Hong Kong Buses 2017 香港巴士2017年 – The Oldest Buses of KMB – 九巴最老的巴士

This video documents the decline of a number of older KMB bus types, with a focus on vehicles with H- and J- prefix registrations.

The first type seen here to be completely eradicated was the ADS-class of 9.9 metre Dennis Dragons. These were the last step-entrance double deckers remaining on franchised services in Hong Kong (although non-low floor buses can still be found on residential services). With them disappeared the traditional white aircon livery, leaving only champagne-coloured low-floor buses - at least until KMB unveiled its new red "Heartbeat" livery later in the year.

Delivered before the last Dennis Dragons were the first Dennis Tridents, and withdrawals of these continued in 2017, especially the Duple Metsec-bodied examples. Inroads have also been made into the massive 3ASV fleet of Volvo Super Olympians, and by the end of 2018 their numbers will have been substantially reduced. The ASV class of 100 short 10.6m Super Olympians was intact at the end of 2017; these are probably safe until 2019 if emissions regulations don't kill them off sooner.

Towards the end of 2017, KMB took the decision to accelerate the retirement of buses with the old-style plastic destination and route number boards, in order to standardise on electronic destination displays. The old type of display is easily distinguished because it is bold white-on-black (amd some say easier to read).

Early in 2018, we will see the first signifigant withdrawals of Neoplan Centroliners and the distinctive MAN/Berkhofs, which were a diverted order from Citybus.

The film finishes with a quick look at some members of the training fleet, mostly retired 11m and 12m Volvo Olympians, although low-floor types are now making an appearance here too. In Shatin, your chances of being run over by a learner bus driver are relatively high!

To get these shots I travelled all over Kowloon and the New Territories, including places well off the tourist trail, such as Cheung On, Lee On, Tsz Wan Shan, Wah Ming and Wong Nai Tau.