ENG-2006 — Page 305

Transport | 253

Peak Tram

Hong Kong's other tramway is a cable-hauled funicular railway operated by the Peak Tramways Company Limited from Central (Garden Road) to the Peak. The 1.4-kilometre tramway began operation in 1888 and was modernised in 1989. The Peak Tram has an average of 12 000 passenger trips a day, mostly consisting of tourists and local sightseers. One-way fares for adults, children aged under 12 and senior citizens aged 65 or above are $22 and $8 respectively.

Other Road-based Passenger Transport

account for

The other road-based passenger transport modes mainly franchised buses, public light buses, taxis and residents' services of non-franchised buses 64 per cent of all public transport journeys.

Franchised Buses

Franchised buses are the largest road-based carriers and account for about 35 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. Local bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories are largely provided by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB). At year-end, the company operated 384 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories; 23 and 29 cross-harbour routes jointly with Citybus Limited (CTB) and New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) respectively; and 10 cross-harbour routes on its own.

The KMB fleet comprised 4 013 licensed vehicles at year-end; 3 750 were air- conditioned and 1 800 wheelchair-accessible. KMB recorded 1.01 billion passenger trips (a daily average of 2.76 million passenger trips) which covered 336 million kilometres during the year. Its fares ranged from $1.60 to $38 for regular routes. Children aged under 12 and elderly passengers were offered concessionary fares on all the company's routes.

Local bus services on Hong Kong Island are provided by NWFB and CTB. At year-end NWFB was operating 53 bus routes on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O and 33 cross-harbour routes, 29 of which were operated jointly with KMB. It had a licensed fleet of 694 buses, of which 693 were air-conditioned and 532 wheelchair-accessible.

NWFB recorded 183.1 million passenger trips - a daily average of 501 600 passenger trips which covered 50.9 million kilometres during the year. Its fares ranged from $3 to $34.20 for the regular routes. Concessionary fares are offered on all routes to children aged under 12 and elderly passengers.

CTB operates two bus networks under two franchises. One of the franchises comprises 62 bus routes on Hong Kong Island and 31 cross-harbour routes, 23 of which are operated jointly with KMB. Another franchise comprises a network of 18 routes plying between the urban areas and North Lantau or the airport.

At year-end, CTB had a licensed fleet of 909 buses, all of which were air- conditioned, and 115 wheelchair-accessible. The company recorded 207.8 million passenger trips (a daily average of 569 200 passenger trips) which covered 82.4 million kilometres during the year. Its fares ranged from $2.50 to $48 for the regular