Bus Operators Expect Slump After Tuen Ma Line Opens

Bus and minibus operators said on Monday that their businesses will be seriously affected by the latest extension of an MTR line and the opening of two new stations in Kowloon later this month.

The full opening of the Tuen Ma Line on June 27 means the West Rail Line will connect to the Ma On Shan Line at Hung Hom Station. The new line, comprising 27 stations, stretches from Tuen Mun to Wu Kai Sha.

The Transport Department has proposed cancelling at least four bus routes in areas covered by the new rail line.

Kowloon Motor Bus’s Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Lam Tsz-ho, said dozens more bus routes could be affected.

“The operation would be considerably affected in a sense that the ridership and the occupancy rate will be very much affected by the new MTR line,” he said.

“We’re told that about 40 bus routes will be affected but the adjustment or the cancellation will be subject to the occupation survey conducted by the Transport Department later.”

A minibus operator in the area, Chan Chi-fai, expected the number of minibus passengers would drop by 70 percent, as people switch to take the MTR.

He hoped the government would let them operate some new routes in other districts to offset the impact.