SBS 7418J on Service 14

Featured Bus : The Volvo B9TL (Volvo Olympian)

The Volvo B9TL 3-axle high capacity, double-decker bus is the latest double-decker model in the comprehensive lineup of bus chassis by Volvo. It was introduced in 2003 as the successor to the Volvo B10TL Super Olympian. Significant changes were made to the new chassis of the B9TL, the most obvious of them is the relocation of the radiator to the offside rear of the bus, enhancing efficiency and increasing useable space for more passengers on the lower deck. The B9TL is powered by a new 9.4-litre engine originally designed by Renault, the D9A, rated at a minimum of 300bhp. The engine has since been replaced by a new variant, the D9B Euro-IV, rated at 310bhp. The 6-speed ZF Ecoline gearbox comes standard with the chassis, although Volvo offers the 4-speed Voith gearbox as an option for operators. In 2006, a 2-axle version, rated at 260bhp was offered as a replacement for the hugely popular B7TL.

A demonstrator fitted with Volgren bodywork was shipped to Hong Kong’s Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) for evaluations in that same year. A second prototype fitted with a modified version of the TransBus Enviro 500 was delivered in early 2004. The third prototype, fitted with a modified Wrightbus bodywork was delivered later that year. The following year, KMB placed an order for as many as 63 units of the B9TL in 2 batches. Elsewhere, the Volvo B9TL has garnered orders with bus operators in the UK and Ireland.

SBS Transit made headlines when they place a huge order for 150 units of the B9TL, the first major order for the model. The order was placed in November 2004 and deliveries of the completed buses were to start in August the following year. 100 units were fitted with the 6-speed ZF gearbox, with the remainder fitted with the 4-speed Voith gearbox.

SBST’s B9TLs were fitted with an all-new bodywork designed and assembled by homegrown ComfortDelgro Engineering, a sister company of SBS Transit. It is also the first batch of buses to come with manual wheelchair ramps, allowing wheelchair-bound passengers to commute on public buses for the first time ever. Apart from the distinctive futuristic front featuring the ‘single-piece’ windscreen, the width of the bus was widened to a maximum of 2.55 metres and the upper saloon headroom height was increased by 10cm, resulting in the most spacious interior combination on a double-decker in Singapore. The rear upper-deck window also made a comeback. Seating arrangement on the B9TL was made unique with the reintroduction of dual bench seats on the last axle at the lower saloon, and the introduction of linear bench seats at the rear on the upper saloon. The latter’s combination is the first of its kind in the world.

Launched on February 15th 2006, the first 10 buses were deployed on Service 21, plying between Pasir Ris and St Michaels, in June of the same year. Subsequently, SBS Transit also exercised its options for another 50 units, bringing the total number ordered thus far to 200 units, effectively making SBST the largest operator of the B9TL anywhere in the world. To date, nearly all of the original batch of 150 units have been put into service. Another 4 services, 12, 147, 196 & 198, have been designated official Wheelchair Accessible Bus (WAB) services. A few more services are expected to be designated as WAB services soon, such as Services 2, 7, 51, 72 and 76. These services have seen a significant number of B9TLs deployed permanently, as preparations for the launch. Many other double-decker services have also seen the occasional deployment of the B9TLs, usually replacing another bus on the services. Others speculated that SBST is evaluating the suitability of such wide buses on the services. Among the most bizarre deployment to date was on Services 19, 161, 168 and 174, and even Townlink 222. The remaining 50 units are expected to hit the roads by year’s end.

SBS Transit is expected to increase the number of WABs in its fleet to more than half within the next 6 years, as fleet renewal kicks in with the withdrawal of the nearly 20-year-old Volvo B10M Mark 2s, the Scania N113CRBs and the Mercedes Benz O405s. As many as 1,100 units will be replaced by the new buses.

Statistics

• Model : B9TL (Bus, 9-litre engine, Transversely-laid engine, Low floor)
• Product Name : Volvo Olympian
• Length : 12 m
• Height : 4.3 m
• Width : 2.55 m
• Bodywork : ComfortDelgro Engineering
• Fleet Size : 200 (150 units batch 1 in 2004 + 50 units batch 2 in 2006)
• Registration Numbers : SBS 7300P to SBS 7499A
• Deployment : Services 2, 7, 12*, 21*, 51, 72, 76, 147*, 196* and 198* (* denotes designated WAB services)
• Seating Capacity : 53 seats (upper deck) + 27 seats (lower deck) + 1 wheelchair

Special Features :

1. 1. Spacious interior, width of 2.55m, upper deck headroom height of 1.83m
   2. Individual bucket seats by Vogel-Sitze of Germany
   3. Extensive use of composite materials, reducing weight and improving efficiency
   4. Futuristic distinctive ‘single-piece’ full-length front windscreen
   5. New ticket dispenser machine and coinbox
   6. New advertising handgrips by 3M
   7. Equipped with colour CCTV cameras on both decks and to capture images of vehicles that intrudes into bus lanes
   8. Kneeling and self-levelling function
   9. Manually-operated wheelchair ramp
   10. LED signal lights, with 2 located on the offside rear and left rear
   11. Environmentally-friendly, Euro-III certified bus

This entry was originally published in March 2007.