Скачать или смотреть [CDC Hillsbus] Bustech CDi (Trial Batch) review

To farewell the iconic Hillsbus brand, which was officially merged into the CDCNSW branding at the start of April, I decided to check out one of Hillsbus's first double decker vehicles.
8 of these vehicles were originally ordered by Transport for NSW from Bustech in 2014, whose double decker CDi had recently gained panel approval. Prior to the CDi, the last double deckers in Sydney were the Leyland Atlanteans, the last of which was retired by the State Transit Authority in 1979. Of these 8 vehicles, 5 of them went to Hillsbus while 2 went to Forest Coach Lines and one to Busways Western Sydney.

Unlike m/o 800, which I reviewed last year, these vehicles have Mobitec flipdot displays instead of LEDs. Unfortunately, the flipdots, particularly the ones on the side, are very difficult to view. On the inside, these vehicles have seats trimmed in Westbus seat fabric, in contrast to the Hillsbus moquette fitted to newer Hillsbus CDis.
One thing that hasn't changed is the specifications of these vehicles. All Hillsbus Bustech CDis have an integral Cummins ISL Euro 5 engine rated at 360 horsepower, fed through a six speed ZF EcoLife gearbox.

Double deckers tend to be favoured even by regular commuters, and the front two seats on the top deck are almost always hotly contested real estate. Fortunately, on this trip, it was free for the taking.
Among transport enthusiasts, double deckers seem to be a mixed bag. Many claim that these vehicles remind them of the Atlanteans, while others see them as the end of an era of articulated vehicles in Sydney. Nevertheless, these vehicles are a truly amazing piece of kit, even then-Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian was keen to take a ride on one!

You can find the review of Hillsbus's newer batch of Bustech CDis here:
   • [Hillsbus] Bustech CDi review