1. When was KMB established?

The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited was established in April 1933 after obtaining a franchise to operate bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories. In 1992, the Chinese name of KMB was amended from 「九龍汽車(1933)有限公司」 to 「九龍巴士(1933)有限公司」 in order to better reflect its business nature as a public bus operator while its English name remained unchanged. In 1997, The Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Limited ("KMB Holdings") was established, comprising various divisions responsible for local franchised bus services, non-franchised transport services, Mainland China transport services, non-transport business (property development, multimedia business, sale of bus models), and internal financial management. The renaming of the company as "Transport International" on 28 November 2005 is part of the Group's overarching vision to become a world-class public transport innovator in the Greater China region.

1. How many buses does KMB have?

At 31 Dec 2009, KMB had a fleet of 3,880 licensed buses, comprising 3,729 double-deck and 151 single-deck buses, of which over 95% were air-conditioned.

2. When did KMB introduce double-deck buses?

In 1949, KMB took the historic step of introducing its first batch of double-deck buses, the Daimler A, to meet the increasing demand for public transport.

3. When did KMB introduce air-conditioned buses?

In 1975, KMB introduced the first single-deck air-conditioned buses to operate on airport routes. In 1988, KMB introduced air-conditioned double-deck buses. At present, over 95% of the KMB bus fleet consists of air-conditioned buses.

4. How many bus routes does KMB operate?

At 31 Dec 2009, KMB operated over 400 bus routes.

5. Is there any meaning for the English letters used on some of bus routes?

KMB uses different English letters to categorise different bus routes. For example, 'M' and 'K' represent bus routes that provide feeder services for the railways; 'X' represents express routes running on highways; 'R' represents recreation routes that operate only on Sundays and Public Holidays; 'P' represents bus routes that operate only during peak hours or during festivals; and 'N' represents overnight bus routes.

6. Which KMB bus route has the longest journey distance and which one has the shortest?

The journey distance of Route 373 (operating from Sheung Shui to Sheung Wan) is the longest at 49.3 km, while that of Route 71B (operating from Fu Heng to Tai Po Central) is the shortest at only 2.3 km.

7. Which KMB bus route has the largest number of en-route stops and which has the least?

With 106 en-route stops, Route 53 (operating between Tsuen Wan [Nina Tower] and Yuen Long [East] has the most, while Route 71B (operating between Fu Heng and Tai Po Centre) has the least with only two.

8. Can the amount of air conditioning inside buses be adjusted?

The air conditioning system allows adjustment of the temperature and airflow inside buses under different conditions, and passengers can also adjust the amount of air conditioning and the direction of airflow. An air conditioning system equipped with an ambient sensor, which can adjust the temperature inside buses with reference to the temperature outside, has been introduced more recently.

1. What are the factors that need to be considered when KMB introduces a new route?

KMB continually monitors bus services in different regions by conducting passenger surveys, in order to meet the changing travelling requirements of our passengers in line with resource considerations. A 5-Year Plan is consolidated and reviewed each year to set out the Route Development Programme, which includes proposals for new routes.

KMB needs to take into account various factors when considering the development of new routes. These include passenger demand, traffic flow, locations of en-route stops and termini, alternative modes of public transport and routeing. We also need to submit the new route proposal to the Transport Department and seek its approval. All issues concerning cross-harbour tunnel routes, including the introduction of new routes, proposed changes in existing routes, service hours and frequency, are co-ordinated by the Transport Department and discussed with other joint bus operators.

2. How does KMB arrange bus maintenance services?

All KMB buses are maintained in good condition by the company’s service staff. They conduct repairs for minor items daily according to bus captains' reports. Besides undergoing routine daily cleaning and refuelling, every bus has a monthly check-up and attends a minor dock every six months. Moreover, every bus prepared for a C.O.R. and needs to be inspected by the Transport Department annually, in order for its vehicle license to be renewed.

In addition, bus emission levels are checked at monthly inspections and every bus undergoes an emissions test at the minor dock to ensure that the emission level meets the standard.

3. How does KMB ensure that its buses are clean?

Bus compartments are swept in day time at bus terminus and after service in depot everyday and disinfected regularly. The outside of all KMB buses are cleaned by an automatic bus body washing machine every night after they return from service. A thorough cleansing of bus facilities (seats and windows) is conducted once a week, and both the interior and exterior of all buses are cleansed monthly.

Soot filters of air-conditioned buses are cleaned every other week.

4. How does KMB improve the air quality of air-conditioned buses?

Air conditioning is more effective than ventilation in terms of dust filtering performance. According to tests conducted overseas, after the air conditioning has been functioning for 20 minutes, the amount of dust in the air is reduced by 30% compared with ventilation. KMB also introduced electrostatic filters in air-conditioned buses to further improve the air quality inside buses. To provide tighter monitoring of the air quality on board, KMB conducts periodic measurements of CO2 on air-conditioned buses operating on the busiest routes.

5. How did passengers pay their fares in the past?

In the 1930s and 1940s, passengers could ride first or second class, and tickets were issued by a conductor on board upon payment of fares. Starting from the 1970s, KMB’s One Man Operation replaced the requirement for a conductor on board and a coin box was used instead. In the 1980s, Common Stored Value Ticket machines were installed on some MTR feeder buses. At that time, 55 tonnes of coins were collected from coin boxes each day. In 1997, KMB introduced the Octopus system on some of its bus routes. By 1 January 2001, the whole fleet has been equipped with the Octopus system. Nowadays, with the widespread use of Octopus cards for fare payment, the weight of the coins collected from coin boxes has been reduced to less than 10 tonnes a day.

6. How does KMB set the fares of different bus routes?

The fares of all KMB bus routes are decided under a fare scale set up by the Government, based on the nature and journey distance of each bus route. With regard to types, bus routes are divided into Urban Kowloon, New Territories, Cross-Harbour, etc; each type is further divided into urban, urban express, rural, rural recreation, racecourse, special, overnight, etc.

7. How does KMB decide the sectional fares of different bus routes?

About 70% of KMB bus routes are now providing sectional fares. A one-way step down fare system is now generally adopted whereby the fare depends only on the boarding point. KMB takes into accounts various factors when considering the application of sectional fares on different bus routes. These include: 1) passenger demand pattern; 2) financial implications; 3) the fares of other bus routes and the charges of other modes of public transport; 4) the effects on bus operations and 5) the relative costs and benefits to short distance and long distance passengers in terms of fare, frequency, travelling time and comfort.

8. Does KMB provide discounted bus fares to passengers?

Senior citizens aged 65 and over and children under the age of 12 are charged one half of the adult single fare. Not more than two children under the age of four, if accompanied by an adult and not occupying a seat, may ride free of charge.

At the end of 2009, KMB operated over 70 Octopus Bus-Bus Interchange (BBI) packages for passengers. All the BBI packages are a permanent arrangement.

1. When did KMB achieve ISO 9000 accreditation?

The Service Department at KMB's Kowloon Bay Depot was first awarded the ISO 9002 Certificate in 1995. The Service Department at three other KMB depots, namely Lai Chi Kok, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun, the KMB Bus Body Construction Depot, the KMB Overhaul Centre, and other service and maintenance depots all subsequently received ISO 9002 certification.

KMB was ISO 9001:1994 certified on a company-wide basis in 1999 and was the first public bus company in Hong Kong to achieve such recognition.

When KMB's Sha Tin Depot was ISO 14001 certified in November 2001, it became the first entity in the local bus industry to achieve this environmental management system recognition for provision of bus service delivery, maintenance and repair of buses.

A major achievement in 2002 was the successful recertification and upgrading of all of KMB's ISO 9001: 1994 certificates to the ISO 9001: 2000 version, one full year ahead of the 2003 deadline.

Since 2003, our Lai Chi Kok and Sha Tin Depots have been awarded ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System certification.

In 2009, new ISO9001:2008 certificates were issued to KMB upon the completion of upgrading audits on four certification areas.

2. Has KMB achieved other recognised quality certification?

In 2007, KMB’s main depots, namely, Kowloon Bay Depot, Lai Chi Kok Depot, Sha Tin Depot and Tuen Mun Depot, were certified by the Hong Kong Q-Mark Council of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries as having met the Hong Kong Green Mark Standard prescribed under the Hong Kong Green Mark Certification Scheme. This further demonstrates KMB’s commitment to quality management and the high priority accorded to environmental protection.

1. What does "environment-friendly bus fleet" mean?

"Environment-friendly bus fleet" refers to those buses which are equipped with Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V Standard engines or with catalytic converters, all of which improve the quality of exhaust emissions. KMB is acknowledged as a pioneer of the latest green engines. Between 2006 and 2008, the company introduced two types of Euro IV engines currently on the market, in order to evaluate and compare their environmental effectiveness and engine performance. Compared to the Euro III engine, the Euro IV engine can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulates by 30% and 80% respectively. These two types of Euro IV buses feature respectively the Selective Catalytic Reduction and Exhaust Gas Recirculation technologies, which are set to become the basic specification for KMB’s newly purchased buses.

KMB is progressively installing Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) on 1,670 Euro II and Euro III buses to upgrade their exhaust emissions to Euro IV/V standards in terms of particulate matter. The entire project is scheduled be completed in 2010. At that point, the average particulate emission levels of the entire KMB bus fleet will be reduced by 90.5% compared to 1992. At the end of 2009, KMB had a total of 3,880 buses, all of them meeting the stringent exhaust emission standards of the European Council of Environmental Ministers. In February 2009, KMB introduced Asia’s first double-deck bus with a Euro V engine, which meets the latest and toughest emission standards, contributing to a cleaner environment.

2. What is the difference between Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V Standard engines?

Euro I, Euro II, Euro III, Euro IV and Euro V Standard engines are all environment-friendly engines, which conform with progressively more stringent regulations laid down in Europe. The emission levels of the different types of engines are listed below:

Exhaust emissions (gram per kw/h)

3. What are the characteristics of the Euro V bus engine?

In comparison with Euro IV engines, the Euro V engine excels in reducing the emissions of nitrogen oxides. The emissions of nitrogen oxides in the Euro V engine are reduced from 3.5 grams to 2 grams (in terms of kilowatts per hour), a reduction of 43%, while emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are kept at the same level, 0.02 gram, 1.5 grams and 0.46 gram, respectively. Since the accumulation of nitrogen oxides can lead to photochemical smog, which causes irritation to the respiratory system and poses a health hazard, it is particularly important to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides.

The Euro V engine is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter, which sprays a 32.5 urea solution into the exhaust gases. Ammonia formed from the urea triggers a chemical reduction reaction with the nitrogen oxides, converting them into nitrogen gas and water vapour. To meet the stricter emission standards for nitrogen oxides, the urea injection of the Euro V engine increases to around 5.5% from 4.5% in Euro IV engines.

In addition, the Euro V engine is equipped with a new generation monitoring system, namely the On-Board Diagnostics Stage II (OBD II), which is installed in the exhaust pipe. By monitoring whether the emissions of nitrogen oxides meet the Euro V standard, the system enables maintenance staff to check the emission performance of the engine and rectify any system faults immediately.

By effectively reducing the emissions of nitrogen oxides, the Euro V engine meets the latest and toughest emission standards in the world, contributing to a cleaner environment.

4. Besides the engine, what other environment-friendly features can be found on KMB buses?

Many features on KMB buses, including the passenger seats, the air-conditioning system and the air filters, are durable, which reduces maintenance costs and accords with the principle of environmental protection.

1. How many bus shelters does KMB have?

At the end of 2009, the total number of KMB bus shelters was over 2,400.

2. What is an environment-friendly bus shelter?

The roof of the environmentally-friendly bus shelter is made of a special material. Made from polycarbonate and reinforced by a special ultraviolet-resistant surface treatment, the roof insulates against a large proportion of ultraviolet radiation, as well as providing noise and thermal insulation for passengers.

3. Why doesn't KMB build bus shelters at all bus stops?

Every year, KMB develops a bus shelter construction plan, and bus shelters are built in sequence according to the number of bus routes serving different districts and the number of passengers. The details of the construction plan, including the position, design and the materials of the bus shelters, are subject to the approval of the Transport Department and other relevant Government departments. In places where utility facilities, such as water pipes and electrical pipes, are located beneath the pedestrian path, bus shelters cannot be constructed.

4. What are the special features of the solar-powered bus shelter?

The roof of the standard solar powered bus shelter (seven metres in length) is equipped with 12 photovoltaic grids, each of which may be adjusted to face the sunlight and has a maximum power output of 90 watts. Excess electricity will be stored in the sealed lead acid batteries to offset the demand at night-time or during prolonged periods of cloud cover. The bus shelter is thus provided with a continuous power supply. The bus shelter also provides protection against ultraviolet radiation through a special material on its roof.

1. Please click here to view the "Notes to Passengers" posted on KMB buses.

2. Why don't bus captains allow passengers to carry bulky goods on board?

Bulky goods may be dislodged while the bus is in motion, and thus cause a hazard to passengers and to the driver. Passengers may not carry goods larger than 0.1m³ or goods which will pose any danger to passengers. Passengers taking Long Win "E/S/N" routes may take on board one piece of luggage with a maximum size of 71x56x26cm (28x22x10 in). Long Win "A" route passengers may carry one piece of luggage with a maximum size of 71x56x26cm (28x22x10 in) and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum size of 56x36x23cm (22x14x9 in) on board.

If the volume of goods is less than 0.1m³, such as a computer monitor, passengers should wrap it up properly before carrying it on board, and should not put it on a seat, but place it where it will not cause inconvenience to other passengers.

3. Why do bus captains on some occasions prohibit passengers from making payment with a large number of coins?

According to the Hong Kong Coinage Ordinance, passengers may not make payment solely by means of coins with the value of 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents when the total amount is over $2. However, bus captains will handle the situation case by case.

4. What can passengers do when they leave their belongings on buses?

When a bus arrives at the bus terminus, the bus captain will examine the bus compartment and cleaning staff will start cleaning the bus compartment. If they find any belongings that passengers have left behind, they will pass the belongings to regulators to register and keep. If passengers realise that they have left behind any belongings on buses, they can call the KMB Customer Service Hotline on 2745-4466, and provide operators with details of the bus route and the travelling direction. The operator will then give the telephone number of the relevant bus terminus to passengers, who can check the status of their belongings with the staff at the bus terminus.

If passengers call the KMB Customer Service Hotline the day after they have mislaid their belongings, the operator will give the telephone number of the relevant depot to passengers so they can follow up their enquiry.

1. How many bus captains are employed by KMB?

KMB employs about 8,000 bus captains, including some 450 female bus captains.

2. How can I become a KMB Bus Captain?

People who have held a driving license (Category 1 or Category 1 & 2) for three or more years and who have a good driving record are eligible to apply for the bus captain training programme provided by the KMB Bus Captain Training School. The basic training programme, which lasts for 20 days, includes classroom lectures, driving instruction and route practice. Adopting a good attitude towards passengers and other road users is strongly emphasised during training. Those who successfully complete the training programme and obtain a license from the Transport Department will be entitled to become KMB bus captains.

3. How does KMB follow up the comments received from passengers regarding bus captain services?

Whenever we receive comments from passengers concerning the services of bus captains, we immediate notify the relevant departments and interview the bus captain involved. Based on the facts of the case, our Performance Management Section will take appropriate action. The behaviour and attitude of bus captains are monitored on a regular basis.

4. When did KMB commence its apprentice training programme?

The KMB Apprentice Training Centre was set up in 1973 and was renamed the KMB Technical Training School in 1982. Dedicated to the systematic development of professional workers involved in bus maintenance and repair, it is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. More than 2,000 apprentices have completed the apprentice training programme.

5. How can I become a KMB apprentice?

People who have Form 3 or Form 5 standard, and who have a mission to work in the bus service and maintenance industry may apply to become a KMB apprentice.

6. What are the career opportunities like after completing the apprenticeship?

Upon completion of the apprentice training programme, apprentices will receive a certificate recognised by the government. KMB will consider employing graduates of the apprentice programme as Skilled Workers or Senior Skilled Workers. A Skilled Worker who performs well may be promoted to Senior Skilled Worker, Gangleader or Quality Control Inspector, Foreman, Senior Foreman and Maintenance Officer.

1. How many bus routes are operated by Long Win?

Long Win Bus Company Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group. It was granted the franchise to operate bus routes for Hong Kong International Airport and North Lantau in 1996, and started to operate bus routes travelling between the airport and the New Territories in 1997. At 31 December 2009, Long Win ran some 167 buses, operating on 19 bus routes.