[GB] B9TL in London

Ever since Volvo got themselves banned by Transport for London in 2006, its mainstream double decker, the B9TL, has not been a common sight in the capital. Looking back how dominating Volvo was with the Olympian just over 10 years ago, who would have seen this coming?

It doesn't mean that it's difficult to find a B9 in the capital - in fact, in Central London they are still fairly easy to see, as open toppers:



First introduced by Arriva The Original Tour, Big Bus also bought the 20 examples, in 2 batches, entering service in 2008 and 2009:



For TfL services, the B9TL didn't do so well, despite a demonstrator was sent to Go-Ahead London, then the largest operator of the preceeding B7TL:



With the ban in place, it took Volvo 2 years to finally sell their first, and only, batch of B9TLs to a London customer, encompassing 3 examples with rival's ADL Enviro 400 bodywork:



Other than these 4 examples, the only close-top B9TLs that can be seen in London are the 3 First Berkshire examples dedicated for the Green Line service:



Or, if you go to the far eastern side of Greater London (or rail replacement services), you can find Ensignbus' batch of 10 as well:



Amazingly, it is fairly common to see the 3-axle version to turn up in London. Weavaway Coaches is one of those who brings in their tri-axle B9TLs in London for rail replacement duty. This example, OU05KLA, is numerically the first production chassis built.



Another operator is Tellings-Golden Miller, who once run a significant London Buses operations in outer London. Now focusing on coach operations, only two tri-axle B9TLs makes up it's bus fleet for contract services.



[ 本帖最後由 NV58 於 2009-4-17 18:05 編輯 ]

The bus looks good in Tellings-Golden Miller livery and the new body!!!

Btw, is it because of the noise of the fan that is causing the ban?

I have seen a pic of Roberts Coaches B9TL 3axle with Olympus body doing a charter in London, but i cannot remember which website was it in.'

Why Volvo got banned by TfL? and what is the width of Olympus body? Is 2.5m or 2.55m?

[ 本帖最後由 iczer3 於 2009-4-18 17:49 編輯 ]

Quite a nice idea to hv B9 in Olympus body in HK...But I wonder when  the next batch of Volvo double deckers will come.

原帖由 VolvoB7TL 於 2009-4-18 08:11 發表
Btw, is it because of the noise of the fan that is causing the ban?

It was indeed the radiator fan being too noisy, which happens courtesy a "fail-safe" design of the radiator system. I geard the ban was actually lifted last year, but because everyone who bought Volvo before has got batches of E400 and Scanias, it became very difficult for Volvo to return to London.

iczer3 : It should be 2.55m wide.

the noise level of the E400 B9s on route 85 was recently [within the past 4 months] measured; it was 85 dcb, where the permitted level is 77dcb. It really doesn't matter- for the noise measurement- what caused the noise, but only that there is noise!
this was done after some modifications were made to the engine/fan of those buses.

The signtseeing tours are commercial operations and are not subjected to TfL/London Buses tendering process, so they can buy what they like.

The real problem with the noise generated by the volvo d/d buses is when a lot of volvos serve a particular road - and the service is intensive and 24 hours. It creates a cumulative noise impact, which led to noise complaints from residents- which were found justified by the local council concerned.
[ as it happens I do know the resident association that made the original noise complaint].

During my recent visit to Singapore and HK, it was interesting to note that the B9 d/d buses in both places can produce high noise levels - the same sort as produced in London.

regards

Yoram

原帖由 yblumann 於 2009-4-18 19:41 發表
During my recent visit to Singapore and HK, it was interesting to notethat the B9 d/d buses in both places can produce high noise levels -the same sort as produced in London.

They have the same radiator system as the older B7TLs anyway, which is hardly surprising.

英國啲三軸B9TL係咪長過十二米?

According to Ensignbus/CS staff magazine, Ensignbus is going to bring Unvi body B9TL into the UK market sometime this year

原帖由 S3BL104 於 2009-4-18 18:53 發表
英國啲三軸B9TL係咪長過十二米?

The silver 3-axle B9TL (Weavaway Travel) should be 12.5m, not sure about the other one though but from the no. of windows I guess it's only 12m.