Passenger Facilities
Electronic Bus Stop Announcement System
The on-board Electronic Bus Stop Announcement System has been installed on KMB’s entire bus fleet. The system provides passengers with a convenient way of identifying their destination, giving voice announcements in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, and showing the name of the next bus stop on light emitting diode (LED) displays.
Integrated Bus Service Information Display System
The Integrated Bus Service Information Display (IBSID) System displays bus route information, including destination, departure time and fares, on large LED display panels at bus termini. Urgent messages, concerning, for example, major traffic disruptions, are also given. At the end of 2009, 28 termini were equipped with the IBSID System. The system’s closed circuit television function allows traffic and operating conditions in the area surrounding the termini to be monitored both locally and from KMB headquarters.
Cyber Bus Stops
KMB has eight cyber bus stops installed in popular tourist and shopping spots at the Star Ferry concourse and along Canton Road and Nathan Road. The cyber bus stops have light emitting diode (LED) and liquid crystal display (LCD) panels that display route information, local and international news, and weather information. They are equipped with public address systems that give route information in Cantonese, English and Putonghua, and also provide access to the KMB website for passengers seeking route search and service information. To enhance the waiting environment for our passengers, KMB has also built Hong Kong's first air-conditioned passenger waiting lounge at the Lam Tin Bus Terminus.
Solar-Powered Informative Bus Shelter
KMB unveiled Hong Kong's first Solar-Powered Informative Bus Shelter in Tsim Sha Tsui. In addition to providing protection against ultraviolet radiation, this most innovative of bus shelters is equipped with adjustable photovoltaic cells, which generate sufficient electrical power to run the shelter's electronic information system and advertising panels.
Bus Fleet and Operations
Electronic Tachograph
The electronic tachograph (commonly known as electronic blackbox), which records the speed and other measurements of a bus while in operation, is now standard equipment on all of KMB's new buses. By the end of 2009, 3,632 buses were equipped with these devices.
Traffic Operations Management System
KMB has developed the Traffic Operations Management (TOM) System to improve the efficiency of bus captain duty assignment and despatch. Depot staff use a handheld Radio Frequency Identification reader to identify the parking location of buses and upload the information to the system. Every day this information, together with vehicle registration number, route number, duty schedule and any ad hoc operational arrangements, can be retrieved by bus captains by placing their personalised Octopus cards on the system reader. TOM makes the daily assignment and dispatch process more efficient and allows management to speedily obtain from depots information on duty allocation and despatch, as well as the latest operational arrangements. TOM also uses a fleet database to prioritise the deployment of buses with higher emission standards on routes operating on busy corridors.
Electronic Terminus Management System
Another in-house development, the Electronic Terminus Management System has now been successfully deployed at 163 bus termini. Our terminus supervisors use Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) to record the arrival and departure times of buses. This system speeds up the recording and transmission of operational information to control centres at bus depots and relevant departments, enabling management to make timely service adjustments and other decisions on bus operations.
Bus Maintenance Information System
Developed in-house, the computerised Bus Maintenance Information System (BMS) holds operational information on buses, including type, history, and repair and maintenance logs, as well as recording the status and attendance data of maintenance workers. This assists management in assigning jobs and monitoring maintenance costs. BMS has been upgraded to keep track of the performance and durability of retreaded tyres, as part of KMB’s dedication to safety and environmental protection.
Advanced Finance and Administration Systems
KMB employs SAP e-Business Software for financial and human resources management, enabling the processing of large amounts of information for speedy decision making. By adopting this advanced proprietary system, together with e-tendering, e-payslips, an electronic document management system and company-wide use of email, the company has substantially reduced paper consumption, and improved the efficiency of internal and external communications, as well as the distribution, filing and retrieval of documents.
