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Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025
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New cross-harbor bus route too slow, TKO residents complain
Tseung Kwan O residents were disappointed with a new cross-harbor bus route via the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel as it took 90 minutes to get from Tiu Keng Leng to Chai Wan - 10 minutes longer than scheduled.
New World First Bus' route 694S - from Tiu Keng Leng MTR station to Siu Sai Wan Estate in Chai Wan - debuted yesterday.
A passenger said the new route is too long, as it first went from Tiu Keng Leng to Lohas Park before it got to the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel via the Cross Bay Link. He said that he would not choose the route for future cross-harbor trips. Another passenger, who works in Chai Wan, said he was almost late when the bus arrived at the destination.
The route departs from Tiu Keng Leng at 7.50am and 8.10am, while it leaves Siu Sai Wan at 5.45pm and 6.05pm every weekday. The full journey costs HK$15.9.
The bus also stops at Tseung Kwan O, North Point, Shau Kei Wan and Quarry Bay.
Sai Kung district councilor Christine Fong Kwok-shan took the 694S bus at 7.50am and livestreamed her journey on Facebook.
"Passengers said that the route is too tortuous and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel is too jammed," said Fong. According to Fong's record, the first bus arrived at the Eastern Harbour Tunnel at around 8.30am.
"Some passengers who work near Taikoo Place could get to the office by 9am," she said. "But for those working in Shau Kei Wan, it's difficult to do so. I'll urge the bus company to commence service earlier at 7.30am."
After the bus passed through the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, a student passenger got off at North Point and took a taxi to his school in Chai Wan for fear that he might be late, said Fong.
The first 694S bus was served by a refurbished Volvo double-decker, which retired in 2018. The bus is designed with NWFB's classic wave patterns and had the words "Farewell to NWFB" on it. The debut attracted a few bus lovers to take pictures of the "retro" bus.
Another cross-harbor bus route 690S - operating between Hang Hau and Central - also debuted yesterday.
The bus departs from Hang Hau at 7.50am and 8.05am every weekday, and the route operator Citybus yesterday deployed two buses at 8.05am to satisfy the large crowd of passengers.
A passenger said the new route is too long, as it first went from Tiu Keng Leng to Lohas Park before it got to the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel via the Cross Bay Link. He said that he would not choose the route for future cross-harbor trips. Another passenger, who works in Chai Wan, said he was almost late when the bus arrived at the destination.
The route departs from Tiu Keng Leng at 7.50am and 8.10am, while it leaves Siu Sai Wan at 5.45pm and 6.05pm every weekday. The full journey costs HK$15.9.
The bus also stops at Tseung Kwan O, North Point, Shau Kei Wan and Quarry Bay.
Sai Kung district councilor Christine Fong Kwok-shan took the 694S bus at 7.50am and livestreamed her journey on Facebook.
"Passengers said that the route is too tortuous and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel is too jammed," said Fong. According to Fong's record, the first bus arrived at the Eastern Harbour Tunnel at around 8.30am.
"Some passengers who work near Taikoo Place could get to the office by 9am," she said. "But for those working in Shau Kei Wan, it's difficult to do so. I'll urge the bus company to commence service earlier at 7.30am."
After the bus passed through the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, a student passenger got off at North Point and took a taxi to his school in Chai Wan for fear that he might be late, said Fong.
The first 694S bus was served by a refurbished Volvo double-decker, which retired in 2018. The bus is designed with NWFB's classic wave patterns and had the words "Farewell to NWFB" on it. The debut attracted a few bus lovers to take pictures of the "retro" bus.
Another cross-harbor bus route 690S - operating between Hang Hau and Central - also debuted yesterday.
The bus departs from Hang Hau at 7.50am and 8.05am every weekday, and the route operator Citybus yesterday deployed two buses at 8.05am to satisfy the large crowd of passengers.
