TNAG-0855-FCO40-1065-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 81

3

24.

The introduction of the rapid-transit system will

have profound effects on the bus systems as routes are

changed to serve the new stations. The versatility of bus

routing will also accelerate the trend towards higher bus

patronage. At the same time, travel on some tram and ferry

routes may diminish to the point where it is no longer

profitable to continue service.

25.

Stage 1 of rapid-transit development will have a

measurable effect on several cross-harbour ferry routes and

the combined effect of rapid transit and the vehicular

tunnel may cause their patronage to drop below a profitable

level. There will also be a need for re-routing of a few

of the Kowloon bus routes.

26.

Stage 2 will only extend the effects of Stage 1,

but Stage 3 will affect both buses and trams on the island.

Since the rapid transit will serve the same major corridor

as is now served by both buses and trams, and since the

buses can easily be re-routed to complement rather than

compete with rapid transit, it is likely that there would

be a sizeable drop in tram patronage, if the trams were

retained.

27.

Stages 4 and 5 will only continue the effects of

Stages 1, 2 and 3, but Stage 6 will cause a sizeable drop

in patronage on the Kowloon-Canton Railway.

It is estimated

/ that