All aboard new MTR line as red minibus drivers suffer
Drivers fear for the future as vehicles fail to fill up even after they cut fares to Kennedy Town
As commuters took advantage of the MTR's new West Island Line for the first time yesterday, other public transport operators saw their livelihoods under threat.
Operators of some red minibuses shuttling passengers from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay cut fares by HK$2 per passenger to HK$10 - but still charged more than the MTR, which offers the same journey for HK$6.20.
The HK$18.5 billion extension, opened on Sunday, connects Kennedy Town to Central in just seven minutes, compared to half an hour on the bus or minibus. A new station serving the University of Hong Kong also opened on Sunday, with a Sai Ying Pun stop due in March.
But red minibus drivers, most of whom rent their vehicles, are seeing their profits vanish.
"I had my minibus rent cut by HK$100 to HK$400 a shift, but it is just about breaking even in the past couple of days," said Tsui Kwok-woon, who has plied the route from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay for more than 30 years. "I may have to quit."
He used to run about nine trips per day between Causeway Bay and Kennedy Town but managed just six yesterday. With little profit in running a half-empty bus, drivers usually wait for a full load before setting off. That took 20 minutes at 5pm yesterday, twice as long as in rush hours before the rail line opened.