[Buses in Beijing]青年尼奥普兰 Youngman Neoplan JNP6120G-1 (1st batch, 2nd batch) 北京公交集团 BPT #23541 #23294 Rear-left at Beijing South Railway Station South Square

Two JNP6120G-1 low-floor city bus made by Youngman-Neoplan in Jinhua, Zhejiang

 

On the left is a 1st batch (2007 version) while on the right is a 2nd batch (2008 version) JNP6120G-1. The twin share the same ISBe4 225B 225hp Euro IV engine, Allison T270R 6AT gearbox and ZF front RL-85A, rear AV-132 axles. Although both considered to be Chinese-version Neoplan Centroliner N4521, the 1st and 2nd version are obviously distinct from each other. From this picture, the difference between two tails is apparent. The older one applies the original design of Centroliner, while the newer one transplants the taillamps of previous generation Starliner beneath the Centroliner rear windscreen. For the newer version, on the left side, one more vent grille is added; on the right side, the grille becomes larger and is vertically corrugated. The size of side windows severely shrinks on the 2008 version, with lower edge raised above the back of the passenger seats. Livery is another difference: the light blue and silver are replaced by mild silver and dark silver respectively.

 

Interiors are completely different. 2007 version applies an original design from Neoplan with a blue, luminous "NEOPLAN" logo on the black-mirror above the front windscreen. Inside the newer version, people cannot find inside a Neoplan at all---not only the best-loved Neoplan logo is removed, but all Neoplan-feeling designs disappear. The interior is identical with that of the other new low floor buses ordered for the Olympics.

 

2007 version's quality is beyond doubt, but that of 2008 version is just about average. Actually, many bus fans are disappointing about the retrograding design and quality.

 

BPT only ordered 50 units of 2007 version (2007 version DD6129S06 also has 50), but hundreds of 2008 version and assigned them to Division 2, 3 and 7. The 50 units of 2007 version are all in Trolley-buses Division at first; when Trolley-buses Division had all its diesel rigids (charters excluded) replaced by hybrid ones, the 50 units are transferred to Xin'ao Division in late 2009 and to Division 2 in mid 2010.

 

The two units, left Fleet No. 23541 and right 23294 (BPT Division 2, diesel rigid bus, code 541 and 294) are both on Line 652. They have unloaded their passengers on Beijing South Railway Station Square Street to the west of this crossing; 23294 is having a short break while 23541 is looking for a space to have a break.

 

Line 652 is an artery connecting the urban area with Beijing Economical Technologies Development Area (BDA) in Yizhuang, southern suburb, via Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau highway. The line has two stops before entering highway and a series of stops inside BDA, ending at BDA public transport central station.

 

When Division 2 acquired the second-hand 2007 version Neoplans, it allocated the 30 units to Line 343, 352 and 652 while Line 652 has a few.

Done