The Transport Department today announced that it approved plans to allow several bus companies to adjust the frequencies of 284 routes from July 27 to August 2.

The department explained that there has been a drastic drop in bus patronage due to the implementation of measures to further strengthen epidemic control efforts.

To cope with the decreasing passenger demand and ensure efficient use of resources, Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB), New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB), Citybus Limited (Citybus) and Long Win have submitted applications for temporary service adjustments of some bus routes after reviewing their operational and service arrangements.

The department examined the applications taking into account factors including the extent of patronage drop of the routes concerned, occupancy, impact of the proposed service adjustments on waiting time, bus resources deployment and public acceptability to the proposed frequency adjustment.

KMB will adjust the frequencies of 208 bus routes while NWFB will have 35 bus routes’ services adjusted. Citybus will adjust the services of 41 bus routes.

Long Win's application is being examined.

Among the routes approved for frequency adjustment, the headway will be lengthened by no more than five minutes during peak and off-peak periods while the headway after 9pm will be lengthened by no more than 10 minutes, and the extended headway will not exceed 30 minutes.

Individual bus routes with extremely low patronage have been approved to be suspended.

The department has requested bus companies to closely monitor the change in passenger demand, consider strengthening services when necessary and allow more space for passengers if resources permit.

In addition, the frequencies of individual bus routes mainly serving tourists, heading to land boundary control points and the airport have already been adjusted to limited service or suspended service due to enhanced anti-epidemic measures on boundary control implemented earlier.

The department will consider the actual circumstances to review the service adjustments on a weekly basis, and keep close communication with the bus companies to monitor the operational situation and adjust services according to passenger demand.