Volvo Super Olympian: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1998 low-floor double-decker bus}}

:''For the buses with [[Wrightbus|Wright]] Explorer bodywork (Kowloon Motor Bus AVWs), please [[Volvo B10TL (Wright-bodied)|click here]].''

{{More references|date=July 2007}}

{{Infobox UK Bus

[[image:KMB_3ASV44_68X.JPG|thumb|right|250px|KMB Volvo Super Olympian 12M with Walter Alexander ALX500 Body. It was made in 1999 and it initially served for 269D, which originally ran between [[Tin Shui Wai]] and [[Sha Tin (KCRC)|Sha Tin KCR Station]].]]

|background =

|name = Volvo B10TL Super Olympian

[[image:KMB 3ASV intr.JPG|thumb|right|250px|KMB Volvo Super Olympian (ALX500 Body) Interior]]

|image = KMBRoute296C.jpg

|imagesize =

'''Volvo Super Olympian''', also known as B10TL, is the low-floor replacement of the 3-axle version of [[Volvo Olympian]] [[double decker]] (its 2-axle version was replaced by [[Volvo B7TL]]). There are 492 12m buses and 100 10.6m buses in KMB, and 103 12m buses in NWFB.

|caption = [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] [[Alexander ALX500]]-bodied Volvo Super Olympian in July 2008

|interiorimage =

|interiorcaption =

|manufacturer = [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]]

|production = 1998–2005

|assembly = [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], Scotland<br>[[Wrocław]], Poland

|operator = [[Kowloon Motor Bus]]<br>[[New World First Bus]]<br>[[SBS Transit]]

|floortype = [[Low entry]]/[[Low-floor bus|Low floor]]

|doors = 2 doors

|engine = Volvo D10A-285

|capacity =

|powerout = {{convert|285|hp|abbr=on}}

|transmission = [[Voith DIWA]]/[[ZF Ecomat]]

|length = 10.6 and 12.0 metres

|width = 2.50 and 2.55 metres

|height = 4.40 metres

|weight =

|predecessor = Tri-axle [[Volvo Olympian]]

|successor = [[Volvo B9TL]]

}}

The '''Volvo Super Olympian''' was a [[low-floor bus|low-floor]] [[double-decker bus]] manufactured by [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]]. It replaced the 3-axle version of [[Volvo Olympian]]. The chassis had the designated manufacturer code '''B10TL'''.

==History==

The Volvo Super Olympian was conceivedunveiled in [[1998]]., Thewith one chassis wasbeing sent to [[Hong Kong]] for a motor show held by [[International Union of Public Transport|UITP]] held in the same year,. and then theThe chassis was sentlater backreturned to the [[UKUnited Kingdom]].

==Chassis design==

In [[1999]], a prototype for Kowloon Motor Bus passed the tilt test of the [[Transport Department]] in May 1999 and was ready to be introduced. It was licensed in August 1999 as JE1672, numbered 3ASV3 and used as the official bus of the cover of KMB annual report 1998.

The Super Olympian chassis was based on the [[Volvo Olympian]]. The front radiator was moved behind the front axle on the 12 metre version, or in front of the second axle for the 10.6 metre version (due to its shorter wheelbase). In order to lower the chassis further, the assisted steering function of the middle axle was cancelled. The suspension system has also been largely modified so that it is electronically controlled instead of moving passively. One special feature is that after turning, the suspension unit does not return to normal, remaining tilted to either the left or right, until the bus becomes stationary.

An option for 11.3 metre length of Super Olympian was also available, but no orders were received.

On the other hand, the body assembly of NWFB's first batch of Super Olympians was finished and painted in Scotland, and all buses were introduced in 1999.

The Super Olympian was powered by the Volvo D10A-285 (Euro 2 or Euro 3), with a maximum power of {{convert|285|hp|abbr=on}}, coupled to either a ZF Ecomat or 3-speed [[Voith]] DIWA 863.3 automatic transmission. Its somewhat insufficient diesel engine power has earned some mildly derisive nicknames in Hong Kong. The most common are "豬" (pig), "扒" (meat cutlet) and "豬扒" (pork chop, derived from the pronunciation of the word "Super").

==Chassis==

The chassis of Super Olympian was based on [[Volvo Olympian]]. The front radiator was moved to the back of the first axle for 12m version, or in front of the second axle for 10.6m version (it was due to shorter wheelbase). Due to the change of chassis design, the steering function of the second axle was no longer used. However, the suspension is soft, making passengers comfortable. The overall design is ideal for long-distance routes, such as 68X, 968.

Initially, the Super Olympian chassis were built in Volvo's factory in [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], Scotland. After the closure of the factory in mid-2000, production was moved to [[Wrocław]], Poland.

A 11.3m version of Super Olympian was also available, but none were built.

==Hong Kong==

Initially, the B10TL chassis were built in [[Volvo|Volvo's]] factory in [[Irvine, Scotland]]. After the closure of the factory in mid-[[2000]], production was moved to [[Wroclaw]], [[Poland]].

[[File:[e-mail]|thumb|[[Kowloon Motor Bus]] [[Volgren]] CR223LD-bodied Volvo Super Olympian in 2004]]

[[File:ASV-B2.jpg|thumb|[[Kowloon Motor Bus]] 10.6m [[Alexander ALX500]]-bodied Volvo Super Olympian in 2006]]

[[File:LP563.jpg|thumb|[[Kowloon Motor Bus]] [[Wright Eclipse Gemini#Wright_Explorer|Wright Explorer]]-bodied Volvo Super Olympian in August 2005]]

===Kowloon Motor Bus===

The engine was Volvo D10A285. The power of D10A285 was only 285hp, compared to 305hp of [[Cummins]] M11-305E used on [[Neoplan Centroliner]] and [[Dennis Trident 3]], and 335hp of Cummins ISMe [[Euro III]] used on Dennis Trident 3/[[Alexander Dennis Enviro 500|Enviro 500]].

====12m version====

There are several nicknames of this bus model, which mean that the bus is not powerful enough. The most common are &#35948;, &#25170; and &#35948;&#25170; (The latter is made from the word "Super").

[[Kowloon Motor Bus]] ordered the first batch of 61 (3ASV1-61) [[Alexander ALX500]]-bodied B10TL Super Olympians with [[ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF]] 4HP590 transmission, and roller shuttle route displays in 1998. These entered service in 1998/99.<ref name="Buses545">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/buses-issue545/page/11/mode/1up |title=Volvo moves ahead into China |magazine=[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]] |issue=545 |page=11 |___location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |date=August 2000 |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref> All except the prototype 3ASV3 had narrow 2+2 seats on the upper deck. All Super Olympians with plastic signs were retired in November 2017.

A further 80 Super Olympians (3ASV62-141) entered service in 2000/01. These buses have electronic route displays and ZF 5HP590 transmission.<ref name="Buses545" /> 3ASV78 was the 3,000th [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] bodied bus supplied to KMB, and 3ASV141 was the first KMB bus to meet Euro III emission standards.

==Exterior==

The body fitted on most of the bus was [[Alexander ALX500]], which is also used on [[Dennis Trident 3|Dennis Trident]]s. Out of all 492 buses of KMB, 21 of them use [[Volgren]] CR223LD.

The last 351 Super Olympians (3ASV142-492), including 21 which were fitted with Australian [[Volgren]] CR223LD bodywork, entered service in 2001/02. All of these buses had their chassis built in Poland. Their D10A285 engines were built to meet Euro III emission standards and had [[aluminium alloy]] front wheels supplied by [[Alcoa]]. 3ASV297 was coated with special metallic paint, which shows different colours (mainly green and purple), depending on the angle of light reflection. The last Volgren-bodied Super Olympian (3ASV474) was retired on 11 November 2020, while the last Alexander ALX500-bodied Super Olympian (3ASV492) was retired on 19 December 2020.

As the main components were placed at the front to facilitate low-floor design, there is a long T-place of 3.40m, which is suitable for T-banner and allover advertisements.

====10.6m version====

On the other hand, the rear indicators are also different from Trident. Indicators outside the engine compartment were supplied by Volvo.

Kowloon Motor Bus was the only operator of 10.6 metre Super Olympians. The first 49 (ASV1-49) 10.6m Alexander ALX500 bodied Super Olympians were introduced in 2001. They are equipped with D10A285 Euro II engines and had Alcoa front wheels.

ASV50, which was put into service in 2002, is a prototype short-wheelbase Super Olympian (chassis built in 1999), and also the only short-wheelbase Super Olympian built in Scotland. It is equipped with a Euro II D10A285 engine and ZF 4HP590 transmission rather than the previous 5HP590 as fitted to older ASVs.

==Interior==

===Driving cab===

The driving cab of Super Olympian was similar to that of Olympians. There was also enough space for the [[Octopus card]] system.

ASV51-100 were also equipped with the Euro III D10A285 engines. They are almost identical with ASV1-49, except for minor interior differences. Only the first 24 were put into service in 2003. The remaining 26 were stored for more than a year due to SARS, and the 26 were put into service between September 2004 and March 2005.

===Decks===

For 12m version Super Olympian, there were 8 seats on the low-floor area for KMB ones, and 7 for NWFB ones.

The last 10.6 metre Super Olympian and Alexander ALX500 (ASV100) was retired on 8 March 2023, which is these buses were de-registered.

But for 10.6m version, the low-floor area is occupied by the exit door and the wheelchair space, and there are no seats on the low-floor area. There are horizontal seats at the lower deck due to the radiator and air tanks, and a pair of them was "raised" due to the ___location of the grid.

====12m wider version====

Due to the tradition of Olympian, the corridors of the decks were wide. The handrails were curved.

In January 2003, Kowloon Motor Bus received the first [[Wrightbus|Wright]]-bodied Super Olympian with a 2.55 metre-wide body (once known as the ''Wright Explorer''). Like the [[Alexander Dennis Enviro500]], it featured a straight staircase and plug exit door. It was numbered AVW1 and was registered on 20 March 2003.

The next 49 buses (AVW2-50) with a slightly different design followed shortly after AVW1, they entered service in 2003/2004. The last 50 buses (AVW51-100), which are almost identical, entered service in 2004/2005, These were the last batch of Volvo Super Olympian ordered by KMB. The last Super Olympian (AVW92) was retired on 31 July 2023, which is buses were de-registered.

===Air-conditioning===

The air-conditioning was made by [[Nippon Denso|Denso]]. But about 3 of them (including KMB 3ASV119) have [[Carrier Sütrak|Sütrak]] air conditioner.

AVW96 (MA 4745) was exported to the UK in 2023.

{{sect-stub}}

===New World First Bus===

==Services==

[[File:Volvo_Super_Olympian_12m_NWFB_5083.jpg|thumb|[[New World First Bus]] [[Alexander ALX500]] bodied Volvo Super Olympian in June 2008]]

===Kowloon Motor Bus===

[[New World First Bus]] bought 103 Super Olympians in five batches, all are 12 metres long and were fitted with Alexander ALX500 bodies.

====The first batch of 3ASV====

The first batch, numbered as 3ASV1-61, was introduced in 1999 and allocated to long-distance routes such as 81C, 68X and 968. The Volvo engine and the transmission take advantage of long-distances. They were equipped with Volvo D10A285 engine, [[ZF Friedrichshafen AG|ZF]] 4HP590 gearbox and plastic route display. All of them, except the prototype 3ASV3, had narrow 2+2 seats on the upper deck which were unpopular among passengers.

The first 40 (5001-5040), fitted with electronic route displays, were introduced in 1999. The next 20 (5041-5060), with their side route number boxes moved to a lower position, entered service in 2000/01. The chassis of 5060 was the first to be built in Poland. New World First Bus began de-registering the buses on 21 November 2017.

====The second and third batch of 3ASV====

On the second (3ASV62-91) and third (3ASV92-141) batch, the route display was changed to electronic route display and the gearbox was changed to ZF 5HP590. The buses were allocated to 42A, 89X, 101, etc. When 43B added air-conditioned buses on [[2 October]] [[2004]], some of those buses were used on the route.

The next 19 Super Olympians (5061-5079), with Euro III D10A285 engines and Alcoa front wheels, entered service in 2001. To mark the occasion of meeting the Euro III emission standard, New World First Bus designed a full body advertisement for one of them (fleet number 5070) to state that they were environmentally friendly. They were followed by 10 similar examples (5080-5089) later that year. Among these buses, 5080-5086 had their registration numbers originated from ex [[China Motor Bus]] buses and service cars.

3ASV78 (JP6375) was the 3000th Walter Alexander-bodied bus supplied to KMB. 3ASV141 (JZ6467) was the first KMB bus to meet [[Euro III]] emission standard.

The last batch of 14 Super Olympians (5090-5103), entered service in 2002, had their rear electronic route number displays raised above the emergency window to form a box, the design being unique among all similar vehicles in Hong Kong. These were all withdrawn and were either sold to Citybus, converted to a training bus or headed to the scrapyard.

====The fourth to final batch of 3ASV====

The fourth to final batch of Volvo Super Olympians (3ASV142-492) entered service in 2001 and 2002. All of these buses had their chassis built in [[Poland]]. They had their D10A285 engines built to meet [[Euro III]] emission standard and had [[Alcoa|ALCOA]] front wheels. 21 of these buses were fitted with [[Volgren]] CR223LD body.

They were allocated to most routes, including 6 (passengers complained that [[TransBus Enviro 500]]s were allocated to this route just less than a year later), 42C, 277X, etc..

3ASV492 (KW1624) is the last bus of this model. This does not mark the end of Volvo low-floor buses. Volvo also offered [[Volvo B9TL|B9TL]] prototype to KMB. KMB has 1 B9TL with [[TransBus International|TransBus]] Enviro 500 bodywork.

====The 10.6m version (ASV1-100)====

The first batch of the 10.6m version bus were introduced in 2001 and were numbered ASV1-49. They are equipped with D10A285 [[Euro II]] engines.

ASV50, which was put into service in 2002, was a prototype short-wheelbase B10TL (chassis built in 1999), and also the only short-wheelbase B10TL built in [[Scotland]]. It is equipped with an [[Euro III]] version of D10A285 engine and [[ZF]] 4HP590 gearbox rather than 5HP590 in other ASVs.

ASV51-100 are known as the second batch, they are equipped with the [[Euro III]] version D10A285 engines as well. The two batches are almost identical, but the second batch has a slightly different interior - this batch has a moulded panel shield and the floor is coated with a new texture. However, only 24 of the batch had been put into service in 2003. The remaining 26 were stored for more than 1 year, and they were put into service since late 2004.

KMB route 64K, which runs between [[Yuen Long]] and [[Tai Po]] via [[Lam Kam Road]], had used these buses in the past, but they seem incapable of running on Lam Kam Road, so they were replaced by [[Dennis Trident 3|Dennis Trident]] of the same length, which are more powerful. Routes 92 and 96R, etc. also use this version of Super Olympian.

===New World First Bus===

[[image:Nwfb5036.jpg|thumb|right|250px|NWFB Volvo Super Olympian 12M with Walter Alexander ALX500 Body.]]

NWFB bought 103 Super Olympian in 5 batches, all are 12 metres long.

The last three buses in the fleet (5072, 5076, 5079) had been retired on 27 August 2019. These were the last buses to have no headrest in franchised service.

The first batch (5001-5040) were introduced in [[1999]]. Then the second batch (5041-5060), which have their side route number boxes moved to lower position, entered service in [[2000]]/[[2001]]. 5060 was the first Super Olympian chassis built in [[Poland]].

==Singapore==

The third batch (5061-5079) of NWFB Super Olympian, entered service in [[2001]], were equipped with the [[Euro III]] version of D10A285 engine and [[Alcoa|ALCOA]] front wheels. They were followed by the fourth batch (5080-5089) later in the same year, among this batch of buses, 5080-5086 had their registration numbers originated from ex-[[China Motor Bus|CMB]] buses and service cars. The final batch (5090-5103), introduced in [[2002]], had their rear route number boxes raised to the above of the emergency window.

[[File:Volvo B10TL Super Olympian (Volgren).jpg | thumb | 220x124px | right | SBS Volvo Super Olympian]]

In late 1999, Volvo delivered one [[Volgren]] CR222LD-bodied Super Olympian to the then [[SBS Transit|Singapore Bus Services]] for trial purposes.<ref name="singapore">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Michael C. |last2=Phillips |first2=Ron |date=2006 |pages=94-95, 98-101, 111 |title=Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 2 |___location=United Kingdom |publisher=DTS Publishing |isbn=9781900515269}}</ref> Registered as SBS9888Y, it was Singapore's first low floor "Superbus", and had advanced specifications at the time of introduction. Originally deployed on routes serving the then new [[Sengkang|Sengkang New Town]], it was transferred to Ang Mo Kio bus depot in 2004. This bus was destroyed in the Ang Mo Kio bus depot (AMDEP) fire of 2010, and was subsequently written off. SBS9888Y were equipped with ZF Ecomat 4HP 590 4-speed automatic transmission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.landtransportguru.net/volvo-b10tl/|publisher=Land Transport Guru|title=Volvo B10TL|date=1 January 2018|access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=July 2025}}

Satisfied with the trial, SBS purchased 51 Volvo B10TL Super Olympian units in 2000. These buses were the last to be ordered by SBS prior to their rebranding to SBS Transit. 50 were bodied with an updated Volgren CR222LD bodywork, with one entering service in April 2002 and the remaining buses entering service in early 2003.<ref name="singapore" /> They were also the first buses to be registered with the new SBS Transit livery. One bus was built completely by Volgren in Australia, and hence equipped with a Transit Media electronic destination signage (EDS). The rest, which were assembled locally, debuted with plastic destination signages initially and were retrofitted with LECIP electronic destination displays in 2012. All buses of this batch had served out of [[Ang Mo Kio]], [[Toa Payoh]] and [[Bedok|Bedok North]] depots throughout their lifespan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.landtransportguru.net/volvo-b10tl-volgren/|publisher=Land Transport Guru|title=Volvo B10TL (Volgren)|date=15 January 2018|access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=July 2025}} All units were retired between January 2020 and April 2020 and replaced by MAN A95 units. While most buses have since been scrapped and de-registered between April and June 2020, two units are currently preserved. SBS9844Z has been exported to Hong Kong for preservation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1179266|title=前新加坡SBST Super Olympian抵港|website=hkitalk.net|date=3 August 2020}}</ref> while the other unit (SBS9817C) is now currently preserved and repurposed at a special education school in Singapore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://landtransportguru.net/sbs9817c-preserved-sbst-volvo-b10tl/|title=SBS9817C – The Preserved Volvo B10TL Bus in Singapore|website=Land Transport Guru|date=5 December 2020}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=July 2025}} They were equipped with a Volvo D10A-285 engine (9,603cc), that is compliant with Euro 2 emission standards and fitted with a Voith DIWA 863.3 3-speed automatic transmission (except SBS9888Y).

When the first batch were introduced, they were allocated to 8P, 680, etc. In 2001, when NWFB got the right to open routes in [[Tseung Kwan O]] (route 79x-series), the second batch of buses were allocated to these routes, 694 (now running at a loss), 792M (formerly 792), 796B, 796C, 796M (cancelled right upon the commencement of [[MTR]] [[Tseung Kwan O Line]]) and 796X (formerly 296X of KMB) use or used those buses. The last batch were allocated mainly to routes 82 and 682 serving the Chai Wan district.

In early 2005, the last Volvo Super Olympian B10TL, debuted with a prototype [[ComfortDelGro|ComfortDelGro Engineering]] (CDGE) bodywork,<ref name="singapore" /> which later form the basis of the subsequent first batch of Volvo B9TLs debuting in the following year. Originally deployed to [[Bukit Batok]] Depot (BBDEP), it was transferred to Braddell Bus Park (BRBP) in 2012, where it was refurbished with an interior featuring red seats with yellow priority seats, and its original Transit Media EDS replaced with a [[Light-emitting diode|LED-based standalone]] LECIP EDS. It is also the last non-wheelchair accessible bus in Singapore. It was taken out of revenue service at the end of November 2020; de-registered and scrapped together with 33 [[Volvo B9TL]] PSV/ComfortDelGro Engineering (CDGE) double deckers between April and June 2021 due to poor quality and performance.

==Singapore orders==

[[Image:Sgvso.JPG|thumb|300px|A [[SBS Transit]] Volvo Super Olympian in Singapore.]]

==Replacement==

Super Olympian buses are also in service in [[Singapore]]. In Autumn 1999, Volvo delivered one [[Volgren]] CR222LD-bodied B10TL (body assembled in [[Australia]]) to Singapore Bus Service as demonstrator. This bus had electronic display and the chassis was built in UK. It was registered SBS9888Y and entered service in October 1999.

Production of the Volvo Super Olympian ended in 2004 and 2005 after completion of the last order from [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] and [[SBS Transit]]. Its successor was the [[Volvo B9TL]].

==References==

Later, Singapore Bus Service (now [[SBS Transit]]) ordered 51 Volvo B10TL chassis. They had Voith DIWA863.3 gearbox, rather than [[ZF]] 5HP590 gearbox in SBS9888Y, and unlike the examples introduced at the same time in Hong Kong, their front wheels were not [[Alcoa|ALCOA]] products. On the other hand, only the chassis of SBS9810X was built in UK, the others were built in Poland.

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

Among these 51 buses, 50 of them were fitted with [[Volgren]] bodywork and registered SBS9800A-SBS9849K. The body of SBS9810X was assembled in Australia, and it was equipped with electronic display, other bodies were delivered to Singapore as kits. SBS9800A entered service in April 2002 and the others entered service in early 2003. The last one was fitted with [[ComfortDelgro]] Engineering bodywork, it was registered SBS9889U and finally entered service in March 2005.

{{commons category-inline}}

* [http://www.gakei.com/ksp/ksp.htm GAKEI.com | KMB Volvo Super Olympian]

{{Volvo Buses|state=collapsed}}

==See Also==

*[[Dennis Trident 3]]

*[[MAN 24.310]]

*[[Neoplan Centroliner]]

*[[TransBus Enviro 500]]

*[[Volvo B10TL (Wright-bodied)]]

*[[Volvo B9TL]]

[[Category:KMBDouble-decker Bus Modelsbuses]]

[[Category:BussesLow-floor buses]]

[[Category:Tri-axle buses]]

[[Category:Volvo buses|Super Olympian]]

[[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1998]]

[[Category:Vehicles discontinued in 2005]]

[[Category:Bus chassis]]