If you are one of the few people who live in Tuen Mun or Yuen Long and are looking for a more comfortable way to commute to your office on Hong Kong Island, there is a special luxury bus service coming just for you.
According to Apple Daily, Kowloon Motor Bus is about to buy six newly designed buses as part of its “luxurious bus lines,” which will reportedly contain more comfortable and spacious seats, USB ports, free Wi-Fi, and no standing room. Ooh la la!
The words “more comfortable and spacious seats” is a selling point for anyone who has travelled on one of KMB’s silver and red buses that were released in June. Despite the fanfare over the USB ports and free Wi-Fi, the new buses had complaints from some commuters that the seats were too uncomfortable, namely the head rest sticks out too much, forcing you to slouch throughout the journey.
Ming Pao reported in December that the new luxury bus service will also allow passengers to reserve their seats online, with the service available either by the end of this year or early 2019.
The two new bus numbers are the P960 from Tuen Mun to Wan Chai, and the P968 from Yuen Long to Tin Hau. They will operate the same route as the 960 and 968 buses, but make fewer stops. The luxury buses will reportedly complete the same journey 10 minutes faster.
The “P” stands for “premium,” by the way, and a ride on these new buses will set you back HK$35.10 and HK$31.20, which is about 50% more than the price for a ride on an ordinary non-luxury bus.
The buses are a response to the Public Transportation Strategy Study published in June, which suggested that new long-haul services be introduced to the public in order to “provide passengers with more diversified choices.
The survey also found that 40 percent of people would consider using new services if the fares are 60 to 100 percent higher than those of existing services.
Opinions over new bus services were mixed, with some calling it unfair and too costly, while others said they would give it a try if it is less crowded inside the bus. Some were afraid that new bus routes will take the place of the existing ordinary ones.
When Apple Daily interviewed commuters waiting by the bus stop, one male commuter surnamed Wong said: “Of course I won’t consider trying it, it’s too expensive.” However, a female commuter surnamed Lai said: “I would think about it; when I go to work I normally have to wait for the second or third bus until I get on one. If there is a luxury bus, I will consider taking it.”
