaro is flushed flat from the front of the bus to the back . This makes it especially friendly to elderly passengers who no longer need to climb steps to reach the back of other low-floor models currently on the road. The 300 Citaros, which have won several international awards including the "2007 Bus of the Year" and the "Best Commercial Vehicles of 2010", will also have more than 10 priority seats which will be easily accessible by the elderly and the handicapped.
SBS Transit will pay $110 million for the 300 Citaros. Together with another 300 new double-deck buses from Volvo, they are scheduled to hit our local roads over the next two years starting from 2011.

The latest bus purchase of $268 million brings SBS Transit's total investment in new buses over the last five years to $854 million. It will lower the age of our existing buses from nine years to seven years.

SBS Transit Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gan Juay Kiat, said: "We are excited about our latest bus purchase. The saloon layout of the new single-deck through low-floor buses is more commuter-friendly."

Mr Gan added that when the new single- and double-deck are rolled out over the next two years, two out of every three buses in the SBS Transit fleet will be new.

"This means we will have one of the youngest fleets in Asia," he said.

As with recent bus purchases, the latest batch of new buses are Euro 5 compliant.

Background

SBS Transit operates 193 basic bus services and 53 premium and niche services. The company currently has close to 3,000 buses where one in two of its buses is new. Since our fleet renewal programme commenced in 2006, we have bought 1,450 new buses, of which 1,100 are single deck buses from Scania and 350 are double-deck ones from Volvo. All are wheelchair-accessible buses.

Exterior view of the Citaro Bus which was named "Best Commercial Vehicles of 2010 - City Bus" and "2007 Bus of the Year".

Stepless aisle in the bus

http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/2010-09-06-01-S.aspx

With this press release, SBS Transit has bought 300 Mercedes Benz Citaros. It is likely due to the popularity of the Citaro, coupled with an attractive quotation for the buses allowing for such a purchase to happen.

Meanwhile, SMRT Buses' SMB136C is still currently under 1 year trial. If the trial is successful it will also lead to the mass purchase of the Citaros. It will be the second time since the 1980's era that a common bus model and bodywork is being used (the first being Nissan Diesel U31 series).