KMB - Amazing Franchised Public Transport Provider

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28 Of My Favourite KMB Bus images in Hong Kong

KMB - Amazing Franchised Public Transport Provider

Hong Kong Transport - Buses | All types

The Hong Kong Bus Culture

The KMB Logo, I love it - PS 9280 is the bus Licence Plate Number

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The KMB Daimler Double Decker bus from the 1960’s and 1970’s in Hong Kong

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The KMB Volvo Double Decker bus taken in 2024

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The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd was founded on 13th April 1933 which makes it by far the oldest and largest surviving franchised bus company in Hong Kong.

It started operations with 106 single decker buses and the first double decker bus was introduced in 1949, these days the buses are awesome, mainly from Alexander Dennis and Volvo and they use the traditional red paint job/

It operates over 3,976+ buses covering over 440 routes and has over 12,300 staff members of which over 10,000 are bus captains as of the end of 2024, as they are always expanding their routes this figure is likely already out of date! they are also quite progressive in conservative Hong Kong by employing quite a few female bus captains (as they like to be called) and ethnic minority bus captains, a breath of fresh air I might add as I have met my fair share of grumpy bus drivers, whoops, sorry bus captains!

The majority of the buses are double deckers and are fully air conditioned and KMB has an excellent safety record

Amazingly in 2024 the company averaged over 2.53 million passengers daily!

I have used KMB since January 2nd 1972 and I am on a KMB bus at least 5 days every week, their buses these days are quite something, comfortable, affordable, clean, outstanding frequency and very safe with drivers who know their stuff.

i should point out that when I was a kid, the buses where not air conditioned and even with the windows open the heat was stifling in the summer months, in fact the buses were nicknamed “hot dog buses” amazingly the last “hot dog” buses were only retired in 2012., no one lamented their retirement.

If you live in Hong Kong you will also know that the franchised bus operators are the subject of press stories daily, such is the social media age today, with the smallest incident reported just minutes after it has occurred , most of the stories are disgruntled passengers venting their frustration, problems with wheelchair access, passengers using the bus as a toilet, you get my drift, lots of trivial nonsense, to me this does not take away from the simple fact that we should be grateful that the Franchised Bus Companies in Hong Kong provide an amazing and very affordable service covering every corner of Hong Kong.

The old KMB Daimler Buses of the 1960’s and 1970’s, I have fond memories of travelling on them!

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© Mega Anorak on Flickr | All rights reserved.

I have said it before and I will say it again, we are blessed that the Hong Kong Government sees Public Transport as a vital component of Hong Kong’s success, I live in a town around an hour (ish) away from the City Centre and it is amazing how many transport options we have and everything seems to be interconnected and the frequency of buses is outstanding.

The future of bus services in Hong Kong | KMB Electric Buses, hence the green colour!

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Long Win Bus Company, a subsidiary of KMB operating mainly in the New Territories

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Some general notes about the bus scene in Hong Kong

The number of buses registered + licenced in Hong Kong seems to fluctuate between 18,000 - 22,000 vehicles and presumably new buses registered are offset by old buses being retired or sold over the border in China. (Source - The Transport Department, Hong Kong Government)

Bus services in Hong Kong have to be amongst the best of all major cities in the World.

All major Hong Kong Bus Companies invest heavily and are using mainly brand new double decker buses and all of them are testing and introducing single and double decker 100% electric buses and also hydrogen powered buses for future use.

☛Major Franchised Bus Companies in Hong Kong

Citybus | Cityflyer ✚ Kowloon Motor Bus | KMB ✚ Long Win Motor Bus | LWB ✚ New Lantao Bus | NLB ✚ HZMB ✚ Note : New World First Bus | NWFB merged with Citybus in 2022

☛Non - Franchised Public Bus Services using double decker and single decker buses (feeder services)

Mass Transit Railway | MTR ✚ DBTS - Lantau Island ✚ Park Island Transport Co. Ltd.

☛All Major Franchised Public Minibus Services (PLB) seating 16 or 19 people

Franchised and Non Franchised Public Light Bus Red Top ✚ Franchised Public Light Bus Green Top

☛Privately Owned Buses

Toyota seems to be the preferred brand for privately owned small and medium sized buses and are used for the following purposes

Public and Private Rehab Buses ✚ Commercial Building Buses ✚ Resident Services Buses ✚ Travel and Tour Buses ✚ Contract Hire ✚ School Buses ✚ Hotel Buses ✚ Misc. Buses for any type of charter | hire too numerous to mention including cross border buses.

One of the largest privately owned companies is Kwoon Chung Bus Company who also offer Non Franchised and Franchised Bus Services through it‛s subsidiary New Lantao Bus

☛Many Hong Kong Government Departments have a fleet of buses but for some reason also contract hire from Private Bus Companies on an “as needed” basis.

Any Government OWNED and operated vehicle in this section (such as Correctional Services Buses, Police Buses etc ) have a licence plate starting AM and any Chinese Military Vehicle has a licence plate starting ZG and naturally some of these vehicles have personalized licence plates which they buy at Government Auction!

☛ Photography is simply a hobby for me, I do NOT sell my images and all of my images can be FREELY downloaded from this site in the original upload image size or 5 other sizes, please note that you DO NOT have to ask for permission to download and use any of my images!

For a detailed history of KMB and their operations go to their website, the link is below

Enjoy

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