Transport Department approves only two out of nine KMB route proposals

^{New KMB bus route 289R will run from Sha Tin to Wong Shek Pier starting 2 April}

BUZZ reported on 14 March 2021 that KMB had applied for a new route into the Country Park as part of a plan to operate nine new bus routes and services connecting popular recreational locations. TD have recently approved just two of those applications. KMB announced on 1 April that two recreational routes have been approved by the Department. Route 289R from Shatin to Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung and Route 82D from Tai Wai to Pak Shek Mok Pier, which will both be available to serve the public during the long Easter holiday.

It is understood that TD has directly rejected applications for at least three routes. Although the remaining four routes are pending approval, reports indicate that the situation is not optimistic. The bus routes on the brink of being rejected include the new route from the East Dam of Sai Kung’s High Island Reservoir to downtown Sai Kung, and the new route from Lau Shui Heung Reservoir, Fan Ling, to Tai Po.

As reported in our earlier story, some netizens discovered that KMB had arranged for single-deck buses to be tested on Man Yee Road in Sai Kung. According to these sources, KMB had applied to TD to operate nine recreational bus routes around February this year. However, the Department has so far only approved two routes. It is understood that the Transport Department has rejected applications for three of the recreational routes. Although the remaining four outing routes are still under review, the situation is not optimistic.

According to sources, the three recreational routes that have been formally opposed are all existing routes. KMB hoped to increase its holiday schedules to provide extra services to the countryside, including 74E between Kwun Tong Ferry and Tai Mei Tuk; and route 73P between Tseun Wan and Tai Mei Tuk, both of which only provide services from Monday to Friday. The other service is 275R between Tai Po Market and Wu Kau Tang.

As for the four recreational routes still pending approval by the Department, it is understood that the approval status is not looking good, and it is assumed they will not be approved. According to the reports, the four routes are all new ones, including the one from Sai Kung Town to East Dam. The other three new routes that have been applied for include Lau Shui Heung Reservoir to Tai Po Line; Luk Keng to Tai Po; and the Yuen Long Pak Nai to Tuen Mun Interchange Station.