WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1984
4
BUS FARES EXPLAINED
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COMMENTING ON THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPRESS BUS ROUTES ON THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE FARES HAVE BEEN SET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ROAD
TRAFFIC POLICY AND CONDITIONS AND NOT WITH REGARD TO THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE MTR.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF FARES, THE FOLLOWING POINTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT 2-
(A) THE HIGHER STANDARD OF SERVICE AND THE
SHORTER JOURNEY TIMES;
(B) FOR IEC ROUTES THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF STOPS AND ONCE THE BUSES
ARE ON THE CORRIDOR, THEY CANNOT PICK UP FURTHER PASSENGERS:
(C) THEY ARE PEAK-HOUR SERVICES ONLY AND
(D) THEY ARE ADDITIONAL TO EXISTING ROUTES.
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE EXISTING BUS SERVICES ON KING'S ROAD WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. THERE IS NO INTENTION TO RAISE THE FARE LEVELS OF THESE SERVICES, EITHER NOW OR LATER, TO THE LEVELS NOW DETERMINED FOR THE NEW IEC ROUTES. THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE EXISTING BUS SERVICES, AND IN ADDITION THE CHOICE OF USING THE IEC ROUTES. THE ANXIETY EXPRESSED BY SOME CRITICS THAT THE NEW IEC ROUTE FARES WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE COST OF LIVING IS THEREFORE WITHOUT FOUNDATION,
IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE KING'S ROAD SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE WITH QUICKER TRAVEL TIMES BY THE REDUCTION OF CONGESTION WHEN THE CORRIDOR OPENS.
ON THE CRITICISM BY EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THAT BUSES USING THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY AND THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL CHARGE LOWER FARES THAN THOSE USING THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUCH ROUTES ARE NOT DIRECTLY COMPARABLE WITH THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR ROUTES. THE IEC ROUTES WILL OFFER SUPPLEMENTARY PEAK HOUR SERVICES ADDITIONAL TO THE EXISTING KING'S ROAD SERVICES. THIS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE ADDITIONAL COST TO CMB SINCE THERE WILL LIKELY BE LITTLE ADDITIONAL OVERALLa BUS PATRONAGE. THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND TUEN MUN HIGHWAY ROUTES ARE MAIN ARTERIAL ROUTES OPERATING NORMAL SCHEDULED HOURS AND SERVICES. SINCE THE IEC ROUTES ARE ALTERNATIVES WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN UPGRADED, FASTER SERVICE THAN THE EXISTING KING'S ROAD ROUTES, IT IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE THAT THE IEC FARES SHOULD BE SET AT A HIGHER LEVEL, NOT ONLY TO REFLECT THE ENHANCED NATURE OF THE IEC SERVICES, BUT ALSO WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING A REASONABLE BALANCE OF SERVICES BETWEEN THE IEC AND THE KING'S ROAD.
/ON CONSULTATION