De Lijn liveried bus on test at Mechelen - 1 Feb 1993

Monday 1 February 1993 (approx. 1040) – The bus in this photograph was a brand new unregistered and unlettered Van Hool displaying trade type licence plate. It was parked in a corner of the bus station area at Mechelen having arrived with a driver and a mechanic in overalls who both disappeared for a while to a nearby café. The Van Hool factory is based at Koningshooikt only about 15km (10 miles) away so I presume the bus was out on test. The livery is for certain De Lijn but it could be for a contractor if not for De Lijn itself. About thirty minutes later as I was riding on De Lijn service 51B between Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Onze Lieve Vrouw Waver the bus followed for a time before heading off in the direction of Koningshooikt. Alongside is an older Van Hool product operated by Cannerts/Defa-Mebo of Heffen which carries the old NMVB livery. NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen) was the predecessor of De Lijn.