Buses

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Kowloon Motor Bus 812 NU8940 by Howard Pulling, on Flickr

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Volvo B8L 12.8M With MCV Evoseti Bodywork With KMB CityRed Heartbeat Livery by Chung Leung, on Flickr

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UX6785 985A by Ko14046, on Flickr

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New World First Bus 5551 RK5338 by Howard Pulling, on Flickr

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NWFB Trident Enviro 400 Euro V 3804_UM9245 by RW Yuen, on Flickr

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New owner considers merging operations of Hong Kong’s Citybus, New World First Bus after streamlining unified management team
South China Morning Post Excerpt
May 2, 2021

The new owner of one of Hong Kong’s largest franchised bus groups is considering merging the operations of its two subsidiaries – Citybus and New World First Bus (NWFB) – amid heavy losses that have persisted despite a recent fare increase, the Post has learned.

However, as the two firms are bound by the terms and conditions of three government franchises, a staff union said any proposed merger would only be possible in 2023 through discussions about renewing two of those agreements that expire that year. The third runs out in 2026.

The Transport Department confirmed to the Post that both bus companies had indicated their intention to renew the franchises.

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...gs-citybus-new

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XA3632-01 by Arthurchan687, on Flickr

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VD5513@56S by TU9576, on Flickr

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Repairs in works for Hong Kong’s oldest operating post office after bus runs into heritage building
South China Morning Post Excerpt
May 6, 2021

Hong Kong authorities have said they will repair the oldest post office in service after a double-decker bus ran into the historic building following a collision with a motorcyclist on Wednesday.

The entrance and part of the facade of the 84-year-old Stanley Post Office were damaged, according to a statement released by Hongkong Post on Thursday.

Parts of the wooden beams on the roof of its entrance and a postbox outside the building were also affected.

A police spokesman said the bus hit a motorcyclist at the junction of Tung Tau Wan Road and Stanley Village Road at about 6.30pm on Wednesday. It also knocked down roadside railings and a tree as a result of the collision.

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“Stanley Post Office has to be closed temporarily as the Architectural Services Department and relevant agencies still need to carry out a detailed survey to arrange for repair works,” the Hongkong Post statement said, adding advice would be sought from the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO).

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...st-functioning

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TP1095_290A by Ching Yin Yau, on Flickr

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Citybus ADL Enviro 500 MMC Facelift Euro 6 12M by Chung Leung, on Flickr

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UK8591@904(1) by TU9576, on Flickr

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XG7487@686 by pjMakKK_1017, on Flickr

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SR8808 KMB by Emilia0707 Photography_, on Flickr

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KMB’s third-generation solar panel bus puts into service on next Monday
May 14, 2021
Press Release Excerpt

The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. (“KMB”) has introduced the third generation of the in-house developed solar panel bus, which the Transport Department has approved. It will be deployed on 17 May (Monday) and put into service on Route 58X [Tuen Mun (Leung King Estate) ⇋ Mong Kok East Station]. KMB states that the new installation has become a standard configuration for newly purchased buses. It is expected that the first batch of about 170 buses will arrive in Hong Kong in the first half of 2022 at the earliest.

The third-generation solar panel bus will put into service on Route 58X. It will depart from Leung King Estate Bus Terminus at 05: 51 on 17 May. The reason for choosing Route 58X is that the relevant route runs on Tuen Mun Road. Since the road surface is flat and the daylight is sufficient, it will have a better performance for the solar power generation and emission reduction effects.

Solar panels installation has become a standard configuration for newly purchased buses. KMB expects that the first batch of about 170 buses equipped with the ultra-thin solar panels will arrive in Hong Kong as soon as in the first half of 2022. In addition, more than 1,000 in-service buses with eight-service year below will also be installed with ultra-thin solar panels. The retrofitting project makes a quarter of the bus fleet with renewable energy systems, making KMB and LWB become the largest eco-friendly fleet in Hong Kong.

More : http://www.kmb.hk/en/news/press/arch...105143826.html

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UK8591_118_night by CTB 8806 Photography, on Flickr

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As losses pile up, owner of Hong Kong’s Citybus, New World First Bus urges overhaul of system for adjusting fares
May 17, 2021
South China Morning Post Excerpt

One of the city's largest bus firms wants the government to fix its system of approving fare adjustments for franchised services, saying operators are suffering huge losses in the economic slump caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The system was flawed because it was opaque, drawn out and unpredictable, said William Chung Chak-man, vice-chairman of Bravo Transport Services, the new company that runs Citybus and New World First Bus.

Despite getting approval for two rounds of fare increases, his company was making massive losses and was likely to seek yet another fare rise, he said.

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...orld-first-bus

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KMB Volvo B8L 12m V6B165 @ 80 by Kwok Ho Eddie Wong, on Flickr

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Hong Kong District - Tsuen Wan, People, The Streets, Traffic, Buildings + Daily Life, Hong Kong by Jamie Lloyd, on Flickr

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NWFB 5608 (TJ 4109) passes through Mut Wah Street and approaches to Yau Man Square Bus Terminus . by albertl11346, on Flickr