 | |
 Kowloon Motor BusMAN A95 in April 2025 | |
| Parent | Transport International |
|---|---|
| Founded | 13 April 1933; 92 years ago (1933-04-13) |
| Headquarters | Lai Chi Kok,Kowloon, Hong Kong[1] |
| Service area | Hong Kong |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Alliance | Long Win Bus |
| Routes | 423 (2021)[2] |
| Depots | 4 |
| Fleet | 4001 (2021)[2] |
| Daily ridership | 2.53 million (2023)[3] |
| Annual ridership | 923.6 million (2023)[3] |
| Fuel type | |
| Website | www |
| Kowloon Motor Bus | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 九龍巴士(一九三三)有限公司 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 九龙巴士(一九三三)有限公司 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) is a bus company operatingfranchised services inHong Kong. It is the largest bus company in Hong Kong by fleet size and number of bus routes, with over 4,000 buses - mostly double deckers - and 420 routes.[4] It is a subsidiary ofTransport International.
.jpg)
.jpg)
KMB was founded on 13 April 1933 as a result of the reformation of public transport by theHong Kong Government. Before the reformation, there were several independent bus operators working on both sides ofVictoria Harbour including KMB.[citation needed]
The Hong Kong Government enforces the bus franchises in favour of the franchisees, while it prosecutes the operators of unauthorised private bus services and other types of authorised bus service that pick up or drop off passengers in franchised bus parking zones.[5]
The KMB franchise allowed for the operation of public omnibus service on theKowloon side as well as theNew Territories. The inaugural 1933 KMB fleet consisted of 106 single-deck buses.[6]
The founding members of KMB were:
By December 1941, KMB had 140 single-deckers operating on 17 routes. As only a handful of buses survivedWorld War II, some lorries were temporarily converted into buses. By the late 1940s, KMB ridership increased with the huge influx of immigrants from Mainland China. In 1949, KMB bought 20Daimlerdouble-deckers from England, becoming the first operator of double-deckers in Hong Kong.[6]
Following the opening of theCross-Harbour Tunnel in 1972, KMB operated a number of cross-harbour routes jointly withChina Motor Bus, the sole bus operator onHong Kong Island. This marked the first time KMB buses ran on the island.[6] In the same year, KMB began experimenting with buses operating without a fare collector. All passengers would board from the front door and pay the fare by putting money into the collection box next to the driver.[6][7]
In 1996, KMB launched an advertising campaign to promote a modern image. It was the first bus company to display advertisements in Hong Kong.[8]
On 1 June 1997, KMB formed a subsidiary,Long Win Bus, to provide service on theLantau Link to the newHong Kong International Airport andTung Chung.[9][10] In 1998, KMB extended its business into mainland China with a co-operative joint venture, Dalian Hong Kong Macau Company. In 1999, due to the abuse of the free fare imposed on KCR East Rail feeder routes (K12 - K18) as non-franchised buses, KCR signed a contract with KMB which stated that these routes would be operated de facto by the KMB as franchised bus routes, while all profit would go to the KCR corporation. This contract is still in effect after the KCR-MTR merger.[citation needed]
In July 2007, KMB commenced operating a 10-year franchise, that has since been renewed until June 2027.[11][12] In April 2023, KMB celebrated its 90th anniversary.[13][14]
As of December 2023[update], KMB operates 446routes inKowloon and theNew Territories, and operatescross-harbour tunnel routes. Some cross-harbour routes are operated conjointly withCitybus, while others are operated solely by KMB.[15]
Routes 200-299 used to be deluxe routes that only operated single-decker buses. In the 1990s, it became mandatory for routes 200-299 to be fully air-conditioned. Since the withdrawal of the last non air-conditioned bus in 2012, all bus routes run by KMB are required to have an inbuilt air-conditioning system.
Passengers pay the fare in cash (no change given), with a contactless credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Amex, UnionPay, Discover, JCB), QR code payment, mobile wallet or using anOctopus card, asmart card payment system.[17] Discounts apply for Octopus users on specified route interchange combinations. To enable elderly people and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries are charged concessionary fare of $2 per trip, starting from 2012. The scheme aims to help build a caring and inclusive society by encouraging these groups to participate more in community activities.[18][19]
In 2018, KMB launched the KMB Monthly Pass. Fares are fixed at HK$780, and are not applicable toMTR Feeder Bus services operated by KMB. Holders are able to take 10 rides on ordinary routes and 2 rides on route B1 per day during the validity month of the pass. Passes can be purchased using an Octopus card at machines installed at major public transport interchanges and bus terminals.[20]
As of December 2023, Kowloon Motor Bus operates a fleet of 4056 buses.[2] 584Euro VI buses (including 3diesel-electric buses), 2,935Euro V buses and 10battery-electric buses.[2]
KMB traditionally purchased buses from English manufacturers includingAEC,Daimler,Dennis,Guy Motors,Leyland,Metro Cammell Weymann andSeddon, that either were bodied in England or locally.[21][22][23][24]
In 1975, the firstair-conditioned bus in Hong Kong was put into service by KMB. Following the testing of double-deck air-conditioned busesVictory andJubilant in the early 1980s, KMB became the world's first operator of such buses.[25] All purchases after 1995 were for air-conditioned buses. In May 2012, KMB withdrew its last non-air-conditioned buses from service.[26] Some of the newer third-generation buses havesolar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof which reduces fuel use by 5-8% which would otherwise be used for the air conditioner. This is expected to reduce 6 t (5.9 LT) ofcarbon emissions on each bus per year.[27]
In the late 1970s, it began to purchase chassis from European manufacturersMAN,Mercedes-Benz,Scania andVolvo.[28][29]
KMB's original liveries were combinations of red and cream. In the early 1990s, a white and grey livery was introduced for air-conditioned buses, followed in 1997 by a champagne livery. In June 2017, a red and silver livery was introduced, as well as a new logo, dropping its character and Chinese slogan, retaining only the wordmark, but with a darker shade of red.[30][31]
In the 2020s, KMB introduced a vivid "Electric Green" livery on zero emission buses.[32][33] KMB expects to have 500battery electric buses by the end of 2025, which will account for an eighth of the total bus fleet.[2][27]
In 2024, KMB had started operating one out of their 10 fleets of theAlexander Dennis Enviro500EV on the Route 112, which runs fromSo Uk inCheung Sha Wan toNorth Point.[34]
KMB operate four depots inKowloon and theNew Territories.[35] The depot of a bus is identified by the letter K, L, S, or U, and the letter is marked on the bottom left of the driver's windscreen or below windscreen. The assignment scheme is as follows:
In addition, these depots with the exception of the Kowloon Bay Depot are responsible for the maintenance of part of the fleet owned byLong Win Bus, since the KMB and LWB are owned by the same parent company.
Kowloon Motor Bus also has a Hong Kongfootball club, Kowloon Motor Bus Co. It was formed in 1947 and joinedHong Kong First Division League in the1947/48 season. Nicknamed "Atomic Bus", the team obtained the only two league titles in1953/54 and1966/67. The team attained its peak in the 1950s and 1960s when the "South China - Kowloon Motor Bus Co. crash" (南巴大戰) was one of the highlighted rival matches in Hong Kong. In1970/71, the team faced their first relegation, but was able to stay in the First Division asJardines quit the league in the following season. However, the team were relegated in1972/73. It made its last First Division League appearance in 1976/77, but was relegated after only one season. The football team quit the league in 1981 and reformed in2017.[6]
How many routes does KMB operate? As of 31 December 2021, KMB provided franchised public bus services with 423 routes covering Kowloon, the New Territories, and Hong Kong Island.
the Enviro500EV has a vivid green finish that KMB has adopted for these buses under a 'Green is Good' slogan.
Painted in 'electric green'
