Neoplan Centroliner
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Neoplan Centroliner | |
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Transmission | 4-speed VOITH Diwa automatic, 6-speed ZF Ecomat automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 5,875 mm (231.3 in) |
Width | 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) |
Height | 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Neoplan Metroliner family (N4016) |
Successor | MAN Lion's City |
The Neoplan Centroliner is a series of
The product range of Centroliner included:
Specifications (2009)
The Neoplan Centroliner is available in a range of styles and dimensions. As of 2009[update], the Centroliner consists of the following specifications and powertrain detail.[1] [2][5]
model | internal combustion engine | max. power @ rpm | max. torque @ rpm | transmission |
wheelbase | length | width | height | passengers seats / standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Centroliner N4516 ( single-deck 2-axle) [5] |
turbodiesel |
199 or 228 PS; 267 or 306 bhp ) @ 1,900 or 1,700 – Euro4235 or 265 kW (320 or 360 PS; 315 or 355 bhp) @ 1,900 – EEV |
1,250 or 1,550 N⋅m (922 or 1,143 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 1,600 or 1,800 N⋅m (1,180 or 1,328 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 |
4-speed automatic 6-speed ZF automatic |
5,875 mm (231.3 in) | 11.95 m (39 ft 2 in) | 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) | 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in) | 36+1 / 56 |
Centroliner N4516P (single-deck 2-axle) [5] |
MAN D2066 LUH 10,520 cc (642.0 cu in) R6 common rail turbodiesel |
199 or 228 kW (271 or 310 PS; 267 or 306 bhp) @ 1,900 or 1,700 – Euro4 235 or 265 kW (320 or 360 PS; 315 or 355 bhp) @ 1,900 – EEV |
1,250 or 1,550 N⋅m (922 or 1,143 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 1,600 or 1,800 N⋅m (1,180 or 1,328 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 |
4-speed automatic 6-speed ZF automatic |
5,875 mm (231.3 in) | 11.95 m (39 ft 2 in) | 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) | 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in) | 44+1 / 48 |
Centroliner N4522 (articulated 3-axle) [5] |
MAN D2066 LUH 10,520 cc (642.0 cu in) R6 common rail turbodiesel |
228 or 257 kW (310 or 349 PS; 306 or 345 bhp) @ 1,700 – Euro4 235 or 265 kW (320 or 360 PS; 315 or 355 bhp) @ 1,900 – EEV |
1,550 or 1,750 N⋅m (1,143 or 1,291 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 1,600 or 1,800 N⋅m (1,180 or 1,328 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,000–1,400 |
4-speed automatic 6-speed ZF automatic |
5,875 and 5,055 mm (231.3 and 199.0 in) | 18.72 m (61 ft 5 in) | 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) | 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in) | 56+1 / 108 |
Hong Kong
Neoplan Centroliner was the third type of
Kowloon Motor Bus
KMB received the first Neoplan Centroliner in September 1998, after the test-drive of the 15 metres (49 ft)
In 2000, KMB received 60 Centroliner N4426/3s, followed by 50 similar buses in 2000/2001. They (AP21-AP130) were allocated to long-distance routes serving North/Yuen Long/Tuen Mun Districts.
In April 2001, KMB acquired two Centroliner N4426/3s (AP131-AP132) which were fitted with
transmissions. They were coated with special metallic 'flip' paint, which shows different colours (mainly green and purple), depending on the angle of light reflection. They entered service in August 2001. One of them (AP131) was repainted in the standard KMB champagne gold livery in 2010.In 2002, KMB acquired a further 30 Centroliner N4426/3s (AP133-AP162) with MAN Euro 3 engines. Two of them (fleet number AP144, AP159) are the world's first two transit buses to be equipped with six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is a modified ZF Ecomat 6HP602C. They were the test buses of Eco-driveline (with large differential gear ratio, engine with high low-end torque and six-speed automatic gearbox).
Withdrawal of the first batch of Neoplan Centroliners started in 2016. The last were retired in 2018.
In May 2003, KMB received a NEOMAN Centroliner N4426/3 (APM1) with
New World First Bus
After KMB put its first 20 Centroliners into service, NWFB announced the order of 30 Neoplan Centroliner N4426/3s in October 1999. They were delivered in 2000 and entered service in 2000/2001.
Since 2004, a number of these buses have been suspended from service. Some believe that it is caused by the difficulty in maintenance by NWFB, or due to the fleet quota limit set by the
The last Neoplan Centroliner in NWFB (Fleet numbers 6024, 6027, 6030) was retired in February 2019, indicating that there are no more Neoplan Centroliners in franchised service.
Sun Bus
Sun Bus acquired two Neoplan Centroliners (formerly AP144, 146) from Kowloon Motor Bus, so that they could provide high capacity non-franchised private hire vehicles.
They first appeared as a shuttle for tourists from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in a KMB gold livery with no logo.
In December 2019, former AP146 toppled to its side on the roof of KMB's Lai Chi Kok depot. The bus was repaired and was put back into service two months later.[7] The bus later retired in mid-2020.
Premature withdrawal
One Kowloon Motor Bus-owned Centroliner (fleet number AP69) was forced off a viaduct by a lorry on Tuen Mun Road on 10 July 2003 and was subsequently written off. The remains of the bus were then sent to Long Win Bus's depot in Siu Ho Wan for inspection and storage. The remains were finally sold for scrap in 2008.
In total, 21 people (20 passengers and a bus driver) were killed in this accident, making this the deadliest road accident in Hong Kong history; it is still yet to be beaten. The lorry driver involved was sentenced to 18 months in jail after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He later on appealed against the rulings, which were subsequently overturned. He was then found guilty of careless driving, and his sentence was shortened to six months.
See also
References
- ^ a b "MAN D2066, D2676 Common-Rail Euro4 vehicle diesel engines". MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG. Neoplan.info. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Technical data – Diesel engines for Buses". MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG. Neoplan.info. Archived from the original (jpg image) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "Neoplan 1997–99". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ^ "The strategy of the Neoplan VIP Class brand". MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group. Neoplan.de. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Neoplan Centroliner" (PDF). MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG. Neoplan.de. 0907. Retrieved 29 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "ACROSS 14". 1005.idv.hk.
- ^ "荔枝角車廠天台九巴離奇瞓低". Oriental Daily News. 28 December 2019.
External links
- Neoplan Centroliner – official website