11-metre air-conditioned Volvo Olympians

Volvo Olympian became the successor of Leyland Olympian. Starting from 1994, KMB has introduced 531 air-conditioned Volvo Olympians 11m in length. They include one demonstrator (AV1) with ZF4HP500 gearbox and Volvo TD102KF engine, and 530 production types of different specifications.

The first batch, AV2-111, was introduced in 1994. This is the only batch with 3+2 seats and old air- conditioning systems, which includes 85 buses with Cummins LT10 engines (AV2-86) and 25 buses with Volvo TD102KF engines (AV87-111). All of them are equipped with ZF4HP500 gearboxes.

The second batch, AV112-131, came in late 1995. They are equipped with 2+2 seatings, and the mechanical specifications are TD102KF engines and Voith D863.3 transmissions. Among them AV112 is installed with fast-food style seats, which has been adopted by later Volvo Olympians.

The third batch, AV132-231, consists of 100 buses. Generally they are the same with the previous batch in terms of mechanical specifications. The air-conditioning system is renewed, however. Among them, AV180 is installed with Hanover electronic route displays for evaluation, and AV194 and 197 are installed with Lite Vision electronic route displays.

The fourth batch, AV232-237 and 243-377, came in 1997. This time they are equipped with the more environmentally-friendly D10A engines, but the gearboxes still remain the make of Voith. Note that starting from AV350 all buses are with pink seats only, without grey ones.

The fifth batch, AV378-531, have the same mechanical specifications with the previous batch. Among them, AV517, 520, 521, 522, 526, 527, 529, 530 and 531 are equipped with the fast-food style seats, while AV528 is installed with Vogelsitze seats.

The last batch, AV238-242, are actually second-hand buses from Long Win Buses. They are equipped with Voith D863.3 gearboxes and TD102KF engines. They have been with KMB fleet numbers since new, and returned to the fleet in 1999. This is why AV242 is installed with orange-and-pink seats since new.

This page includes some photographs of 11-metre air-conditioned Volvo Olympians in service. Please click on the photograph for an enlarged version. More photographs will be added in the future.

	AV242 AV242 is the last Volvo Olympian from Long Win Bus which returned to KMB in 1999. I feel lucky to be able to take its photo because it is the only Volvo Olympian with orange seats in the fleet. Date: 26/08/2001
	AV248 The McDonald's advertisement has changed several times on this bus, and after all the advertisement is very lovely. Date: 22/09/2001
	AV281 This all-over advertisement has been posted on AV281 for two years. Date: 26/08/2001
	AV347 AV347 is one of the very last buses with pink and grey seats. Date: 28/07/2001
	AV527 AV527 with an attractive McDonald's all-over advertisement. The design of its engine cover is different from the ones in the same batch because the original one was damaged in an accident. Date: 28/07/2001
	AV530 When comparing the engine covers of this bus and the above, you will easily find the difference between them. Date: 28/07/2001