Fare hike of 50 per cent for new premium buses ‘unacceptable’, councillors say
KMB encouraged to improve services of existing fleet instead, after submitting plan for two new routes featuring wider seats, Wi-fi and charging docks
A plan for faster and more comfortable premium bus services failed to appeal to Hong Kong district councillors, who criticised the fares as being unaffordable and said the city’s major bus company should improve the services of its existing fleet instead.
Their remarks were in response to a proposal by KMB, Hong Kong's largest bus operator, to introduce two premium bus routes running between New Territories West and Hong Kong Island by the end of this year earliest.
According to the Transport Department, wider seats, USB charging docks and free Wi-fi connection would be provided on buses plying the two proposed routes. Passengers would be guaranteed a seat and not allowed to stand.
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The two routes would have fewer stops, so trips would be about 10 minutes shorter than on similar routes currently operated by KMB. Buses would run every 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours.