Mercedes-Benz O305
Encyclopedia
Mercedes-Benz
O305 is a rear-engined bus
model built in West Germany
between 1967 and 1987. The O305 was built as a successor of the O317 and was the Mercedes-Benz
adaptation of the first so called "Standard-Linienbus" design, that was produced by many different German bus manufacturers. The articulated
model was named O305G, the suburban model O307. Its successor was the Mercedes-Benz O405
respective the O407.
The O305 was basically built for single deckers. Double-deck
examples, however, could be found in Hong Kong
, Singapore
and South Africa
.
In Hong Kong
, it is the first franchised bus model made outside United Kingdom
and countries of Commonwealth of Nations
. A total of 41 buses were introduced, with the prototype
in 1983 and the others in 1985. All were withdrawn and subsequently scrapped in 2001/2002 except three, which are preserved by groups of bus enthusiasts in Hong Kong.
(KMB).
The O305 demonstrator was then registered as CZ6686 on 4 August 1983 and was allocated fleet number ME1. Following the successful trials of ME1, KMB ordered 40 buses (ME2-41) of the same kind in 1985, with improved frontal design and ventilation system. All the 41 buses were fitted with Alexander
RH-type bodies.
KMB later adopted a policy of acquiring 3-axle double-deckers of similar length. Because Mercedes-Benz did not provide a 3-axle version of O305, no more Mercedes-Benz bus was purchased by KMB.
and Sheung Wan
. However, Cross Harbour Tunnel's environment was unsuitable for this model, as well as the fact that the towing of these buses by the tow trucks used by the tunnel authority could result in damage to the chassis, so entire fleet were reallocated to express routes running between Yuen Long
and Tsuen Wan
/Kowloon
. The buses were once renowned for its speed and power, with a maximum speed of over 120 km/h reported.
The buses provided services on the trunk routes in Yuen Long until the mid-1990s. With newer buses (especially those with air conditioning) available for trunk services, the Mercedes were redistributed to North District
and Tai Po
and served there until their retirement on 22 November 2002. Occasionally, the Mercedes still participate in some inter-district routes into Kowloon or Yuen Long, one of which becoming the last served by Mercedes.
These buses had a unique livery designed by Kowloon Motor Bus, but all of them had the livery returned to the standard livery of KMB non-air-conditioned buses shortly before their re-distribution.
It was reported that bus enthusiasts rushed to take rides and photos of the last Mercedes when they were announced to be retired, possibly due to their unique roles played in Hong Kong bus service history.
Originally, the State Transit Authority ordered 200 Mercedes-Benz O305s with PMC Galvastress (MkI) bodywork between 1977 and 1978. One of these was fitted with the Galvastress MkII body. This prototype was the forerunner for the MkII order of 550 Mercedes-Benz O305s. This was the largest bus order in Australia (and still the record hasn't been broken). The MkII body was internally different from the MkI body although the exterior remained very much the same with the edition of a more O305 style roof line, and larger rear windows. The MkII order was started in 1978 and completed in 1981. The reason for this large order was because of the takeover of AEC (most of the older fleet being AEC) left spare parts short, etc.
In mid-1981, the STA called for 100 single-deck vehicles and 30 articulated vehicles with the option of 80 more single-deck vehicles and the winner of this tender was Mercedes-Benz. The STA then took delivery of the 100+80 Mercedes-Benz O305s and 30 articulated O305Gs. The body builder was PMC with its Galvastress MkIII body. The revisions to the body were minor, and the most noticeable was the dropping of the window line (Windows remained the same height and width, just dropped a few centimetres) to line up better with the rear windows and to free more space for the front and rear destination equipment. One of these was fitted with the prototype Galvastress MkIV body. The 30 MB O305Gs were delivered 1983-1984 (the prototype was delivered in 1981). The prototype originally had 3 doors, one at the front, one at the center and one at the rear and wasn't turbocharged (the other 29 were) until the prototype was brought up to standard with the other 29 by removing the rear door and turbocharging the engine (177 kW to 209 kW). Two out of the batch had received ZF 5HP500 gearboxes and still have them.
The MkIV prototype went on to start the next order of O305s, 353 of them were delivered between 1984 and 1987. The chassis was slightly revised, and it was the first bus chassis the STA had operated with ABS
. The Galvastress body was revised again with the addition of a square roof and fitted with square rear indicators, although the interior differed little from the MkIII. However, the bus was longer, with a length of 10.75 meters instead of 10.67 meters.
Although all of the MKIs, MKIIs, O305Gs and MKIIIs have been withdrawn, there are still over 200 O305's serving Sydney Buses.
Transmission
Perth
was the first Australian city to operate the Mercedes-Benz O305. The first units entered service with the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT) in 1975. Over a period of eleven years between 1975 and 1986, over 400 MB O305's were purchased for the city. Transperth
(the new name for the MTT starting in 1986) and its contractors began withdrawing this sizeable fleet of O305's in October 1999 following the start of delivery of some 350 Mercedes-Benz O405NH low floor buses. The gradual withdrawal of these buses over the past nine years has made the O305 a very rare sight in the metropolitan corridor; the buses are seen a little more often in the eastern hills area. Transperth operates 4 MB O305's in regular service as of August 2010.
Compared to the Sydney units, the Perth units feature different bodywork (manufactured by Freighter Industries, J. W. Bolton, Hillquip, or Howard Porter) and a higher final drive ratio (5.2:1). There have been some unusual O305's operating in Perth. Examples include No. 444, which features a Mauri (Italy) body assembled locally by J. W. Bolton (since removed from service as part of the fleet renewal program), and No. 007, an experimental bus (model OG305) with an LPG-fuelled engine (also since removed). In 1984, the MTT operated Australia's first CNG
-fuelled bus - O305 No. 008. From the success of the trial gas buses, two O305s were converted to LPG operation in the early 1980s, a CNG-fuelled OG305 was ordered and entered service in 1987 (No. 009) and 26 O305s were converted to CNG in the early 1990s.
As the fleet upgrades, more and more CNG buses are retired from service, and few private operators have the capacity to install a CNG refill system. These buses face an uncertain future, but seem likely to follow buses No. 008 and No. 533 which were purchased to be immediately wrecked to provide replacement parts for existing diesels in the new owners fleet.
Perth was also the first Australian city to operate the articulated Mercedes-Benz O305G. Three batches were purchased including 18 in 1979, 3 in 1980, and 19 in 1986-1987. The first and second batches had bodywork completed by J. W. Bolton and Howard Porter and featured model OM 407h 240 hp (177 kW) naturally aspirated engines. To overcome sluggishness, the buses in the third batch (also featuring Howard Porter bodies but built to the VöV-II design) were fitted with model OM 407hA 280 hp (206 kW) turbocharged engines.
Canberra also invested in a batch of Mercedes-Benz O305 citybuses with locally built Ansair (Melbourne) bodies. They were built with standard Mercedes-Benz "StULB" fronts. A total of 85 of these units were delivered in 1984 and then tendered for disposal firstly in 1995 and then at several other intervals until 1999. Most units now operate with private bus companies in the Sydney metropolitan area as well as others scattered around the country. 12 were also exported to New Zealand to operate in Auckland and Wellington.
In addition to a large batch of MAN SG192 articulated vehicles purchased in the 1970s, 5 Mercedes-Benz O305G articulated vehicles were delivered in 1984. These vehicles were identical to the 85 MB O305s and the additional of a concertina and tralier unit. Once again, these units were tendered for disposal in 1997/1998 and disposed of to various private bus companies around Australia.
were specially modified Mercedes-Benz O305 models. A fleet of 41 rigid and 51 articulated buses was purchased, their cost included in the original $98 million budget. The chassis were bought from Germany and heavily modified at the Mitsubishi Motors plant in Tonsley. The rigid buses had their power increased to 240 hp (177 kW) and the articulateds to 280 hp (207 kW); they were the first buses to travel at a speed of 100 km/h on suburban routes.
Mercedes-Benz buses
Mercedes-Benz has been making buses since 1895 in Mannheim in Germany. Since 1995, the brand of Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches is under the umbrella of EvoBus GmbH, belonging 100 % to the Daimler AG.-Heritage:...
O305 is a rear-engined bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
model built in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
between 1967 and 1987. The O305 was built as a successor of the O317 and was the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
adaptation of the first so called "Standard-Linienbus" design, that was produced by many different German bus manufacturers. The articulated
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
model was named O305G, the suburban model O307. Its successor was the Mercedes-Benz O405
Mercedes-Benz O405
The Mercedes-Benz O 405 was a highly successful single-decker bus chassis built by Mercedes-Benz from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. It was the replacement for the Mercedes-Benz O305 chassis and was widely used in Europe, Australia and Singapore....
respective the O407.
The O305 was basically built for single deckers. Double-deck
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
examples, however, could be found in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, it is the first franchised bus model made outside United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and countries of Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. A total of 41 buses were introduced, with the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
in 1983 and the others in 1985. All were withdrawn and subsequently scrapped in 2001/2002 except three, which are preserved by groups of bus enthusiasts in Hong Kong.
Background and history
For a long period of time, Hong Kong franchised bus operators were required by law to purchase buses produced in Commonwealth countries. After repealing the requirement in 1983, Mercedes-Benz supplied a two-axle 11-metre double-decker to Kowloon Motor BusKowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
(KMB).
The O305 demonstrator was then registered as CZ6686 on 4 August 1983 and was allocated fleet number ME1. Following the successful trials of ME1, KMB ordered 40 buses (ME2-41) of the same kind in 1985, with improved frontal design and ventilation system. All the 41 buses were fitted with Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
RH-type bodies.
KMB later adopted a policy of acquiring 3-axle double-deckers of similar length. Because Mercedes-Benz did not provide a 3-axle version of O305, no more Mercedes-Benz bus was purchased by KMB.
The services
Initially, the first bus ran on route 105, which was new, running between Lai Chi KokLai Chi Kok
Lai Chi Kok is a neighborhood in New Kowloon, Hong Kong, east of Kwai Chung and west of Cheung Sha Wan. Mei Foo Sun Chuen is the largest housing estate in the area. Administratively, it belongs to the Sham Shui Po District.-History:...
and Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan is an area in Hong Kong, located in the north-west of Hong Kong Island, between Central and Sai Ying Pun. Administratively, it is part of the Central and Western District...
. However, Cross Harbour Tunnel's environment was unsuitable for this model, as well as the fact that the towing of these buses by the tow trucks used by the tunnel authority could result in damage to the chassis, so entire fleet were reallocated to express routes running between Yuen Long
Yuen Long
Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗...
and Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
/Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
. The buses were once renowned for its speed and power, with a maximum speed of over 120 km/h reported.
The buses provided services on the trunk routes in Yuen Long until the mid-1990s. With newer buses (especially those with air conditioning) available for trunk services, the Mercedes were redistributed to North District
North District, Hong Kong
North District is the northernmost district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The new town of Fanling-Sheung Shui is within this district. It had a population of 298,657 in 2001. The district has the second lowest population density.It...
and Tai Po
Tai Po
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the...
and served there until their retirement on 22 November 2002. Occasionally, the Mercedes still participate in some inter-district routes into Kowloon or Yuen Long, one of which becoming the last served by Mercedes.
These buses had a unique livery designed by Kowloon Motor Bus, but all of them had the livery returned to the standard livery of KMB non-air-conditioned buses shortly before their re-distribution.
It was reported that bus enthusiasts rushed to take rides and photos of the last Mercedes when they were announced to be retired, possibly due to their unique roles played in Hong Kong bus service history.
Singapore
After the evaluation of two Mercedes-Benz O305 double-deckers acquired c. 1982, Singapore Bus Services acquired 200 Mercedes-Benz O305 double-deckers which were very similar to KMB's O305. It features an 11,412 cc OM 407h engine with its modular W3D 080 R gearbox. With a licensed capacity of 109 passengers, the first of them entered service in 1984 and all of them retired in early 2000s.Sydney
Sydney Buses acquired over 1300 O305s of different body styles (by the same body manufacturer - Pressed Metal Corporation, or PMC) between 1977 and 1987. 30 of these were the articulated O305G model.Originally, the State Transit Authority ordered 200 Mercedes-Benz O305s with PMC Galvastress (MkI) bodywork between 1977 and 1978. One of these was fitted with the Galvastress MkII body. This prototype was the forerunner for the MkII order of 550 Mercedes-Benz O305s. This was the largest bus order in Australia (and still the record hasn't been broken). The MkII body was internally different from the MkI body although the exterior remained very much the same with the edition of a more O305 style roof line, and larger rear windows. The MkII order was started in 1978 and completed in 1981. The reason for this large order was because of the takeover of AEC (most of the older fleet being AEC) left spare parts short, etc.
In mid-1981, the STA called for 100 single-deck vehicles and 30 articulated vehicles with the option of 80 more single-deck vehicles and the winner of this tender was Mercedes-Benz. The STA then took delivery of the 100+80 Mercedes-Benz O305s and 30 articulated O305Gs. The body builder was PMC with its Galvastress MkIII body. The revisions to the body were minor, and the most noticeable was the dropping of the window line (Windows remained the same height and width, just dropped a few centimetres) to line up better with the rear windows and to free more space for the front and rear destination equipment. One of these was fitted with the prototype Galvastress MkIV body. The 30 MB O305Gs were delivered 1983-1984 (the prototype was delivered in 1981). The prototype originally had 3 doors, one at the front, one at the center and one at the rear and wasn't turbocharged (the other 29 were) until the prototype was brought up to standard with the other 29 by removing the rear door and turbocharging the engine (177 kW to 209 kW). Two out of the batch had received ZF 5HP500 gearboxes and still have them.
The MkIV prototype went on to start the next order of O305s, 353 of them were delivered between 1984 and 1987. The chassis was slightly revised, and it was the first bus chassis the STA had operated with ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
. The Galvastress body was revised again with the addition of a square roof and fitted with square rear indicators, although the interior differed little from the MkIII. However, the bus was longer, with a length of 10.75 meters instead of 10.67 meters.
Although all of the MKIs, MKIIs, O305Gs and MKIIIs have been withdrawn, there are still over 200 O305's serving Sydney Buses.
Transmission and engine specifications
Engine- Type: OM 407 h
- Position: Rear Underfloor
- Capacity: 11.413 litres
- No. of cylinders: 6, inline
- Compression Ratio: 16.5:1
- Bore: 125 mm
- Stroke: 155 mm
- Max power: 147 kW @ 2200 rpm
- Max torque: 715 Nm @ 1400 rpm
- Max gov. speed: 2200 rpm
- Fuel Pump: Bosch
- Injectors: Bosch
Transmission
- Type: W3D O80/2.2R
- Torque converter: 5.95:1, max speed 13 km/h
- 1st ratio: 2.12:1, road speed: 35 km/h
- 2nd ratio: 1.35:1, road speed: 55 km/h
- 3rd ratio: 1:1, road speed: 75 km/h
- Reverse ratio: 2.23:1
- Rear axle type: H07/8DL/10
- Final drive ratio: 5.9:1
Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
was the first Australian city to operate the Mercedes-Benz O305. The first units entered service with the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT) in 1975. Over a period of eleven years between 1975 and 1986, over 400 MB O305's were purchased for the city. Transperth
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
(the new name for the MTT starting in 1986) and its contractors began withdrawing this sizeable fleet of O305's in October 1999 following the start of delivery of some 350 Mercedes-Benz O405NH low floor buses. The gradual withdrawal of these buses over the past nine years has made the O305 a very rare sight in the metropolitan corridor; the buses are seen a little more often in the eastern hills area. Transperth operates 4 MB O305's in regular service as of August 2010.
Compared to the Sydney units, the Perth units feature different bodywork (manufactured by Freighter Industries, J. W. Bolton, Hillquip, or Howard Porter) and a higher final drive ratio (5.2:1). There have been some unusual O305's operating in Perth. Examples include No. 444, which features a Mauri (Italy) body assembled locally by J. W. Bolton (since removed from service as part of the fleet renewal program), and No. 007, an experimental bus (model OG305) with an LPG-fuelled engine (also since removed). In 1984, the MTT operated Australia's first CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
-fuelled bus - O305 No. 008. From the success of the trial gas buses, two O305s were converted to LPG operation in the early 1980s, a CNG-fuelled OG305 was ordered and entered service in 1987 (No. 009) and 26 O305s were converted to CNG in the early 1990s.
As the fleet upgrades, more and more CNG buses are retired from service, and few private operators have the capacity to install a CNG refill system. These buses face an uncertain future, but seem likely to follow buses No. 008 and No. 533 which were purchased to be immediately wrecked to provide replacement parts for existing diesels in the new owners fleet.
Perth was also the first Australian city to operate the articulated Mercedes-Benz O305G. Three batches were purchased including 18 in 1979, 3 in 1980, and 19 in 1986-1987. The first and second batches had bodywork completed by J. W. Bolton and Howard Porter and featured model OM 407h 240 hp (177 kW) naturally aspirated engines. To overcome sluggishness, the buses in the third batch (also featuring Howard Porter bodies but built to the VöV-II design) were fitted with model OM 407hA 280 hp (206 kW) turbocharged engines.
Canberra
In addition to a large batch of MAN SG192 articulated vehicles purchased in the 1970s, 5 Mercedes-Benz O305G articulated vehicles were delivered in 1984. These vehicles were identical to the 85 MB O305s and the additional of a concertina and tralier unit. Once again, these units were tendered for disposal in 1997/1998 and disposed of to various private bus companies around Australia.
Adelaide
The first buses to enter service on the O-BahnO-Bahn Busway
The Adelaide O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway located in Adelaide, South Australia. The O-Bahn – from the Latin omnibus and the German bahn – was conceived by Daimler-Benz to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen.The route was introduced in...
were specially modified Mercedes-Benz O305 models. A fleet of 41 rigid and 51 articulated buses was purchased, their cost included in the original $98 million budget. The chassis were bought from Germany and heavily modified at the Mitsubishi Motors plant in Tonsley. The rigid buses had their power increased to 240 hp (177 kW) and the articulateds to 280 hp (207 kW); they were the first buses to travel at a speed of 100 km/h on suburban routes.