Buses


China Motor Bus


China Motor Bus operated services in Kowloon in the 1920's. However in 1933, the Government invited tenders from transport operators for the exclusive franchise "to operate and maintain public omnibus services." CMB was awarded this franchise to operate bus services on Hong Kong Island.

The services, which started on June 11, 1933 had previously been run by three other companies, Hong Kong Tramways Limited, Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Limited and the Aberdeen Kai Fong Motor Bus & Transport Company. 54 buses were owned and nine routes were initially operated.

By 1941, the fleet of buses had grown to 108. During the invasion and occupation of Hong Kong, most of these vehicles were either destroyed or taken for military purposes. On the return of peace, only four buses remained in running condition. A further 18 of the pre-war fleet were recovered from various locations, some in mainland China. The Company's garage, in WhitfieldRoad, and all machinery had been totally destroyed by bombing and fire.

The Military Authorities supplied lorries, fitted with seats, to enable services to be started and by the end of 1946, 44 vehicles were in service and 42 new vehicles were on order. By 1948, the fleet had regained its pre-war strength, and this had increased to 170 buses by 1952. At the end of the decade, the fleet has increased to 269 buses. At this time, the Company was also operating a small fleet of minibuses and sightseeing coaches.

Because of the constraints imposed by many of the roads on Hong Kong Island, these were all low capacity single deckers. In the mid-1960's however, CMB started operating 36 feet long single-deckers with a capacity for 90 passengers on routes that could accomodate such large vehicles. Initial trials with double-deckers started in 1962 and single deck buses were all phased out of the fleet by 1975.

Prior ro 1971 all buses, except the very small single-deckers, carried two conducters. In March of that year experiments were started with one man operated, pay-as-you enter operation and by 1976, the entire fleet was operated on this basis.

Further expansion of the Company's operation took place with the opening of the Cross-harbour tunnel and a large number of additional buses were placed into service at this time. Amongst these was the first rear engined double-decker to be operated in Hong Kong, following which large orders were placed for similar vehicles with a capacity of 123 passengers. On May 5 1981, the Company achieved another "first"
in the operation of high capacity vehicles when the first 3-axle, 12 metre-long double decker was placed in service in Hong Kong, with a capacity of 170.

Experiments with air-conditioned buses started in 1988 and in July 1990, CMB's first air-conditioned double-deckers were put in to service. Air-conditioned buses and coaches now form 10% of CMB's total fleet.

By the end of August 1999, the Government seized CMB's authority of authority and CMB finally closed down.


Citybus:


Citybus started operating buses in 1979 using one double deck bus on a shuttle service for the employees of a Hong Kong dockyard. By 1981 the Company was operating its first residential bus route between City One Shatin and Kowloon Tong MTR station. By 1984, Citybus had begun a cross-border coach service between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
In 1987 the first successful air-conditioned double deckers were put into service on the City One Shatin and cross border services. Their popularity was so great that additional orders were placed soon afterwards for additional vehicles to cope with the demand.

In 1991 the Hong Kong Government awarded Citybus its first franchised route on Hong Kong Island, and the Company, by competitive tender, took over 26 more franchised routes in 1993, followed by a further 14 franchised routes in 1995.

Success followed success and in 1996 the company won a further competitive tender to operate another 13 prime franchised routes serving the new Hong Kong International Airport and Tung Chung new town.

An further 12 routes were transferred to the Company in 1998 following the expiry of the franchise of the existing franchised bus operator on Hong Kong Island.

During this period there has also been expansion in China with a joint venture operation in the China's capital city, Beijing. Not only was this the capital's first joint venture bus operation, but it also marked the introduction of air-conditioned buses for the first time. Following the success of this route, a second urban express coach route was introduced in Beijing.

Over the past two decades, the Company's buses have become a highly popular means for people to commute comfortably and conveniently between their homes, offices and Hong Kong's major travel interchanges. The Citybus network and routes now stretch from the south side of Hong Kong Island to Beijing.

Citybus also runs successful contract and private hire services. It provides staff shuttle bus services for organisations such as Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited, air-conditioned shuttle buses from Admiralty to Ocean Park, as well as a variety of single-deck, double deck and open top buses for private hire.

First Bus:


The company was established in early 1998 to bid for the franchise to operate public bus services in Hong Kong after the existing franchise, operated by China Motor Bus, expires at the end of August 1998.

Long Win Bus:


Long Win Bus was founded in 1996 by Kowloon Motor Bus. KMB formed this company which would mainly operate bus routes connecting City, Airport and Tung Chung. Right now, Long Win Bus operate 13 bus routes and owns a small bus fleet which is supported by KMB. Even all drivers come from KMB. Although KMB and Long Win Bus are different company, Long Win Bus is like a department of KMB.

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