SgWiki:Citaro Classification (Poll/Discussion)

To all existing active editor,

I had received feedback on classification on Citaro Batch on my user page. However, I would like to hear the opinion of the editor on how to amend the current classification to suit the actual situation.

The issues to the current classification is:

• Do the SBS Transit Citaro Batch 2 consist of the additional 24 Citaro registered in 2015 or should it be in Batch 3.
• As we are transiting to Bus Contracting Model (BCM), the future SMRT Citaro may be leased out. To simplify and standardise information, should we create a new Batch identification regardless of the interior of the Citaro?

Please share your honest opinion below so that all editors could conclude with a common definition of the batches.

Opinion #1 - Thefoodie

Hi,
Although I am do not really know about buses, but i think that SMRT's & SBS's Citaros should be listed separately, as what it is now. Although they may be leased out in future, their interior specifications bear major differences. As for the on going BCM/GCM, LTA is tapping onto SBS's orders not SMRT's. If we list them as Batch 1/2/3/4 together, It may confuse editors in such a way that they may think that the buses have minor differences in interior/exterior specifications. However, I think that the pages should be renamed such as. SMRT's Citaro Batch 1, SBS Transit's Citaro Batch 1/2/3 to reduce any confusion
Thanks & Regards.

Opinion #2 - Wekelwrady

Hi,
Although I also do not know much about buses, here is another different opinion of mine. Since the SMB registered Citaros have a very low chance of being BCM buses, it may be pointless just to include them in the batches. LTA is using the SBST Citaros as BCM buses, in which some of them have gone to TTS and GA-Singapore, and currently SG plated Citaros are being imported under BCM to different companies, but the SMB Citaros remain in SMRT as of now. Since LTA is also using only SBST Citaros and SG plated Citaros for airport services, without the presence of SMB Citaros, it may be more obvious of LTA not using SMB Citaros as BCM. Put the SBST and SG plated Citaros in batch numbers, while the SMB Citaros be allocated the title of "SMB Batch". So here is an idea of my suggested content and titles.

The SMB Citaros should be allocated this page with new and more obvious identifications of the SMB Batch Citaros.

Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro (SMB Batch)

Demonstrator--- SMB136C

SMB Batch A--- SMB139U - SMB148T

SMB Batch B--- SMB149R - SMB188C

While for the SBS/SG Citaros, there may be not much of a minor change.

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (Batch 1)

Batch 1 - SBS6000L - SBS6168L, SBS6170D - SBS6176M, SBS6178H - SBS6235B, SBS6237X - SBS6240K, SBS6242E - SBS6244A, SBS6246U - SBS6249L, SBS6251D - SBS6254X, SBS6256R, SBS6270Z - SBS6272T, SBS6275K, SBS6276H, SBS6280U, SBS6281S, SBS6285G, SBS6300X - SBS6341C

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (Batch 2)

Batch 2 - SBS6342A - SBS6508P, SBS6530Z - SBS6549X, SBS6600E - SBS6818U, SBS6822G - SBS6865H

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (Batch 3)

Batch 3 - SBS2000M – SBS2004C, SBS6509L – SBS6529D, SBS6550R – SBS6599B, SBS6819S – SBS6821J, SBS6866E – SBS6893B, SG1000G – SG1071B, SG1080A – SG1245S, SG1691L – SG1699R

I am not sure about the 24 Citaro issue, but I think that there is a need to seperate the Batch 3 Citaros into two batches, as the range of registration is quite long and there are too many buses on the B3 page. Thank you and regards.

SGT22:07, 28 Dec 2017

Opinion #3 - SMB315C

Hi all.

1. Do the SBS Transit Citaro Batch 2 consist of the additional 24 Citaro registered in 2015 or should it be in Batch 3?

In my opinion, these 24 additional citaros should be part of the Batch 2 instead of Batch 3, although the chassis numbers may be slightly different from both batches. Since

• SBS6819S - SBS6821J are registered in 7 Nov 2014,
• SBS6509D - SBS6521A are registered in 1 Dec 2014 (together with SBS6501H - SBS6508P, which are under Batch 2),
• SBS6522Y - SBS6525P, SBS6528G are registered in 2 Jan 2015 (together with SBS6822G - SBS6829M, which are under Batch 2),
• SBS6526L, SBS6527J, SBS6529D are registered in 2 Feb 2015 (together with SBS6530Z - SBS6533R, SBS6838L - SBS6841B, which are under Batch 2),
• SBS6846M - SBS6850A are registered in 9 Mar 2015 (which are under Batch 3).

The registration gap (2 Feb 2015 & 9 Mar 2015) may also mean that they are under different batches. And the 24 Citaros are registered in a way that they are grouped together with the Batch 2 buses.

2. As we are transiting to Bus Contracting Model (BCM), the future SMRT Citaro may be leased out. To simplify and standardise information, should we create a new Batch identification regardless of the interior of the Citaro?

If that's the case, it would be neater if we classify the SMRT-spec & SBST-spec in this way:

Variant	Registration no.
Demonstrator	SMB136C
Batch 1A	SMB139U - SMB148T
Batch 1B	SBS6000L - SBS6168L, SBS6170D - SBS6176M, SBS6178H - SBS6235B, SBS6237X - SBS6240K, SBS6242E - SBS6244A, SBS6246U - SBS6249L, SBS6251D - SBS6254X, SBS6256R, SBS6270Z - SBS6272T, SBS6275K, SBS6276H, SBS6280U, SBS6281S, SBS6285G & SBS6300X - SBS6341C
Batch 2A	SMB149R - SMB188C
Batch 2B	SBS6342A - SBS6549X, SBS6600E - SBS6821J & SBS6822G - SBS6865H
Batch 3	SBS2000M - SBS2004C, SBS6550R - SBS6599B & SBS6866E - SBS6893B
	SG1000G – SG1071B, SG1080A – SG1245S & SG1691L – SG1699R

Opinion #4 - Razerboii

Hi All,

• Q1) Do the SBS Transit Citaro Batch 2 consist of the additional 24 Citaro registered in 2015 or should it be in Batch 3?

These are my views on the registration

• Batch 2 remains at 450 buses
  

- Normal: SBS6600E - SBS6818U, SBS6822G - SBS6865H
- BSEP: SBS6342A - SBS6508P, SBS6530Z - SBS6549X

• Batch 3 final tally is 354 buses
  

[SBS registered]
- Normal: SBS6819S - SBS6821J, SBS6866E - SBS6893B°°
- BSEP: SBS2000M - SBS2004C, SBS6509L - SBS6529D, SBS6550R - SBS6599B°°

[SG registered]
- Inherited: SG1000G, SG1147S - SG1245S**
- BSEP: SG1080A - SG1146U
- LTA separate order: SG1001D - SG1071B, SG1691L - SG1699R

Initially 330 (250 SBST ordered + 80 LTA ordered), but to me there was an unannounced 24 additional buses procured by either SBST or LTA for novated BSEP batch 3.

°°As per the press release in Xmas 2015.
^^SBS6509L - SBS6529D, SBS6819S - SBS6821J are part of Batch 3 by looking at the VINs as per what user Scania said last year.

• Q2) As we are transiting to Bus Contracting Model (BCM), the future SMRT Citaro may be leased out. To simplify and standardise information, should we create a new Batch identification regardless of the interior of the Citaro?

On my views regarding this, its best to keep them separate, as they have a vast different in interior but similsr specifications anyway even though future bus companies will get them second hand in the future.

I would suggest the following allocations

Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro (SMRT spec)

Demonstrator--- SMB136C

SMRT batch 1--- SMB139U - SMB148T

SMRT batch 2 --- SMB149R - SMB188C

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (SBST spec Batch 1)

Batch 1 - SBS6000L - SBS6168L, SBS6170D - SBS6176M, SBS6178H - SBS6235B, SBS6237X - SBS6240K, SBS6242E - SBS6244A, SBS6246U - SBS6249L, SBS6251D - SBS6254X, SBS6256R, SBS6270Z - SBS6272T, SBS6275K, SBS6276H, SBS6280U, SBS6281S, SBS6285G, SBS6300X - SBS6341C

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (SBST spec Batch 2)

Batch 2 - SBS6342A - SBS6508P, SBS6530Z - SBS6549X, SBS6600E - SBS6818U, SBS6822G - SBS6865H

Mercedes Benz O530 Citaro (SBST spec Batch 3)

Batch 3 - SBS2000M – SBS2004C, SBS6509L – SBS6529D, SBS6550R – SBS6599B, SBS6819S – SBS6821J, SBS6866E – SBS6893B, SG1000G – SG1071B, SG1080A – SG1245S, SG1691L – SG1699R

Applicant's Skeletal Arguments (Opinion 5 - ASA1234)

As I am the applicant with regards to the matter of re-classifying 24 Citaros as under Batch 2 instead of under Batch 3, I will put forward my written submissions in support of my position on this issue. I should state at the outset that I agree with the respondent in "Opinion 2" that the 51 Citaros purchased by SMRT should be listed in a single page as "SMB Batch". The 51 Citaros are all under the same order as established since 2011.

As a preliminary point, there is another sub-issue arising from the outcome of reclassification. I would first state that if the 24 Citaros are under Batch 3, I disagree that SBS6509L to SBS6529D and SBS6819S to SBS6821J should be the ones classified under Batch 3. I will elaborate on this sub-issue later.

For starters, this is the second time there is a debate on the issue of classification; the first was back in November 2015 [1]. There, I initially disagreed with the argument that Batch 2 have 24 extra buses on some (possibly overlapping) grounds that:

• The initial total number of buses for Batch 2 is 450 [2], and the quota had been reached exactly, unlike the precedent of MAN NL323F (Batch 2) buses which the learned administrator cited as an example. I would add that, even the Batch 3 Volvo B9TL Wrights also reached the initial total of 550 at one point [3] (there are 119 BSEP Wrights from Batch 3 back in 2015), but there are unfilled gaps at that time. This is unlike the case when the quota for Batch 2 hits exactly 450 where there are no gaps in registration numbers.
• In an earlier debate back in May 2015 [4], there was an issue as to whether some of the current Batch 3 Citaros can be classified as under Batch 3 since they were registered in April and May 2015, when the official press release from SBS Transit stated that they would only be delivered from mid-2015 [5]. Based on the outcome of the debate (and what is being reflected on the deployment pages), it seems to be accepted by most parties that deliveries of buses can actually begin much ahead of schedule, for practical reasons (which I will say no more). I relied on this argument to try to argue (what I viewed this argument currently as) that there is no rational justification in drawing a distinction between the 24 extra buses and those SBS-regoed Batch 3 Citaros. This argument does not seem to have much effect as it is not being addressed. However, the link to the May 2015 debate has a crucial bearing on the sub-issue which I highlighted in my 2nd paragraph above.
• I also relied on the argument about jumping chassis numbers between batches, which is also raised in the May 2015 issue, though I did not cite very persuasive figures and examples and hence the argument failed.

In the end, we decided to adjourn the matter and bring it up again once the Euro V Citaros completed their registration in 2016/2017 (and as you all know, they have all been registered before 1st January 2018 because of the new Euro VI requirement for vehicles). Having come to this stage, I shall now put forward my arguments on why I am taking a different position from that in November 2015:

• I agree with the learned administrator on the suggestion that SBS Transit exercised its option to include 24 extra Citaros. [6] This is largely in similar terms to the case of Volvo B9TL Wrights where there is an extra 15 buses for Batch 3, though that has been reported by both SBS Transit [7], Volvo and Wrightbus unlike the present case of Citaros. This argument is probably bolstered by some of my following arguments.
• It has been reported from reliable sources that LTA had procured 80 Citaros for the purposes of BCM, as well as 176 Wrights, even long before the registrations are complete. When this is viewed in light of the fact that the total number of Citaros for Batch 3 (minus the disputed 24 buses), there would be exactly 330 Citaros (250 being part of the July 2014 order by SBS Transit and 80 Citaros, as mentioned earlier, were bought by LTA).
• I note that in the press release for Volvo B9TL Wrights, there may be some suggestions that the 15 extra buses are for Batch 4 instead of Batch 3, but nothing turns on that as the registration frequency and rego series proved otherwise. To me, it seems that I should likewise give the benefit of the doubt in respect of these 24 buses to Batch 2 (given how SBS Transit ordered an extra 15 Wrights between 2012 and 2014 before they announced the July 2014 order).

I now come to the sub-issue: assuming Batch 2 does indeed have only 450 buses, is the claim that SBS6509L to SBS6529D and SBS6819S to SBS6821J belongs to Batch 3 correct in principle and logic? I would argue that this is wrong, which is reinforced by my perusal of the past debates.

• The reliance on the chassis numbers is effectively a red herring. For starters, it has never been an established rule that batches of buses are being classified according to chassis numbers. In fact, the editor should have similarly applied the principle to the Volvo B9TL Wrights (although I acknowledge that this would require a substantial amount of manpower resources). But I do not see any suggestion or any issue about the Volvo B9TL's chassis numbers being raised for the past year. The application of this principle seems to me as a biased scenario. Reliance on chassis numbers to classify batches may in fact cause regos to jump here and there, which can be even more complicated given now the buses are being distributed across companies who would be operating the bus packages.
• Some of the regos from the abovementioned ranges are effectively the same examples which were raised in the May 2015 debate. While the sub-issue has been first raised in 2016 and I do not know how it would suddenly come across to the topic starter that this is the case, but having regard to the issue about biased application in my previous paragraph, I would still somewhat be drawn to the inference that it was merely selected out of context.
• I had also done a check with regards to the registration dates of the abovementioned Citaros. Among them, what is significant is that SBS6509L to SBS6521A is in fact registered with SBS6501H to SBS6508P on the same day. I had searched across precedents for the past 10 years and never have I encountered a case where buses of a similar model from two different batches would be registered in a consecutive manner on the same day. It is really a case of incongruity even if I were to take the chassis numbers into account, not to mention the strange scenario of several regos being taken out of their consecutive ranges.

I would therefore submit that, Batch 2 most likely have 474 buses, but more importantly, I would urge that SBS6509L to SBS6529D and SBS6819S to SBS6821J should be classified as Batch 2 for the reasons stated above.

Post-script: I am in the midst of preparing my written submissions before Opinions 3 and 4 come out. I would agree with Opinion 3 with regards to the issue of 24 buses for Batch 2 since our reasons are largely similar.