九龍巴士 Kowloon Motor Bus

本港目前最具歷史的巴士公司九巴全名為九龍巴士(一九三三)有限公司，是香港首兩間專營巴士公司之一，除了是本港一間規模最大的專營巴士公司外，九巴亦是全球其中一間最大型私營公共巴士公司之一。九巴前身為於一九二一年成立的九龍汽車有限公司，初期營辦兩條由尖沙咀開出，分別連接深水埗及九龍城的巴士線。直到一九三二年九月港英殖民地政府認為透過監管，能夠為普羅大眾提供更好的巴士服務，於是便透過招標邀請有興趣人士營辦巴士服務，當年政府構思是以單一專營權營運全港巴士服務，或以港島及九龍(當中包括新界及離島)作分界批出兩個專營權。最終政府於翌年一月決定批出兩個巴士專營權，其中九龍半島及新界一帶巴士服務的專營權由九巴獲得，並隨於一九三三年六月十一日正式生效。在專營權正式生效前，九巴於收購合併其他巴士營運商後，於同年四月十三日改稱為九龍汽車(一九三三)有限公司，直到一九九二年再易名為九龍巴士(一九三三)有限公司。

九巴車隊數目於一九四一年十二月達到一百四十架巴士，並合共營運十七條路線條，但自時任港督楊慕琦於聖誕節向日軍投降，香港自始開始了「三年零八個月」的黑暗日子。九巴整支車隊自日軍佔領香港後均被軍隊徵用，九巴服務在這段時期接近暫停，於一九四四年亦只有兩條巴士線能夠維持服務。隨著香港於一九四五年八月三十日重光後，當時九巴只能夠尋回十七架巴士，當中只有六架雖然能夠自行行走，但仍未能夠符合當時的安全水平。直到翌年二月在英軍及政府協助下，利用軍車及貨車改裝作巴士以滿足營運需要。無可否認這些車輛只能應付燃眉之急，加上當時中國移民潮令到本港人口劇增，九巴需要訂購新巴士以應付不斷上升的需求，終於在一九四八年派員到英國視察後，向丹拿車廠購買二十架雙CVG5型層巴士來港使用。首四架CVG5雙層巴士底盤於同年十二月運抵本港，並於一九四九年四月十七日正式投入服務，寫下香港交通歷史上重要的一頁，而丹拿亦在之後成為九巴其中一個主要巴士供應商。

受惠於大量內地人口及資金來港，香港經濟於五十到六十年代發展迅速，九巴得以藉此機會不斷擴展服務網絡，並於一九六一年於香港證券交易所上市。位於荔枝角寶輪街的九巴首個大型車廠及總部亦於一九六五年投入運作，提升了日常車隊維修及營運效率。隨著香港海底隧道於一九七二年八月二日通車，九巴於八月五日與另一專營巴士公司中巴共同開辦過海隧道巴士線，正式將服務範圍擴展至港島，並且取得非常可觀的成績。同年九巴引進全新的「一人控制」收費模式，從此乘客便開始了上車投幣日子。緊隨於一九七五年二月九巴推出豪華巴士服務，當中包括兩條連接啟德機場的200及201線，替訪港旅客及巿民提供方便，儘管豪華巴士服務未有替九巴取得太大成功，但當中機場巴士服務於之後時間成為首批成功推出空調巴士服務的路線。因應路面情況容許更大容量的巴士行走，一九八一年九巴引進首架都城嘉慕超級都城型十二米三軸巴士，自此透過不同廠家購入三百多架十二米三軸巴士，投放在不同幹線去滿足需求，到了八十年代中期，九巴更向巴士製造商要求提供長度稍短的十一米三軸巴士，以保持高載客量同時能夠擁有更高靈活性，並一度成為九巴車隊一個標準。另外，九巴為龐大車隊提供更完善保養而興建的屯門多層式總修中心於一九八四年落成啟用，更因其龐大規模而曾被《健力士世界紀錄大全》列為「全球規模最大的多層維修中心」。

九巴不斷在服務上作出新嘗試以保持競爭力及爭取更高利潤，其中引進空調巴士是九巴其中一個創舉。早於一九七五年一架百福YRQ中置引擎巴士便裝上空調系統，安排行走機場巴士，成為九巴車隊中首架空調巴士。而為了提供更高載客量，以及提高豪華巴士服務的服務質素，以抗衡來自地鐵通車的競爭，九巴更於一九八零年推出雙層空調巴士，可惜當時技術並未成熟，上述空調巴士均未有取得成功。隨著一九八五年引進的丹尼士獵鷹在服務機場的「通天巴士」路線表現理想，空調巴士服務再現曙光，九巴再向巴士製造商要求提供樣板車作測試。最終都城嘉慕於一九八七年率先提供一架十一米都城型空調版本作試驗，可惜這次試驗最終仍是失敗收場。除了都城嘉慕之外，利蘭亦於一九八八年提供一架以十一米奧林比安底盤作藍本的空調新車予九巴試驗，這亦是之後家傳戶曉的AL1(DX2437)，同時正式打開了空調巴士服務香港的新一章，逐步提升巴士服務水平。

在進一步推廣空調巴士服務時，為了響應政府提出傷健一家親精神，九巴於一九九六年推出「易搭巴士」，低地台版本的丹尼士飛鏢單層巴士，開始無障礙運輸的日子，同年九巴成立了龍運巴士，準備競投赤鱲角機場及東涌新巿鎮的巴士服務。最終龍運成功獲政府批出專營權，自一九九七年五月二十二日開始營辦連接新界及北大嶼山一帶的巴士服務。另外，九巴亦於一九九六年一月跟深圳一家公司合組藝東有限公司(現稱新香港巴士有限公司)，於翌年三月二十日開始提供連接落馬州與皇崗口岸的穿梭巴士服務。在一九九七年初再多十架「易搭巴士」加入九巴，但以香港營運環境而言，必須採購雙層低地台巴士才能滿足需求，最終全球首架丹尼士三叉戟低地台空調雙層巴士於同年五月運抵本港供九巴測試，並隨後於十一月正式派出行走1A線服務乘客，進一步使不同需要乘客，享用到既方便又舒適的巴士服務。因應業務發展及重組企業架構，九巴於一九九七年五月成立九巴控股，成為九巴集團最終控股公司，而在緊接的一九九八年更透過成立陽光巴士染指非專利巴士巿場，現時陽光巴士為本港第二大非專營巴士營運商。九巴控股最後於二零零五年十一月易名載通國際，以體現集團要成為大中華內勇於創新的世界級公共運輸企業的景願。

九巴早於九十年代初已經聯同兩鐵，城巴及油麻地小輪成立聯合公司研究全新非接觸式智能卡付款收費系統，亦即今日的八達通，並且於一九九七年九月一日開始正式引進作為繳付車費的新方式，並於三年後推廣至全線車隊。在全線接受八達通收費同時，九巴亦推出本港首個流動多媒體「路訊通」，為乘客提供娛樂資訊服務。而在二十一世紀，九巴繼續致力為廣大市民提供優質可靠的巴士服務，譬如二零零一年開始引進符合歐盟三型棑放標準的巴士，而夥拍港九小輪成立的珀麗灣客運，亦自二零零二年十二月開始為新鴻基地產這個位於馬灣的大型住宅項目提供接駁交通服務。二零零三年九巴在雙層低地台巴士這個發展相當成熟的範疇加添新元素，推出配直樓梯及闊車身的「超直巴士」，志在為乘客提供更舒適及物超所值的巴士服務，而首輛符合更高要求的歐盟四型巴士亦於二零零七年加入九巴車隊，為改善香港環境作出一分力。

如前段所述，九巴自一九八八年成功推出空調巴士服務之後，便以車隊空調化作為目標，自二零一二年五月九日凌晨當16號線最後一班「熱狗巴士」開出之後，標誌著九巴從這刻開始跟其他專營巴士公司一樣提供全空調巴士服務，同時代表著「熱狗巴士」行走在專營巴士路線上接載乘客的日子已經一去不復返。二零一三年九巴聯同亞歷山大丹尼士車廠，為香港引進全新達歐五排標準的Enviro500MMC，滿足最新環保要求同時，為乘客帶來更安全及舒適的巴士服務。九巴亦積極試驗不同的新能源巴士，首先二零一零年測試了來自上海的申沃超級電容巴士「gBus」，隨後再於二零一二年測試一架由青年製造的超級電容巴士「gBus²」，不過兩架試驗巴士都是左軚駕駛，未有出牌及作載客營運測試。而二零一三年來自深圳的比亞迪向九巴提供一架K9D純電動巴士「eBus」，並同先後行走員工接送車及2號線作實際測試。而透過政府資助下，九巴先後引進更多新能源巴士作測試，最先加入車隊是三架於二零一四年投入服務，由亞歷山大丹尼士製造配歐六引擎的E50H混合動力雙層巴士「hBus」，而向青年客車訂購的超級電容巴士亦緊接於翌年到港，並先後於二零一七及一九年投入於沙田及啟德發展區路線行走作進一步的載客測試。最後於二零一七年，九巴接收了比亞迪的K9R電動巴士，亦陸續投放於市區不同路線服務乘客。繼車隊完成空調化後，九巴亦於二零一七年七月六日完成另一目標，最後一架丹尼士短龍巴士當晚完成最後一個8號線載客車程後，全線車隊皆為低地台巴士，而在差不多同一時間，九巴亦推出以「城市脈搏」作口號的全新企業形象。

直到二零二一年六月底為止，九巴仍然持續更新車隊，除了歐盟六型柴油巴士外，亦先後向比亞迪及亞歷山大丹尼士購入電動巴士，值得一提是九巴是次訂購的電動巴士都是未有任何政府資助，當中十六架比亞迪B12A單層電動巴士已經自二零二一年四月下旬開始陸續投入服務，而其餘電動巴士亦可望於二零二三年開始交付及投入服務。展望將來，九巴已經宣佈將會停止購買柴油巴士，引入的新車除了以電力驅動外，氫能巴士亦有機會是另外一個選擇。

First established in 1921, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) not only is the largest but also the most historic bus operator in Hong Kong. The first two service run by KMB was origin from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City respectively. In 1932, as the Government felt that a regulated bus service would serve the public better, interested parties were invited to tender for operating bus services under exclusive franchises either on the Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon where New Territories was included. KMB was successfully awarded to be the Kowloon side bus service franchised operator in Jan., 1933. KMB absorbed other bus operators in Kowloon before the franchised effective from Jun., 1933 and it registered name was changed to Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd. on 13 Apr., 1933.

The fleet size of KMB reached 140 with 17 routes operated by the time of the Japanese Occupation in Dec., 1941 and during the occupation period, the service of KMB almost ceased with only two routes still running in 1944 as fleet was requisitioned by the occupying force. After Liberation on 30 Aug., 1945, only 17 pre-war buses can be found and 6 of them were capable of moving under their own power, though not roadworthy. It was not until Feb.,1946 with the help from the civilian authorities, lorry-buses based on military truck chassis was introduced to relief the pressure on resumption of service. In addition, population of Hong Kong was soared brought from the influx of the people from the mainland after the war, it was a high time for KMB to acquire more buses to cater the demand. After a visit to Daimler in UK, later become the main bus supplier of KMB in the coming 30 years, the management of KMB placed an order of 20 CVG5 double deckers and first 4 can be immediately delivered in Dec., 1948 and commissioned on 17 Apr., 1949.

KMB expanded it networks rapidly between 1950s and 60s as a result of the economic growth brought by both immigrants and funds from the mainland China and it was listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1961. To enhance fleet operation efficiency and routine maintenance, a purpose built bus depot cum headquarters building was constructed in Po Lun Street, Lai Chi Kok in 1965. On 5 Aug., 1972, just three days after the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel, a joint operated bus service with CMB across the harbour was introduced and resulted in a substantial revenue. Moreover, "One Man Operation" was introduced along with the cross-harbour bus service and started the era of pay at abroad. KMB launched luxury bus services in 1975 including route 200 and 201 both linking Kai Tak Airport and Central and Tsim Sha Tsui respectively. The luxury bus services cannot be considered as successful, however, the Airbus service was first successfully converted into full air conditioned bus operation in 1985. We first saw the delivery of 12m 3-axle double deckers in 1981 when MCW supplied it Super Metrobus to KMB for evaluation and more than 300 12m 3-axle double deckers from different manufacturers were entered service between 1983 and 1986. A shorter version of 3-axle double deckers which 11n in length was first acquired in mid. of 1980s to maintain a high carrying capacity with better maneuverability and once to be the standard in KMB fleet. A multi-story bus depot for comprehensive fleet maintenance, KMB's Overhaul Centre, was completed in 1984 and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest multi-story bus depot in the world.

KMB keep innovative in improving bus service quality and in pursuit of higher revenue, a Bedford YRQ mid-engined coach fitted with air conditioning driven by an auxiliary engine was first introduced in 1975 and serving the Kai Tak Airport routes. The first air conditioned double deckers was supplied by Dennis in 1980 to upgrade the luxury bus services standard and against the competition from the MTR, however, all these trials mentioned above cannot gain any success as their immature design. As to provide better service to tourists, a fleet of 20 Dennis Falcon air conditioned coach was purchased for the Airbus service in 1985 and as mentioned above, full air conditioned bus service was first successfully launched within KMB networks. MCW delivered an air conditioned Super Metrobus 11m to KMB in 1987 for evaluation but it was finally converted back to conventional version as a result of poor performance. Another air conditioned Olympian demonstrator was sent from Leyland, another main supplier of KMB, for evaluation in 1988. This demonstrator was registered as DX2437 and later classed as AL1 was successfully started the chapter of air conditioned bus service in Hong Kong franchised bus history.

As a response to the spirit of equal opportunities advocated by the government, KMB launched it first super low floor bus, the Dennis Dart SLF which named as "Easy Access Bus" in 1996 along with the promotion of air conditioned bus service. In addition, a new subsidiary company Long Win Bus (LWB) was set up in the same year to tender bus service operating in Tung Chung New Town and the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok and finally, LWB was awarded with the franchised for serving routes linking the New Territories and the Northern Lantau with the first service commenced operations on 22 May, 1997. Besides an service extension in the Northern Lantau, a new shuttle service between Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang Port launched on 20 Mar., 1997 was run by Art East Co., Ltd, now known as New Hong Kong Bus (NHKB), which was a joint venture set up by KMB and a Shenzhen bus operator in Jan., 1996. Further 10 Dennis Dart SLF were joined KMB in 1997, however, super low floor single decker cannot cater the demand under operation environment in Hong Kong and Dennis provided a solutions with the first super low floor double deckers, Dennis Trident to KMB for revenue evaluation on route 1A since Nov., 1997. Meanwhile, The Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Limited was established in 1997 and became the ultimate holding company of the KMB Group. KMB Group further expanded their business into the non-franchised bus sector by setting up Sun Bus in 1998 and to be the second largest non-franchised bus operator at present. The Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Limited was renamed Transport International Holdings Limited to demonstrate the Group's vision to become a world-class public transport innovator in the Greater China region in Nov., 2005.

Back to early 1990s, KMB together with MTR, KCRC, City Bus and the Hongkong and Yaumatei Ferry (HYF) established a joint venture Creative Star Limited, for developing contactless smart card technology for fare collection which later known as Octopus. KMB first introduced Octopus in 1997 and with all its buses equipped with Octopus Card readers in 2000. In the same year, Roadshow which was the first Multi-media On-board (MMOB) in Hong Kong introduced and offering infotainment to passengers during their journey. KMB keep on improving service standard during the 21st century and we saw the first Euro 3 emission standard bus joined KMB fleet in 2001 and in the following year, Park Island Transport Co., Ltd., was jointly set up by KMB and Kowloon Ferry Holdings Limited to provide public transport service to and from Park Island, a large scale residential project at Ma Wan developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. In 2003, KMB launched the second generation super low floor double deckers, the "Super Bus", which featured a straight staircase and wider bus compartment. As a result, passengers can enjoy better service and have a more comfortable riding experience. Furthermore, a more environmental friendly Euro 4 emission standard bus was acquired by KMB in 2007.

Started from the introduction of air conditioned bus service in the 1980s, KMB aimed at providing full air conditioned operation and after the last "Hot-Dog" bus departure on route 16 in the midnight of 9 May, 2012, not only indicated whole KMB fleet was air conditioned as other franchised operators in Hong Kong, but also the "Hot-Dog" buses become a part of Hong Kong transport history. KMB and Alexander Dennis co-developed a new generation Enviro500 (known as Enviro500MMC) in 2013 which complied with a Euro 5 emission standard along with latest safety features and a more comfortable ride. In addition, different alternative energy buses were evaluated by KMB with the first was supplied by SUNWIN from Shanghai, this Supercapacitor Bus was named as "gBus" and delivered for evaluation in 2010 and followed by another Supercapacitor Bus, the "gBus²" by YoungMan in 2012. These demonstrators was left-hand drive and never be registered and put on revenue service for trial. BYD from Shenzhen sent a right-hand drive K9D, a battery-powered electric bus, to KMB for testing in 2013 and it was known as "eBus" during it revenue evaluation on route 2.

With the help of Pilot Green Transport Fund offered by Environmental Protection Department, KMB placed order for different alternative energy buses which included: A batch of 3 Euro VI engine hybrid bus “hBus” from Alexander Dennis which commissioned in 2014; 8 YoungMan Supercapacitor Bus which started delivered since Jan., 2015 and started their trial on revenue service in Sha Tin and Kai Tak since 2017 and 2019 respectively; BYD successfully won the tendered for supplying it K9R battery-powered electric bus and put on different routes for trial after KMB took the delivery since Nov., 2016. Another milestones was made on 6 Jul., 2017 when the last Dennis Baby Dragon completed it final duties on route 8, marked the end of the era of step-entranced buses in KMB fleet. Moreover, KMB revealed it new corporate image as well as the new slogan “Heartbeat of the City” in Jun., 2017.

Fleet renewal programme still actively undergoing and as the end of Jun., 2022, instead of the Euro 6 diesel-powered buses, we can see KMB also took the delivery of 12 BYD B12A electric buses and put on the road since the end of Apr., 2022. Though without any subsidies from HKSAR Government, KMB purchased a total of 52 battery-powered electric double deckers from BYD and Alexander Dennis and expected to be entered service in 2023. KMB already announced no more diesel-powered buses would be procured and hydrogen fuel cell technology will be another option besides battery-powered buses.

最後更新 Last Updated : 25 Jul. 2022

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