View source for MAN 24.3x0

{{short description|Low-floor 3-axle double-decker bus chassis built for right-hand drive markets}}{{Infobox UK Bus
 | name             = MAN 24.3x0 HOCLNR-NL
 | image            = KMB MAN 24.310 (2005).jpg
 | caption          = A [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] MAN 24.310 with [[VDL Berkhof|Berkhof]] bodywork.
 | manufacturer     = [[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN]]
 | factory          = 
 | operator         = [[Kowloon Motor Bus]] and others
 | length           = {{cvt|12000|mm|ftin|frac=8}}
 | width            = {{cvt|2500|mm|ftin|frac=8}}
 | floortype        = [[Low-floor bus|Low floor]]
 | doors            = 2 doors
 | engine           = {{unbulleted list|MAN D2866LOH25|MAN D2866LOH26|MAN D2866LOH27}}
 | transmission     = ZF 5HP590<br />ZF 5HP600(24.350)
 | options          = 
}}
[[Image:KR6560@58X.jpg|thumb|right|260px|KMB's MAN 24.310 with Volgren bodywork.]]
[[Image:Kwoon_Chung_JN4886_(Cropped).jpg|thumb|right|260px|Kwoon Chung's MAN 24.310 with [[VDL Berkhof|Berkhof]] bodywork.]]
[[Image:70S AMN1 JL1989 Wo Hop Shek.JPG|thumb|right|260px|KMB's MAN 24.310 seen on route 70S]]{{notability|Products|date=July 2018}}The '''[[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN]] 24.3x0 HOCLNR-NL''' was a series of [[Low-floor bus|low-floor]] [[multi-axle bus|3-axle]] [[double-decker bus]] [[chassis]] built for [[left- and right-hand traffic|right-hand drive]] markets, as indicated by the R in the designation. It was designed by [[MAN Truck & Bus]], a subsidiary of Triton based on Munich. Unlike other [[low-floor bus|low-entry]] [[double-decker bus]]es in [[Hong Kong]], there are [[staircase|steps]] in the lower deck aisle after the rear exit.

The 24.3x0 was available as both the '''24.310''' and '''24.350''', with internal codes ''MAN A59'' and ''MAN A57'' respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=香港巴士資源中心．九巴篇猛獅 24.310 型空調十二米|url=http://hkbric.hkbdc.info/bic/intro/kmb-amn.htm|access-date=2022-02-25|website=hkbric.hkbdc.info}}</ref> For the type designation 24.310, 24 means that the bus has the maximum gross weight of {{convert|24|t|1}}, whilst 310 means that the maximum power of the engine is {{Convert|310|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}; for 24.350, the 350 means that the maximum power of the engine is {{Convert|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.

==Hong Kong==

===Citybus===
In December 1997, [[Citybus (Hong Kong)|Citybus]] introduced a solitary [[Australia]]n-built MAN 24.350 bus with [[Volgren|Volgren CR221LD]] bodywork. This bus remained unique in Citybus fleet and was withdrawn in 2015 due to engine failure and lack of spare parts.

====Cancelled order====
In 1998, Citybus ordered a number of MAN 24.310 buses with [[VDL Berkhof|Berkhof]]/[[Volgren|Volgren CR223LD]] bodywork after the trial of its MAN 24.350.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Citybus, Hong Kong (CTB) 城巴 / MAN 24.350 {{!}} SGBuses.com|url=https://www.sgbuses.com/index.php?/category/hk-citybus-man-24-350|access-date=2022-02-25|website=www.sgbuses.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=MAN|url=http://www.worldabh.info/neoman/man/index.html|access-date=2022-02-25|website=www.worldabh.info}}</ref> However, in early 1999, [[Transport Department (Hong Kong)|Transport Department of Hong Kong]] set quota on the number of buses owned by Citybus, and therefore the order was cancelled involuntarily.

At that time, construction of 32 Berkhof-bodied buses and 2 [[Volgren|Volgren CR223LD]]-bodied [[bus]]es had been completed, so MAN had to find buyers for these buses. Finally, one Berkhof-bodied bus was retained by MAN for testing, and the others were sold for operations in Hong Kong.

===Kwoon Chung Motors===
In 1999, Kwoon Chung Motors, a [[coach (bus)|coach]] and rental bus operator in [[Hong Kong]], took one of the Berkhof-bodied MAN 24.310 that had been built for Citybus and the bus entered service in 2000.

The bus was primarily used on worker services (for staff working at some of the companies at the [[Hong Kong International Airport]]). But during rush hours, it could be seen allocated to [[New Lantao Bus]], (a subsidiary of Kwoon Chung), routes in [[Tung Chung]].

This bus was retired and stored in July 2015.

===Kowloon Motor Bus===
[[Kowloon Motor Bus]] took delivery of the other 32 MAN 24.310 buses from the Citybus order. The 30 buses with Berkhof bodywork entered service in 2000. The 2 buses with [[Volgren|Volgren CR223LD]] bodywork, which had been stored in Volgren's facility at [[Melbourne, Victoria, Australia|Perth]], [[Australia]], entered service in 2002.

Later, KMB ordered 15 MAN 24.310 buses with [[Volgren|Volgren CR223LD]] bodywork. They had the staircase moved forward, had yellow instead of red handrails and no seats were fitted above the front wheels. They entered service in 2002.

All of these 47 buses were allocated to [[Tuen Mun]] Depot and mainly ran on express routes serving [[Tuen Mun]], [[Tsuen Wan]], [[Kwai Tsing]] Districts and [[Kowloon]].

The buses have reached 16 to 18 years of age in 2018, KMB has withdrawn all of the buses from service.

==United Kingdom==
[[Stagecoach Group]] introduced 28 MAN 24.350 [[Coach (bus)|intercity coaches]] with [[Jonckheere Monaco]] bodywork in 1999/2000 for its [[Oxford Tube]] service. They were superseded by new [[Neoplan Skyliner]] intercity coaches in 2004.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
{{commons category|MAN 24.xxx HOCLNR-NL}}[[List of buses]]
:Competitors:
:*[[Dennis Trident 3]]
:*[[Neoplan Centroliner]]
:*[[Scania K94UB]]
:*[[Volvo Super Olympian]]
{{MAN Truck & Bus|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:MAN buses|24.3x0HOCLNR-NL]]
[[Category:Low-entry buses]]
[[Category:Double-decker buses]]
[[Category:Tri-axle buses]]
[[Category:Intercity buses]]