Site Admin of Minibus Group, an Administrator of BusInfoHub, several bus enthusiasts and members of Friends of SMRT (FOSMRT) are invited to the launch of Southeast Asia’s first 100% low-floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro (O530) at SMRT Ang Mo Kio Depot on 9th March 2010. This historical moment marks the progress into a new era in Singapore bus industry, a full low floor, accessibility-friendly and *no internal steps bus.

Some quick facts of this bus:
1 driver, 39 passengers (including fold-up seat for two passengers) and 44 standing passengers.
Full low-floor along the corridor of the bus. One step to access rear section seats.
Fully built bodywork by EvoBus AG in Germany. Basically a one-through manufacture.
Large Gorba front display to enable passengers to spot the service number and route details.

Press Release:
SMRT: http://www.smrt.com.sg/Upload/201031010315179993.pdf

Articles written by enthusiasts on the launch:
BusInfoHub (affiliated): http://businfohub.com/cms/articles/specialfeature/smrtcitarolaunch

Photos taken during the event.

Mr Thomas Bauer, Senior Manager, Bus & Coach, Daimler SEA

Mr Michael Gopfarth, Executive Managing Director, Daimler Bus (Germany)

Mr Wolfgang Huppenbauer, CEO, Daimler SEA

Ms Saw Phaik Hwa, President and CEO, SMRT Corporation

Handover of key to Ms Saw.

Handover of Citaro model (scale 1:32) to Ms Saw.

Round of applause as the bus is driven in.

Demonstrating its wheelchair-friendly feature.

Executives from Daimler and SMRT impressed by the bus’ features.

Interior without stairs; guests move quickly towards the rear, demonstrating what the bus is designed to do.

Showcasing its full 11.9-meter length.

Two buses, decades apart. The step-bus Nissan Diesel U31 RCN (JDM: K-U31) and the Mercedes-Benz Citaro (O530).

I am very grateful to FOSMRT liason officer, Vivian, for finding two staff from Daimler Group SEA who could answer my technical questions. Excerpts.

Q: Why is the OM 906 hLA used on the Citaro instead of the OM 457 hLA that present OC500LE buses are using?
A: Citaro buses come with the smaller 906 as it is suited for the bus. The 457 is designed for sub-urban usage and has a larger power, while the 906 is sufficient for city usage.

Q: Fuel consumption wise, would it be lower and more effective than the 457?
A: This has to depend on many conditions. Different routes, different drivers will affect fuel consumption. At this point there cannot be a specific figure other than benchmark ones.

Q: In achieving this full low-floor design, the engine has to be shifted to the side. Does this mean more sophistication?
A: Yes, a total new design of the engine mounted on the left is what makes it able to achieve a full low-floor specification.

Q: What is special about the radiator system?
A: The radiator for the Citaro uses a hydraulic driven fan. The radiator is mounted on the outer frame, the intercooler on the inner frame. The fan is driven using hydraulic oil. This is different from magnetic driven ones on the OC500LE.

Q: The OM 906 hLA have more horsepower-per-liter compared to the 457. How different would this be in performance?
A: The 906 would be efficient and depending on its mixture method and its efficiency, it would be as effective as the 457.

Q: In the hot and humid climate of Singapore, does the cooling efficiency of the vehicle need special or larger cooling capacity?
A: The Citaro is sold worldwide. They even operate in Dubai, where its a desert climate. One size fits all.

Q: Gearbox of the vehicle?
A: ZF 6HP592C.

Q: Why not the Ecolife drive-line?
A: The Ecolife is suitable for countries with more terrain, and is fitted with the TopoDyn software system. in Singapore, a conventional drive-line is sufficient.

Q: Air conditioning unit?
A: Konvekta.

Q: Does IFS (Independent Front Suspension) make it a more comfortable ride for this bus?
A: You would have to ride it to find out. Basically it is better than a conventional suspension.

Q: Fuel capacity?
A: About 200 liters.

Regarding the secret of full low-floor…

Longitudinal, side mounted horizontal diesel engine.

Scania, Checkmate.

*No internal steps mean no step(s) along the corridor of the bus.

For some folks who have forgotten about the King Long Hybrid Citybus from China that landed in Singapore last year, it was spotted on test at Boon Lay on 4th March at noon. One photo of it on the road:

King Long, model XMQ6121G. Series-parallel system.

A series system is basically straight through hybrid, the diesel engine is small in size and runs the generator, which charges the batteries, and electric motors run the axle with power from the batteries only. There is no direct drive linkage. Examples of these on buses are the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H and Mitsubishi Fuso Eco Hybrid (BJG-MP37T).

The parallel hybrid system is an added hybrid for a existing framework, little modification to the overall drive. A larger diesel engine runs the drive line, in the middle a small generator is driven to provide current to the batteries. The batteries assist in braking functions and regeneration from engine braking forces, can power lighting and air conditioning of the bus. Example is the Alexander Dennis Enviro 500H.

Series-Parallel is somewhat in the middle, a switch can automatically adjust power between running from batteries or from engine directly. Toyota uses this on their hybrids.

Older hybrid systems included the HIMR from Hino Motors Japan. HIMR stands for ‘Hybrid Inverter Controlled Motor & Retarder System’, which offers the first production hybrid buses in Japan since 1994 (test unit in 1991). Toei Bus (都営バス) is the largest operator, and these buses served many years on as the ‘低公害バス’ (Low Emission Bus). These buses use a three-phrase electric generator and batteries to store energy during braking and use them for power take-off, so as to reduce emissions. It is very successful and technology used later on the Blue Ribbon City hybrids. Production for these buses lasted from the U- (Euro 1 equivalent) to the KC- (Euro 2 equivalent).

Mitsubishi Fuso also had their MBECS (Mitsubishi Brake Energy Conservation System) on some of the modified Aero Star city buses. They use a hydraulic system to store energy during braking and release them when the bus moves off, working like a rubber band theory. These buses are produced from 1995 to 2000 and span only one emission era (KC/Euro 2 equivalent).

Japan currently has two hybrid citybus models in production, the Hino Motors Blue Ribbon City (BJG-HU8J) and the Mitsubishi Fuso Eco Hybrid (BJG-MP37T). Both would be EEV equivalent if certified, so far no units have done so and all production units remain Japan domestic.

Hybrid buses especially those in Japan carry hefty price tags, their batteries are also regularly criticized for being un-green. However in the effort to clear the city air, we may have dumped more waste into the manufacturing areas, away from the city. Hybrid technology continues to improve, we do hope to see electric vehicles on the roads one day, when we can truely enjoy a zero-emission road environment.

Saying that much, I have yet to see large amount of technology like the Japanese from the Europeans. One benefit that Japanese operators have when it comes to hybrid buses are incentives from the government. For every ‘eco-car’ purchase there can be up to 35 percent rebate. That is also why the rate of hybrid introduction is very high in Japan.

Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya have passed the NOx/PM law in Heisei 17 (2005) for all diesel vehicles. Vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) more than 3.5 tons and of emission class KC- and below (Euro 2 and below) are banned from entering the metro areas and towns/cities designated by the law. Vehicles that are above the emission limit of (5.9 grams per kWh max, 4.9 grams per kWh average) for NOx are hence affected. If the owner of the affected vehicles wish to continue using them in the metro areas, they must be fitted with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), a popular item in the market now. Offenders of this law are fined not more than 500 thousand JPY (7800 SGD).

Vehicles that were at that time less than 12 years old are allowed to be used up to expiry of their license (which is 12 years in Japan). Many U- and KC- buses of Toei Bus were scrapped or disposed to countryside companies to continue service. Many other Non-Step buses of various companies just meeting 12 years old are hence disposed off. These are perhaps the earliest cases of disability-friendly buses being disposed off in the World, particularly low entry/floor buses being disposed off in bulk.

We do not have such laws in Europe or Asia, but its an eye-opener nonetheless, not to mention a costly move by the government to dispose off vehicles at such a fast rate.

An exciting bus model event coming your way soon. Stay tuned here for more updates!

A filler episode. Having exams lately and just no time to gather more shit to fill this space, so I found some photos that I have taken in the past weeks to post here.

Yong Tau Foo with rice at Siglap Place.

Dennis Dart buses are withdrawing soon and service 42 is the last service you can see them regularly.

Going green even with bus models! MFBM Eco Hybrid at Hortpark.

Mirror repair for Hafiz owned Volvo Olympian SBS colors. The SBS Transit colors unit is the model that I modified earlier to a sweepback mirror.

March is going to be exciting with a bus model event coming up soon. Stay tuned here for updates!

Some random shots taken in my room in the past half-an-hour.

Minibus Group wishes all folks local and overseas and in Chinese and agricultural countries a prosperous and healthy Lunar New Year ahead!

New arcade rules on KUBs (SBS5126P).

*Real names are omitted to protect privacy of participants, oh yes, and the staff too*

One fine evening…

Four Otakus: (Exits XXX Station, asks beautiful ‘moe’ staff with purple hair :O) Where can we find good food?

Airu Haneda: There is a new cafe nearby, A87 Cafe, a new concept of maid cafe in Singapore~!

Otakus: Alright, thats cool, why not we give it a try?

Airu: Yeah I will bring you there then~! (Hey wait, ain’t she still on duty? But heck we have more people joining~!)

The Menu~!

The order list~! Alright lets not disturb Airu-san, she still got work to do at the station~

Yes, Obasan’s Magical Stew, with a magical blessing by the staff. Remember, DUN LAUGH~!

Remember, you can have wordings, but the default will be…

Okay the answer will come next but first, four tall Akibanana Smoothies~!

Nekos (cats), right. Rounds the sentence.

Yup, no flash, and these are the small snacks.

Mini personal-not-so-critique Review:

This my first visit to a Japanese otaku culture-themed cafe. (Cause I have not tried the ‘real-deal at Akihabara, but will one day and I must take the Tsukuba Express Line train to… Yes Tsukuba) Pretty amazing including the smell of Japanese stuff in Singapore, namely the Sunshine Plaza smell (or does the smell come from KKnM exclusively, you get the drift).

Service is amusing and entertaining, well pretty much to a cafe style. However some points did gave me a heart attack;

1. Do you include a closing date for your business? Its like knowing when your life will end. October 1st 2011, written on the menu’s event page, how horrible it is of me to remember the date now and digging at the wound… But well Miki, you can take the date off at least, sounds nicer right~

2. Some basic Japanese language (usage) knowledge? I heard someone saying ‘irashaimase’ (いらつしゃいませ) when we were leaving the cafe. Well for starters, that would mean ‘Welcome’, should be said when entering a shop/cafe/7-Eleven. When customers (not ご主人様/Goshujisama, thanks) leave, it would be ありがとうございます/Arigatou-Gozaimasu. Snippets of stuff are like what I love to look out for and sadly someone’s tail have been stepped on by me again. -_-”

3. OMG to the points system, plus thermal bills. Well I guess that needs sorting out but its been a few months after opening, should it already been settled?

Some funny stuff, this cafe is all about having fun~!

I vaguely remember the Bachelor’s Challenge, the best part is about writing ‘I am Hentai’, using red lipstick, by one of the staff, and then standing at the window and wave to passer-by for 87 seconds. Serious, everything about the cafe has to associate with the number 87. They should have discounts for people born in 1987, right?

Second level, nothing much set up yet and I don’t seem to catch sight of console machines that I supposedly saw on the papers… Nice Macross Frontier twist poster at the staircase area though.

The toilet smells okay, sadly no Japanese style bidet toilet system. I have yet to ask local TOTO dealer if they have the most advanced, bidet/wash-ass/warmer (I need a cooler here in SG) toilet cover system.

Stuff are generally okay priced, well priced for that area. I only had the drink (A87 Smoothie in case you missed it) but the other folks who ate, wow…

Staff are friendly, though a bit quiet. Its had to be niche in Singapore and well, I wish them all the best. And remove the October 1st 2011 please. I don’t wish to see a business going towards a countdown…

Overall I give 8/10 for A87 Cafe. Good job~!

And thanks for not calling me ご主人様/Goshujisama, my bones will fail catastrophically if the brain catches such an electric signal generated by…

Extra: Airu Haneda is a character from the Tetsudo-Musume series 6. Modeled after female staff uniform of Tokyo Monorail (東京モノレール), she is one of the characters in the series focusing on Japanese railway company uniforms. She is a station staff and helps commuters find their way among the railway system in Tokyo.

A tour on the Mercedes-Benz O 405 and Dennis Dart was organized by Bus Culture group on 30th January 2010. SBS278S and SBS8009A were chartered. Some photos of the event as follows.

First day of 963R as passengers ask for directions

A clear sky as the Dart is being caught attention of

The side views

The upright inline-6 of the Dennis Dart (Cummins 6BT)…

to the horizontal inline-6 of the Mercedes-Benz O405 (OM447h, 447.908)

Letterings on the original Cummins product

On the way to cross the Yishun Dam

One generation apart; the Mercedes-Benz O 405 G Euro 1

Square butts

Under the Winter Skies

Strong wall of reporters

The unique shape of gear selector on the Dennis Dart

A service that it will probably not run in the future

Flatted factory unit at Bukit Batok St 23 catches fire

SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in a unit at Bukit Batok Street 23 on Tuesday morning.

The ground floor unit of a flatted factory at Block 2019 was in flames when civil defence officers arrived at the scene at around 10am.

The unit deals in electrical products.

No one was injured in the fire, which was brought under control in 20 minutes.

- CNA/yb

A fire occurred at Blk 2019 Bukit Batok Industrial Estate yesterday (26 Jan 2009), 0958 hrs, destroyed two warehouses and damaged another one.

Following photos are taken around 1800 hrs.

The fire gutted at least a vehicle outside the warehouse

Large amount of black smoke darkened the exterior walls and windows of units above

Note the melted office structure

Spent extinguishers in the attempt to put out the fire

Water constantly pumped into the scene of the fire

Extinguishing extends into the night as the Light Tender comes

Three Toyota forklifts and several crates of electronic goods were the only items saved from the fire. No one was injured in the incident.

Trapped outside the shutters and the train left… Due to some oversleeping staff?

JR Kobe Station. December 2005 Japan Tour. (Admin)

Article from Yomiuri News.

当直の駅員寝坊、始発に８人乗れず…ＪＲ関西線

大阪市東住吉区のＪＲ関西線東部市場前駅で１８日、午前５時前になっても駅出入り口のシャッターが開かず、同４時５９分発の王寺発難波行きの始発電車に客８人が乗れなかった。

シャッターは同５時過ぎに開き、客は約１５分後の後続電車に乗ったという。

ＪＲ西日本によると、同駅に当直勤務していた４８歳と２１歳の男性駅員２人が寝坊したため。当直駅員は同４時２５分に起床し、４５分までにシャッターを開けることになっていた。同駅を管理する天王寺駅からの起床確認の電話も約２５分遅れたため、２人は同５８分に目を覚ましたという。

（2010年1月18日12時34分 読売新聞）

8 passengers missed the first train at 459 am from Ōji to Namba due to a closed shutter at Tōbushijōmae station, JR Kansai Line.

The shutter opened after 5 am and the passengers took the next train which came 15 minutes later.

JR West says that two staff aged 48 and 21 who stay-over at the station overslept. The staff are supposed to wake up at 425 am and open the shutters at 445 am. The station’s managing department at Tennōji station made the confirmation wake-up call 25 minutes late, and the staff woke up at 458 am.

☆

Hilarious right? This is not the first time some staff overslept and caused passengers to miss the first train. The previous one that I could recall and made to the news was last year involving a JR Tokai staff. But JR West is a notorious company for ill staff treatment so expect this two oversleeping staff and the wake-up call fellow to be assigned to reform lessons… Zzz.

~

The time when I met sleep-over staff (who is not oversleeping) at a station in Japan is at Engaru, where I snapped a picture of the Kiha 40 featured in this post. The express train (Express Okhotsk 9, midnight service run now withdrawn) from Sapporo reaches the station slightly before 4 am and the station staff (at least two of them) in thick pajamas and company coat comes out to check tickets and check the train (standing on the platform and do safety recognition) upon turn-around. They went back to sleep after the train left, but have to wake up again after 530 am for the first train out of the station. Although the station is rural and not of big importance, the staff hold pride in their job and wake up before dawn to serve passengers and ensure safety in sub-zero temperatures.

After two months of hard work the BusInfoHub MiniMag 2009 (Year-end edition) is finally out!

Covering bus happenings in 2009, photos of new buses, ‘cameo’ appearances and bus outings, it is one of the most comprehensive local (Singapore) bus enthusiast magazine in the new-media (Internet) published to-date!

Among the articles is one on Overseas Buses, contributed by your friendly site admin! It covers the new Heisei 22 Emission Regulation in Japan in-force this year for vehicles with GVW > 3.5 tons.

The link to download the publication is here and also in the download section of this site!

The MiniMag is a quarterly publication available on the BIH site as well as Minibus Group.

Minibus Group, as its honorary affiliate, wishes BIH all the best in the upcoming MiniMag publications!