Volvo B10TL

The Volvo B10TL, commonly known as the Volvo Super Olympian (VSO), is a rear-engined low-floor double-decker city bus built by Volvo Buses since 1998. It is the successor to the three-axle Volvo Olympian, while the two-axle version was replaced by the Volvo B7TL. Designed for the Asian market, the bus was highly popular in Hong Kong, with many units exported there.

SBS Transit is the sole operator of the Volvo B10TL in Singapore, with 51 units delivered between 1999 and 2002. These were built with bodywork by Volgren of Australia.

One additional unit was bodied with a prototype bodywork by PSV International and ComfortDelGro Engineering, a subsidiary of SBS Transit’s parent company ComfortDelGro and was registered in 2005.

Design:

The Volvo B10TL chassis was designed based on its predecessor, the Volvo Olympian. The front radiator was moved behind the front axle to free up space for rear components. To further lower the chassis, dropped axles were implemented; however, they also removed the passive steering function of the middle axle (which was present in the Volvo Olympian). As such, Volvo B10TLs display noticeable tyre screeching from the middle axle while navigating tight corners.

The original passive suspension system has been upgraded to an electronically-controlled semi-active suspension. A unique feature of the bus is that after turning, the suspension unit does not automatically stabilise until the bus becomes stationary. Until then, the bus will slant towards the left or right.

Technical Aspects

Volvo Super Olympians were offered with the Euro II-compliant Volvo D10A-285 engine delivering 285 horsepower, coupled with Voith and ZF gearbox options. A Euro III-compliant version (Volvo D10A-285 ECO1) was offered from Year 2000 onwards. The engine was less powerful compared to the 305-horsepower Cummins M11-305E used on the Dennis Trident 3 (which appeared on the market two years earlier), or the 335 horsepower of the later Cummins ISMe Euro III used on later batches of the Dennis Trident 3. As such, they have noticeably slower acceleration and poorer hill-climbing abilities.

The chassis was compatible with various bodywork types, such as the Alexander ALX500, Volgren CR221LD, Volgren CR223LD and the Wright Explorer. Chassis lengths of 10.6m, 11.3 and 12.0m were offered, but no orders were placed for the 11.3m version.

Initially, the Super Olympian chassis were built at Volvo’s factory in Irvine, Scotland. After the closure of the factory in mid-2000, production was moved to Wrocław, Poland.

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SBS & SBS Transit: A summary

Singapore Bus Service (SBS) took delivery of its first Volvo B10TL in 1999, registered as SBS9888Y and bodied by Volgren. A later 50 units were brought in between 2002 and 2003, when SBS had already rebranded itself to SBS Transit. These production batch buses were fitted with Volgren bodywork, and assembled locally (with the exception of one unit). Finally, the last B10TL chassis was reserved to be fitted with a prototype bodywork developed by SBS Transit in cooperation with PSV international and built by ComfortDelGro Engineering (SBS Transit’s engineering wing). It entered service in 2005 as SBS9889U, the last Volvo B10TL to be registered.

Comparison Table:

 

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SBS Volvo B10TL Volgren-bodied Demonstrator (SBS9888Y)

In 1999, Volvo brought in a demonstrator Volvo B10TL for Singapore Bus Services (SBS) for trial purposes. Registered on 1 November 1999 as SBS9888Y, it was the first low-floor double-decker bus to be introduced in Singapore, and a showcase for the next-generation double-deck buses to come.

Technical Specifications:

Volvo B10TL Demonstrator
Registration	SBS9888Y
Engine	Volvo D10A-285 (Euro II)
Transmission	ZF 5HP 590 (5-speed)
Bodywork	Volgren CR222LD (assembled by Soon Chow)
EDS	None Previously: Mobitec Flipdot

Additional Specifications:

Branded as “Singapore’s First Low-floor Superbus”, SBS9888Y’s chassis was assembled at Volvo’s UK plant in Irvine, Scotland, and bodied by Volgren in Dandenong, Australia, and finally shipped completely built up to Singapore. The body was a CR222LD demonstration model, arranged with 55 upper deck seats, 28 lower deck seats and standing space for 42 passengers.

The bus originally served on SBS’s flagship route Express 502, until the route was shortened due to NEL rationalisation, and re-deployed to other routes. The Mobitec Flip-dot type Electronic Display Signage (EDS) was removed in November 2005 after it was deemed unserviceable, and the bus reverted to using plastic destination signs (“destos”). However, the opaque window film around the EDS was retained, forming a black border around the front destination sign. This remained a distinguishing feature from the subsequent production batch Volvo B10TLs.

In the early hours of 7 March 2010, SBS9888Y was burnt down in a fire at Ang Mo Kio bus depot, along with five other double-decker buses. It was deregistered a year later.

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SBS Volvo B10TL Volgren-bodied Production Batch (SBS9800A – SBS9849K)

Main Article: Volvo B10TL (Volgren)

After the successful trial of SBS9888Y, Singapore Bus Services placed orders for a subsequent batch of 51 Volvo B10TLs chassis in 2001. 50 of them were built with Volgren bodywork as part of the Production Batch. They were registered between 4 Apr 2002 and 11 Apr 2003 as SBS9800A – SBS9849K.

The last batch of buses (SBS9835A – SBS9849K) will be retired on 10 April 2020 after reaching its statutory lifespan of 17 years. The last day of operations was on 7 April 2020.

Technical Specifications:

Volvo B10TL
Registration	SBS9800A – SBS9849K
Engine	Volvo D10A-285 (Euro II)
Transmission	Voith DIWA 863.3 (43 units) ZF 4HP 590 (7 units)
Bodywork	Volgren CR222LD
EDS	LECIP Previously: None / Transit Media (SBS9810X)

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SBS Transit Volvo B10TL PSV / CDGE-bodied demonstrator (SBS9889U)

Main Article: Volvo B10TL (PSV / CDGE)

When SBS placed orders for a Production batch of 51 Volvo B10TLs, 50 of them were built with Volgren bodywork. The last chassis was retained by SBS Transit (re-branded from SBS in late 2001) to be fitted with a prototype bodywork by PSV International / ComfortDelGro Engineering and registered on 1 Mar 2005 as SBS9889U.

Technical Specifications:

Volvo B10TL PSV/CDGE Demonstrator
Registration	SBS9889U
Engine	Volvo D10A-285 (Euro II)
Transmission	Voith DIWA 863.3
Bodywork	PSV International / ComfortDelGro Engineering
EDS	LECIP Previously: Transit Media

 

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Gallery:

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Preserved Buses

SBS9844Z (VIN: YV3S1E11521050689) was preserved and shipped to Hong Kong in July 2020 after its retirement, arriving onboard vessel Hoegh St. Petersburg on 3 August 2020.

SBS9817C (VIN: YV3S1E11021050602) was preserved at APSN Chaoyang School in December 2020.

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External Links & References:

• Volvo Super Olympian – Wikipedia
• Volvo B10TL Super Olympian – SGBuses

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