ENG-2017 — Page 272

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Transport

Buses

Franchised Buses

Franchised buses are the largest road-based carriers, accounting for 31.2 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. Bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories are largely provided by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) (KMB). At the year end, KMB was operating 334 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories and 65 cross-harbour routes, 53 of which were run jointly with another operator. KMB had a licensed fleet of 3,967 buses, all of which were wheelchair-accessible low-floor vehicles. It recorded an average of 2.75 million passenger trips per day in 2017.

Bus services on Hong Kong Island are provided mainly by New World First Bus Services (NWFB) and Citybus (CTB). At the year end, NWFB was operating 45 bus routes on Hong Kong Island, 13 in Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O and 35 cross-harbour routes, 30 of which were run jointly with KMB. NWFB had a licensed fleet of 702 buses, all of which were wheelchair-accessible low-floor vehicles. It recorded a daily average of 447,400 passenger trips in 2017.

CTB operates two bus networks under two franchises. One covers 52 bus routes on Hong Kong Island, one route in the New Territories and 31 cross-harbour routes, 23 of which are operated jointly with KMB. The other franchise covers a network of 24 routes linking the urban areas with North Lantau and the airport. At the year end, CTB had a licensed fleet of 944 buses, all of which were wheelchair-accessible low-floor vehicles. It recorded 579,400 passenger trips on average per day in 2017.

Bus routes connecting the New Territories with North Lantau and the airport are run mainly by Long Win Bus Company. It was operating 30 routes at the year end with a licensed fleet of 245, all of which were wheelchair-accessible low-floor buses. The company recorded an average of 107,100 passenger trips a day in 2017.

The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) was operating 22 routes on Lantau Island and one route for Shenzhen Bay Port. At the year end, the company had a licensed fleet of 124 buses, of which 57 were wheelchair-accessible low-floor vehicles. It recorded a daily average of 77,700 passenger trips in 2017.

The government works with these bus operators to rationalise their services, so as to enhance network efficiency, improve service quality, alleviate traffic congestion and improve roadside air quality.

Non-franchised Buses

Non-franchised bus services play a supplementary role in the public transport system. They relieve heavy demand on regular public transport services primarily during peak hours, fill gaps which cannot be met by regular public transport services, and provide tailor-made services to specific groups of passengers. They serve mainly tourists, estate residents, employees and students. At the year end, there were 7,038 registered non-franchised public buses.

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