中巴於八十年代一直鍾意於MCW Metrobus十二米為其新車,全數84部ML於失去專營權後亦售予新巴,但只行走一至兩年後退役。雖然車齡已十多年,但大部份的狀態仍然良好,適合繼續行走,最後由經營巴士買賣的英國公司Ensignbus購入並運往澳洲及英國等地,分別行走City Sightseeing 及The Bigbus觀光巴士路線。
倫敦
2006年,10部在澳洲行走City Sightseeing遊覽路線的ML被售予Arriva並運回倫敦,用作行走The Original London Sightseeing 開蓬巴士遊覽服務,由於當年運往澳洲的ML都屬於較早期無風機版本的那款(即ML44前),故此Arriva購入的亦全數屬於無風機的ML。
Big Bus的那一批ML已經於2009年被Volvo 兩軸B9TL取代。現時ML於英國主要行走Arriva的倫敦觀光巴士服務,其餘少量則屬不同的旅遊公司擁有。
下圖: ML64由Arriva購入,用以行走倫敦市CitySightseeing路線。 Ensignbus為這些ML改裝較闊身的上車門,又將登車的梯級修改為兩邊水平不一的多梯級登車道, 下層車頭亦補回一個與原來中巴時代那一款不同的的水牌。(Terry Wong攝)
下圖:ML54,車頭補回大型的MCW標誌。(Thomas Poch攝)
下圖: ML53由Big Bus購入,上層車頭仍保留著上蓋,但原來的通風系統已被拆除。(Terry Wong攝)
愛爾蘭
下圖:ML57曾被借調往愛爾蘭首都都柏林(Dublin),行走City Sightseeing Dublin的觀光路線,新登記車牌為87D39112。同被借往都柏林的還有ML54(E767 JAR).(Adrian Lemon攝)
下圖:後來ML57曾在都柏林被改為食品公司HB的市場推廣活動巴士,接載遊人往參加一活動。(Darren Hall攝)
黑池(Blackpool)
有兩部ML被調往黑池,行走SeaFront 12旅遊路線,兩車分別是ML77及ML81(F69 SYE),不過兩車的故事有點特別。
ML81
下圖:ML81(F69 SYE)原屬於Big Bus倫敦的成員之一,但於2009年間開始被停用。(Mark Seanor攝)
下圖:2013年被黑池一公司購入,經過維修之後終於再度出動,披著全車身廣告宣傳Pleasure Beach。原來的路線牌重現眼前。(Classic Buses & Catch22 Bus攝)
下圖:ML81(F69 SYE)披上SeaFront12的全車身廣告,與黑池其他巴士對比來說,這部12米3軸巴士實在是龐然大物。(Blackpooltrams攝)
ML77
2013年,黑池的Classic Bus North West公司購入此車及進行維修,貼上與ML81不同款的Pleasure Beach全車身廣告,用作夏季行走區內旅遊路線。(Classic Buses & Catch22 Bus攝)
下圖:攝於2014年9月,ML77於黑池行走來往Pleasure Beach的旅遊路線,客量看來不多。(Blackpooltrams攝)
最後兩車於2016年2月出售予匈牙利首都布達佩斯的City Sightseeing公司(按此瀏覽),繼續行走當地的觀光巴士路線,而黑池亦再沒有來自香港的3軸巴士行走。
至於倫敦,隨著英國收緊廢氣排放要求,CitySightseeing及Big Bus的ML陸續被運往美國三藩市及紐西蘭基督城繼續行走觀光路線,於2016年時倫敦街上只餘極少量ML仍在行走。2017年,所有ML均已離開倫敦市觀光路線。
資料表
下表是於2012年時轉載自Bus Datafile,還未有運往美國後的資料。有興趣的話按照英國新登記的車牌號碼,可以找到很多有關該車在英國時的圖片及資料。
Fleet No. | Reg No. | New | With-drawn | Sold to Country | Remark | |
1 | ML15 | CY7533 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(406) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB785, UAR772Y/NKJ785) in England in 2006 |
2 | ML16 | CY9368 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(407) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB779, UAR773Y/MXT179) in England in 2006 |
3 | ML19 | CZ664 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(415) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB784, UAR250Y) in England in 2006. |
4 | ML24 | CZ3659 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(410) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB777/EMB776, UAR776Y) in England in 2006 |
5 | ML25 | CZ5554 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB783, UAR247Y) in England in 2006 |
6 | ML30 | CZ9920 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB776/EMB777, A735WEV) in England in 2006 |
7 | ML31 | CZ8947 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(401, MO176) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB782, A749WEV) in England in 2006 |
8 | ML34 | DA3002 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(425) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB781, A750WEV) in England in 2006 |
9 | ML35 | DA2952 | 1983 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB778, A737WEV) in England in 2006 |
10 | ML43 | DB1959 | 1984 | 2000 | Australia/ Britain | Sold to City Sightseeing(408) in Australia in 2000, sold from City Sightseeing to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB780, A755WEV) in England in 2006 |
11 | ML45 | DT4549 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB764, E964JAR) in England in 2000 |
12 | ML46 | DT7029 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML949, E949JAR) in England in 2000 |
13 | ML47 | DT7256 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB769, E769JAR) in England in 2000 |
14 | ML48 | DT9187 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB771, E771JAR) in England in 2000 |
15 | ML50 | DU154 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML869, E869JAR) in England in 2000 |
16 | ML51 | DU1637 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Patron Travel, Flintham(E817JAR/OIL4201) in England in 2000 |
17 | ML52 | DU3481 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB773, E773JAR) in England in 2000 |
18 | ML53 | DU4314 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML901, E901JAR) in England in 2000 |
19 | ML54 | DU3460 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB767, E767JAR) in England in 2000 |
20 | ML55 | DU5325 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Top Line Travel, York(E811JAR) in England in 2000 |
21 | ML56 | DU7765 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML881, E881JAR) in England in 2000 |
22 | ML57 | DU8346 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB768, E768JAR) in England in 2000 |
23 | ML58 | DU8506 | 1987 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB770, E770JAR) in England in 2000 |
24 | ML59 | DV471 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB763, D553YNO) in England in 2000 |
25 | ML61 | DV542 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML764, E764JAR) in England in 2000 |
26 | ML62 | DV3433 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB775, D675YNO) in England in 2000 |
27 | ML63 | DV2896 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB772, E772JAR) in England in 2000 |
28 | ML64 | DV4883 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to Original London Sightseeing Tour(EMB765, E965JAR) in England in 2000 |
29 | ML65 | DY8312 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Weavaway Travel(Joan of Ark, F215UJN/B10MSE) in England in 2000 |
30 | ML66 | DY6756 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Brylaine Travel, Boston(F165UJN/XAZ1314) in England in 2000 |
31 | ML68 | DY8172 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML153, F153UJN) in England in 2000 |
32 | ML72 | DZ1845 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Ensignbus(484, F84UJN) in England in 2000 |
33 | ML73 | DZ3015 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML16, F164UJN/B16BSS) in England in 2000 |
34 | ML74 | DZ3401 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML15, F355UJN/B15BUS) in England in 2000 |
35 | ML75 | DZ7066 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML20, F159UJN/B20DMS) in England in 2000 |
36 | ML77 | DZ7095 | 1988 | 2000 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML326, F326UJN) in England in 2000 |
37 | ML78 | DZ8263 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Brylaine Travel, Boston(F166UJN/XAZ1408) in England in 2000 |
38 | ML80 | EA1844 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Weavaway Travel(Ark Ade, F214UJN/B10MSC) in England in 2000 |
39 | ML81 | EA4389 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to the Big Bus Company(ML69, F69SYE) in England in 2004 |
40 | ML84 | EA4952 | 1988 | 1999 | Britain | Sold to Mullanys Coaches, Watford(ML84, F97UJN/EBZ6295) in England in 2000 |
全文完
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