Kowloon Motor Bus

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Template:Short description Template:Use Hong Kong English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox bus company Template:Infobox Chinese The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) is a bus company operating franchised services in Hong Kong. It is the largest bus company in Hong Kong by fleet size and number of bus routes, with over 4,000 buses - mostly double deckers - and 420 routes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is a subsidiary of Transport International.

History

Preserved AEC Regent V in April 2012
MCW Metrobus
Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Dragon
KMB's first air-conditioned bus, a 1988 Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian
Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL
Caetano bodied Scania K230UB
Alexander ALX500 bodied Volvo Super Olympian

KMB was founded on 13 April 1933 as a result of the reformation of public transport by the Hong Kong Government. Before the reformation, there were several independent bus operators working on both sides of Victoria Harbour including KMB.Template:Citation needed

The Hong Kong Government enforces the bus franchises in favour of the franchisees, while it prosecutes the operators of unauthorised private bus services and other types of authorised bus service that pick up or drop off passengers in franchised bus parking zones.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The KMB franchise allowed for the operation of public omnibus service on the Kowloon side as well as the New Territories. The inaugural 1933 KMB fleet consisted of 106 single-deck buses.<ref name=Milestones>Template:Cite web</ref>

The founding members of KMB were:

By December 1941, KMB had 140 single-deckers operating on 17 routes. As only a handful of buses survived World War II, some lorries were temporarily converted into buses. By the late 1940s, KMB ridership increased with the huge influx of immigrants from Mainland China. In 1949, KMB bought 20 Daimler double-deckers from England, becoming the first operator of double-deckers in Hong Kong.<ref name=Milestones/>

Following the opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in 1972, KMB operated a number of cross-harbour routes jointly with China Motor Bus, the sole bus operator on Hong Kong Island. This marked the first time KMB buses ran on the island.<ref name=Milestones/> In the same year, KMB began experimenting with buses operating without a fare collector. All passengers would board from the front door and pay the fare by putting money into the collection box next to the driver.<ref name=Milestones/> <ref>[1]Template:Dead link</ref>

In 1996, KMB launched an advertising campaign to promote a modern image. It was the first bus company to display advertisements in Hong Kong.<ref>Finer, Jonathan, “King of the road” Far Eastern Economic Review, Feb 7, 2002, Vol.165 (5), pp.36-40</ref>

On 1 June 1997, KMB formed a subsidiary, Long Win Bus, to provide service on the Lantau Link to the new Hong Kong International Airport and Tung Chung.<ref name=About>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name=Overview>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1998, KMB extended its business into mainland China with a co-operative joint venture, Dalian Hong Kong Macau Company. In 1999, due to the abuse of the free fare imposed on KCR East Rail feeder routes (K12 - K18) as non-franchised buses, KCR signed a contract with KMB which stated that these routes would be operated de facto by the KMB as franchised bus routes, while all profit would go to the KCR corporation. This contract is still in effect after the KCR-MTR merger.Template:Citation needed

In July 2007, KMB commenced operating a 10-year franchise, that has since been renewed until June 2027.<ref name=GrantFranchise>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2023, KMB celebrated its 90th anniversary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Routes

Template:As of, KMB operates 446 routes in Kowloon and the New Territories, and operates cross-harbour tunnel routes. Some cross-harbour routes are operated conjointly with Citybus, while others are operated solely by KMB.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Numbering System by numbers and district

Routes 200-299 used to be deluxe routes that only operated single-decker buses. In the 1990s, it became mandatory for routes 200-299 to be fully air-conditioned. Since the withdrawal of the last non air-conditioned bus in 2012, all bus routes run by KMB are required to have an inbuilt air-conditioning system.

Letter Assignments in bus routes

  • Prefixes
  • Suffixes:
    • A-F: May represent independent routes (eg. 2, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E, 2F) or branches of a main route (eg. 33, 33B)
    • E: Express bus routes for some cases such as 40E and 87E
    • H: Hospital routes (eg. 14H, 32H)
    • K: Feeder routes to railway lines operated formerly by the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation, ie. the East Rail line and the Tuen Ma line (not to be confused with the K prefix)
    • M: Feeder routes to and from railway lines operated by the MTR Corporation
    • P: Peak hour routes, although some provide full day services (eg. 40P)
    • R: Routes operated during public holidays and/or public events with the exception of 5R, which provides full day service
    • S: Special routes, including some overnight routes, routes operated due to big events or peak hour routes
    • X: Express bus routes with exceptions

Fares

Passengers pay the fare in cash (no change given), with a contactless credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Amex, UnionPay, Discover, JCB), QR code payment, mobile wallet or using an Octopus card, a smart card payment system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Discounts apply for Octopus users on specified route interchange combinations. To enable elderly people and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries are charged concessionary fare of $2 per trip, starting from 2012. The scheme aims to help build a caring and inclusive society by encouraging these groups to participate more in community activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018, KMB launched the KMB Monthly Pass. Fares are fixed at HK$780, and are not applicable to MTR Feeder Bus services operated by KMB. Holders are able to take 10 rides on ordinary routes and 2 rides on route B1 per day during the validity month of the pass. Passes can be purchased using an Octopus card at machines installed at major public transport interchanges and bus terminals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fleet

As of December 2023, Kowloon Motor Bus operates a fleet of 4056 buses.<ref name="2021REPORT" /> 584 Euro VI buses (including 3 diesel-electric buses), 2,935 Euro V buses and 10 battery-electric buses.<ref name="2021REPORT" />

KMB traditionally purchased buses from English manufacturers including AEC, Daimler, Dennis, Guy Motors, Leyland, Metro Cammell Weymann and Seddon, that either were bodied in England or locally.<ref>Orders & Deliveries Commercial Motor 27 November 1964</ref><ref>Giant Daimlers for Hong Kong Commercial Motor 18 March 1966</ref><ref>Twin-steer Big J tractive unit Commercial Motor 9 September 1966</ref><ref>100 Seddonn Buses for Hong Kong Commercial Motor 24 May 1957</ref>

In 1975, the first air-conditioned bus in Hong Kong was put into service by KMB. Following the testing of double-deck air-conditioned buses Victory and Jubilant in the early 1980s, KMB became the world's first operator of such buses.<ref>Kowloon Coaches Commercial Motor 12 July 1980</ref> All purchases after 1995 were for air-conditioned buses. In May 2012, KMB withdrew its last non-air-conditioned buses from service.<ref>Farewell to KMB Non-Air Conditioned Buses Kowloon Motor Bus 10 May 2012</ref> Some of the newer third-generation buses have solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof which reduces fuel use by 5-8% which would otherwise be used for the air conditioner. This is expected to reduce Template:Cvt of carbon emissions on each bus per year.<ref name="sustainabilityreport" />

In the late 1970s, it began to purchase chassis from European manufacturers MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo.<ref>Alexander's HK Merc Commercial Motor 12 March 1983</ref><ref>Ailsa for Kowloon Commercial Motor 17 November 1978</ref>

KMB's original liveries were combinations of red and cream. In the early 1990s, a white and grey livery was introduced for air-conditioned buses, followed in 1997 by a champagne livery. In June 2017, a red and silver livery was introduced, as well as a new logo, dropping its character and Chinese slogan, retaining only the wordmark, but with a darker shade of red.<ref>Red buses coming to a stop near you The Standard 5 May 2017</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 2020s, KMB introduced a vivid "Electric Green" livery on zero emission buses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> KMB expects to have 500 battery electric buses by the end of 2025, which will account for an eighth of the total bus fleet.<ref name="2021REPORT" /><ref name="sustainabilityreport">Template:Cite report</ref>

In 2024, KMB had started operating one out of their 10 fleets of the Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV on the Route 112, which runs from So Uk in Cheung Sha Wan to North Point.<ref name="KMB launches Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV into HK service following completion of testing and certification">Template:Cite report</ref>

Depots

KMB operate four depots in Kowloon and the New Territories.<ref name="AR">Annual report for year ended 31 December 2017 Transport International</ref> The depot of a bus is identified by the letter K, L, S, or U, and the letter is marked on the bottom left of the driver's windscreen or below windscreen. The assignment scheme is as follows:

In addition, these depots with the exception of the Kowloon Bay Depot are responsible for the maintenance of part of the fleet owned by Long Win Bus, since the KMB and LWB are owned by the same parent company.

Football team

Template:Main Kowloon Motor Bus also has a Hong Kong football club, Kowloon Motor Bus Co. It was formed in 1947 and joined Hong Kong First Division League in the 1947/48 season. Nicknamed "Atomic Bus", the team obtained the only two league titles in 1953/54 and 1966/67. The team attained its peak in the 1950s and 1960s when the "South China - Kowloon Motor Bus Co. crash" (Template:Lang) was one of the highlighted rival matches in Hong Kong. In 1970/71, the team faced their first relegation, but was able to stay in the First Division as Jardines quit the league in the following season. However, the team were relegated in 1972/73. It made its last First Division League appearance in 1976/77, but was relegated after only one season. The football team quit the league in 1981 and reformed in 2017.<ref name=Milestones/>

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

Template:Commons category

Template:Bus companies of Hong Kong Template:Kowloon Motor Bus

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