A.E.C Routemaster

巴士租賃是城巴其中一個主要經營業務，當中雙層開蓬巴士更是最受歡迎。城巴租賃巴士車隊中，當中以A.E.C Routemaster最為特別。

城巴共購入四架Routemaster，全數是標準長度款式。早於一九八四及一九八五年倫敦運輸局看準國內對公共交通需求，於是透過城巴協助下，安排兩架Routemaster(RM1288及1873)到達香港，其中RM1873更曾參與一個「英國展覽會」，值得一提是，在此期間，RM1873是由中巴管理及保養。兩部Routemaster在到港時車身基本上保持有原來的Park Royal，只是為了適合在國內行走，兩車均被改裝，包括尾門改設於右邊，相應樓梯由右邊改放於左邊。除了這些改動，兩車基本上車身規格保留原裝，RM1288於一九八五年被安排於深圳及廣州行走，而RM1873更以一身城巴車隊色彩，於一九八五年底由香港開往北京去。兩車完成向國內推介雙層巴士任務後，到一九八六年年初返回香港並加入城巴。

RM1288於返港後，於一九八九年被城巴改裝成一架古典開蓬巴士及登記，並獲得一個古老車牌HK1931，而編號是1。1有著重要意義，RM1288是城巴車隊中車齡最大，稱得上是城巴中的大阿哥，所以說它是城巴一哥絕對是當之無愧。在改裝成開蓬巴士同時，1號車伴以深藍色為主的車身頻色，被冠上一個特別的名字，「Auntie Nora」，直到早年改為披上城巴標準色彩為止 。1號車至今仍活躍於出租服務，主要接載遊客穿梭尖沙咀及為酒店住客提供接駁天星小輪之服務。

至於RM1873， 則於稍後時間，約一九九零年秋季於城巴荃灣車廠接受改裝，成為2號車，並獲配ES4007之車牌。2號車初期是以三十年代英國巴士款式出現，仍然保留有車頂，但上層兩邊車窗均被拆除，但兩年後，車頂被移去，成為開蓬巴士。跟1號車一樣，初期2號車披上紅色為主的色彩，但隨後亦被翻鬆成標準色彩。2號車於二零零一年退役之後一直保留於車廠，直到最近，被放置於城巴位於火炭新竹街車場。

至於3號車(EZ8347)則是城巴在一九九一年由蘇格蘭 Clydeside Scottish Omnibuses Ltd 購入，在倫敦服役時編號為RM1703，骨子裡是一架一九六三年製造的Routemaster。在到港初期，其原裝Park Royal車身保持完好， 而在蘇格蘭服役時色彩也被保留下來，直到九二年年中與2號車一併改裝作開蓬巴士，但不同是，除了上層，整個車身仍然保留原有設計，而在披上山頂纜車接駁服務色彩，便服務於接駁花園道纜車站及天星碼頭路線，直到被另一架利蘭奧林比安開蓬巴士(17)取代為止。在服役期間，3號車曾短暫披上一個海洋公園全車身廣告，但在兩星期後，有關廣告就被移除，而3號車亦於一九九九年退役拆毀，是三台載客Routemaster，服役時間最短。

最後的一台Routemaste跟3號車一樣購自蘇格蘭，在倫敦服役時編號為RM870，亦是四架Routemaster中最舊，於一九六一年出廠，但由於到港時車齡太高，未能通過運輸處要求出牌，最後被停放於火炭車場作為零件車，最後於一九九三年被拆毀。

One of the improtant business sector in City Bus was the bus hiring service especially the open-top double deckers. Those A.E.C Routemasters were most oustanding in the fleet.

Totally, there were four standard length A.E.C. Routemaster bought from 1986-1991. Fleet no. 1 and 2 , RM1288 and 1873 respectively, were initially as demonstrator for double-deckers served in the mainland. RM1873 was partcipated in "UK exhibition" under the care of CMB before started it trip from Hong Kong to Beijing. While RM1288, it started trial run in Shenzhen and Guangzhou in 1985. Both of these RMs were retained the original Park Royal bodyworks except the staircase and the platform were converted to left-hand and right-hand sided respectively for conveniently operation in China. After the promoted of double-deckers operation in mainland, they were send back to Hong Kong and joined into City Bus fleet.

RM1288 was converted into open-top in 1989. The original bodyworks was changed into 1930s designed and painted with deep blue colour livery. RM1288 was classed as No.1 in City Bus after registered as HK1931 and named as "Auntie Nora". In fact, RM1873 was the oldest bus in City Bus and No.1 can be represented the meaning of the oldest in Chinese. No. 1 still active in feeder service between Hotel and the satr ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui and it was re-painted with the standard City Bus Livery.

For RM1873, it bodywork was converted into a 1930s vintage look with the roof retained in Tsuen Wan Depot in 1990. It was registered as ES4007 and became No.2 in City Bus fleet. It was carried with a livery mainly in red colour. The roof of RM1873 was removed in 1992 to become a fully open-top double deckers. RM1873 was withdrawn in 2001 and kept in depot. At present, you can find RM1873 in City Bus fo Tan Depot.

City Bus introduced two more Routemasters in 1991 from Clydeside Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. RM1703, later become No.3 in City Bus, was manufactured in 1963 and registered as EZ8347. It original Park Royal bodyworks was reserved together with the livery of Clydeside Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. It was deployed on the feeder service between Peak Tram Station In Garden Road and Star Ferry after conversion to open-top double deckers in 1992. Unlike No.1 and No.2, No. 3 just removed the roof but the original bodywrok retained. It was replaced by a Leyland Olympian open-top (No.17) later. No.3 was scrapped after withdrawal from service in 1999.

Another Routemaster from Clydeside Scottish Omnibuses Ltd, RM870 in London Transport and entered service in 1961, was the oldest Routemaster in the fleet. It was never registered and as a part reserve until demolished in 1993.