XN000022-1975-03-25 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1975

PUBLIC URGED TO MAKE MORE USE OF

CROSS-HARBOUR COACH SERVICE *******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED THE PUBLIC TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE NEW GROSS-HARBOUR EXPRESS COACH SERVICE WHICH RUNS BETWEEN KAI TAK AIRPORT AND CENTRAL DISTRICT VIA GLOUCESTER ROAD IN CAUSEWAY BAY AREA.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE WEEK-OLD EXPERIMENTAL SERVICE HAD NOT BEEN AS GOOD AS EXPECTED, BUT HE HOPED THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD MAKE USE OF IT.

HE SAID THE NEW SERVICE, ROUTE 200, WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WANTED A MORE COMFORTABLE AND YET RELATIVELY CHEAPER FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT ACROSS THE HARBOUR.

ROUTE 200 WAS INTRODUCED LAST WEEK BY THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY WITH THE BACKING OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO PRIVATE CARS, TAXIS AND PUBLIC CARS, HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE IS EXPECTED TO HELP EASE THE DEMAND AT THE AIRPORT FOR TAXIS AND PUBLIC CARS WHICH HAVE AT TIMES BEEN A SOURCE OF COMPLAINTS OF OVERCHARGING BY PASSENGERS.+ HE SAID.

THE INTRODUCTION OF ROUTE 200 WOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO OBTAIN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR AIR TRAVELLERS, PEOPLE SEEING THEM OFF OR BACK, AS WELL FOR AIRPORT STAFF.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT SHOULD PROVE PARTICULARLY CONVENIENT FOR TOURISTS AS MOST HOTELS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT LIE ALONG THE ROUTE, EACH HAVING AN ADJACENT BUS STOP OBSERVED BY THE SERVICE. THE COACHES ALSO STOP OUTSIDE THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL IN GLOUCESTER ROAD VERY NEAR OTHER HOTELS IN CAUSEWAY BAY AREA.

USING 42-SEATER LUXURY COACHES WITH GUARANTEED SEATS, ROUTE 200 RUNS TO A FIXED SCHEDULE OF 15-MINUTE FREQUENCY FROM 7 A.M. UNTIL 8.15 P.M. CHARGING A FLAT FARE OF $3.

JOURNEYS FROM THE AIRPORT BUILDING TERMINAL TO CENTRAL OPERATE VIA OLYMPIC AVENUE, TAM KUNG ROAD, MA TAU WEI ROAD CHATHAM ROAD, HONG CHONG ROAD, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, WATERFRONT ROAD FLYOVER, GLOUCESTER ROAD, WATERFRONT ROAD, HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, QUEENSWAY, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEEN VICTORIA STREET.

COACHES BOUND FOR THE AIRPORT FROM CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS TRAVEL VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET, CHATER ROAD, MURRAY ROAD, QUEENSWAY, ARSENAL STREET, WATERFRONT ROAD, FLYOVĚR, GLOUCESTER ROAD, CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, HONG CHONG ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD, MA TAU WEI ROAD, CHI KIANG STREET, TO KWA WAN ROAD, SUNG WONG TOI ROAD AND OLYMPIC AVENUE.