-
Advertisement
Hong KongHong Kong Economy

Hong Kong group slams government over bus route changes following opening of MTR West Island line

Public Transport Research says the changes failed to meet needs of residents and warns same could happen with opening of South Island line

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Researchers found that bus reorganisations did not necessarily benefit commuters. Photo: Edward Wong
Kinling Loin Beijing
A public transport watchdog slammed the government for wrongly assessing the needs of residents when it rearranged bus routes after the MTR West Island line opened last year, and warned that the same could happen when the South Island line opens by year’s end.
The group – Public Transport Research Team, which was formed by concerned members of the public in their 20s and 30s - is due to release a report on Tuesday showing that the government had not brought benefits to commuters along the West Island line after it changed and in some cases cut seven major bus routes in the area.

The Transport Department’s transport reorganisation plan went into full operation in May last year, two months after the Island line was extended from Sheung Wan MTR station to Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong University and Kennedy Town.

Advertisement

The team sent five members in May and June last year to observe and compare the before and after impact of the traffic reorganisation on local residents at major bus stops during the morning rush hour.

Advertisement

“The government has not carefully considered the impact and the travel habits of local residents as they have cut the routes that have solid demand and extended routes that are not convenient to people,” said spokesman Quentin Cheng Hin-kei.

The changes to bus routes were prompted by the opening of the MTR’s West Island line. Photo: May Tse
The changes to bus routes were prompted by the opening of the MTR’s West Island line. Photo: May Tse
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x