Volvo B10M
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Volvo B10M | |
---|---|
intercity bus Double-decker bus | |
Doors | 1-3 |
Floor type | Step entrance |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 9.6-litre horizontally mid-mounted I-6 Volvo THD100, THD101, THD102, THD103, THD104, DH10A |
Capacity | 40 to 91 seated |
Transmission | Voith DIWA 381.4 Voith DIWA 863.3 ZF 4HP 500 ZF 5HP 500 ZF 5HP 560 |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 4.60, 5.00, 5.50, 6.00, 6.25, 6.50, 7.00 metres |
Length | varies |
Height | varies |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Volvo B58 |
Successor | Volvo B12M |
The Volvo B10M was a
History
Designed as a successor to the Volvo B58, a large portion of B10M chassis were built in Sweden, but some were built in other countries, like the United Kingdom[1][2] and Brazil.[3][4]
The B10M was one of the best-selling chassis in the United Kingdom throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Having originally been produced only as a coach chassis, the B10M was made available as a
It was available as B10M-46, B10M-50, B10M-55, B10M-60, B10M-62, B10M-65 and B10M-70, where the number represents the wheelbase in decimetres. Many bodybuilders did however shorten or extend the chassis to fit their needs. No later than 1981 a tri-axle chassis was introduced, available as B10M-50B, B10M-55B, B10M-60B, B10M-65B and B10M-70B, with some bodybuilders extending them up to 7.25 metres wheelbase.
B10MD/D10M
A double-decker version of the B10M was developed for Strathclyde PTE in 1981. It was launched in early 1982, with a downrated engine from the coach, and was named Citybus (also known unofficially as B10MD or D10M). Most early examples were bodied by Alexander Coachbuilders, who provided a modified version - common to all Volvo double-deck chassis bodied by the company after 1980 - of their popular and attractive R type bodywork. Eastern Scottish and Fife Scottish bought many of these early versions in 1985–1987. Two were exported in 1984, one of them to Singapore Bus Service and the other to Kowloon Motor Bus, but was destroyed by fire in 1988. The Citybus lasted until the end of B10M production but fell out of favour after Volvo re-engineered the Leyland Olympian as the Volvo Olympian in 1993.[5]
B9M
The B9M was launched in 1982 as a light-weight, stripped-down, budget version of the standard B10M. It was available as B9M-46, B9M-50, B9M-55 and B9M-60. Although technically not a successor to the B57, it found more or less the same place in the markets where it was available. The B9M had the same 9.6-litre engine as the B10M, but at lower outputs. It sold well in the Nordic countries, with the exception of Denmark, where only a few were sold. The model was available at least past 1996.
In the United Kingdom, the B9M-46 was sold as a shorter 9.5 to 9.7 metre version of the B10M from 1985.[6]
B10MT and B10T
From 1984, a
C10M and B10M-C
In 1984, Swiss bodybuilder Ramseier & Jenzer collaborated with Volvo to unveil a semi-integral coach known as the C10M, with the engine in the middle of the chassis. Production of the C10M was ended in 1987, but the position of the engine was still available as an option and became known as B10M-C.
United Kingdom
Coach operators
In the 1990s,
The B10MA
Singapore
Singapore Bus Service evaluated a mid-engine Volvo B10MD double-decker bus bodied by East Lancashire Coachbuilders in 1984. No further double-deck B10MD units were acquired however. A second B10M demonstrator was an air-conditioned single-deck bus bodied by Van Hool and was acquired in 1986. It was also the only Volvo B10M Mark I acquired by Singapore Bus Service and it was sold to an operator in New Zealand by the end of the 1990s.[9]
The Volvo B10M Mark IIs were the first to be used, with 200 delivered between March 1988 and April 1989. They were retired by May 2008 after fulfilling their 19-year lifespan, except one which was sold to New Zealand. The Mark IIs were replaced by
300 B10M Mark IIIs were delivered between November 1992 and June 1993. They were bodied by Duple Metsec, and had received mid-life refurbishment. Most units received a two-year lifespan extension due to insufficient replacement buses, and were all retired by June 2012.
475 B10M Mark IVs were delivered between June 1995 and December 2000. They were bodied by either Duple Metsec or Walter Alexander Strider. Mid-life refurbishments extended their lifespan by two years, and 30 DM3500-bodied buses received another one-year extension in 2017 due to insufficient replacement buses. All these buses have been retired as of 23 December 2018.
A 14.5m B10M Superlong tri-axle bus, bodied by Duple Metsec, was purchased in 1995 (UITP Congress 1995) and retired in October 2012.
A 19m B10MA articulated bus, also bodied by Duple Metsec, was purchased in 1996. It was known as "Asia's Longest Bus". In 2006, it was sold to Bayes Coachlines in New Zealand.
Japan
For
United States
From 1983 to 1986, a number of B10Ms were built and used in the United States. The American B10M was manufactured mostly in its articulated form (which was purchased by
Australia
In Australia, the B10M was purchased by government operators Adelaide Metro, Brisbane Transport and Metro Tasmania,[12][13] as well as private operators, with large fleets built up in Sydney by Busways and Westbus,[14][15] and in Melbourne by Grenda Corporation and Sita Buslines.[16][17]
Three-axle B10Ms were fitted with high and
New Zealand
In New Zealand, two Volvo B10Ms with VöV bodies built by Coachwork International were ordered by Auckland Regional Council in 1985. These are the only Volvo buses to receive the VoV body.[18]
In 1996, five ex-Hong Kong Stagecoach Volvo B10Ms were sold to New Zeleand from Hong Kong because of disposal in Hong Kong residential bus services.
Belgium
At least 168
In Belgium, most of the buses on B10BMA chassis were owned by public operators while the B10B buses belonged to private leasers, working on contract with these operators.
While most of these buses are now withdrawn in Belgium, De Lijn still owns some articulated Jonckheere Transit 2000 G.[19]
Greece
The articulated version of the B10M constructed by Saracakis under the name "Alexandros" in 1993, 1995 and 1997. All the buses were ordered by Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization in Thessaloniki, Greece.
- 1993 version was featured with steering in the rear axle.
- The 1995 and 1997 are facelift versions and the chassis on the rear part was changed.
In
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, three bus companies purchased Volvo B10Ms.
Citybus (CTB) ordered 10 Volvo B10Ms with Van Hool bodied and THD101GD engine fitted between 1990 and 1992 for their border-crossing service between Hong Kong and Mainland China. In 1997, CTB ordered two more Volvo B10Ms with China Volvo bus bodied and DH10A engine fitted into its border fleet. After the closure of border-crossing service, those B10Ms has been sold to private tourist bus companies in Hong Kong.
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation ordered 15 Volvo B10Ms in 1995 for replacing second-handed MCW Metrobus fleet, with Northern Counties bodied, ZF4HP500 gearbox and Volvo THD102KF engine fitted. These buses also fitted with Lazzerini chairs inside the interior. All ex-KCRC B10Ms has sold to the MTR Corporation because of the merge of mass railways service in Hong Kong in late 2007.
In 1994, Stagecoach Hong Kong ordered five B10Ms with Alexander PS bodied and THD101GC engine fitted, these B10Ms were serviced at private house estates residential services in Hong Kong operated by Stagecoach company. But in 1996, Stagecoach company Hong Kong closed, these Volvo B10Ms were sold to New Zealand.
Replacement
The B10M as a single-deck bus was complemented (and was largely replaced) by the low-floor rear-engined B10L and B10BLE chassis in some markets in the late 1990s. In 2001 the B10M was replaced by the B12M, sporting a larger 12.1-litre engine and the engine position of the C10M/B10M-C.
References
- ^ Volvo B10M at Workington Commercial Motor 13 July 1989
- ^ British B10M makes debut Commercial Motor 28 June 1990
- ^ História - Anos 80 Grupo Volvo no Brasil
- ^ Evolução do Produto - Ônibus Archived 4 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Volvo Buses Brasil
- ^ Volvo power for Olympian Commercial Motor 27 February 1992
- ^ Midi Volvo on sale Commercial Motor 24 August 1985
- ^ "Volvo". tmv.thb.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014.
- ^ Shearings builds up Commercial Motor 13 December 1990
- ISBN 9781900515269.
- ^ Volvo - By Popular Choice Truck & Bus Transportation March 1990 page 52
- Australian Bus Panoramaissue 6/1 July 1990 pages 3-8
- ^ Bus Fleet Lists Brisbane Transport Buses
- ^ Metro Tasmania Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Busways Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ CDC Group NSW Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Ventura Group Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Sita Bus Lines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Volvo B10M Buses & Coaches Omnibus Society of New Zealand
- ^ a b "| Zoekresultaten | Zone 01". www.zone01.be. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
External links
Media related to Volvo B10M at Wikimedia Commons