Citybus (Hong Kong) - History

History

In 1979, Citybus began its operation in Hong Kong with one double deck bus (Volvo B55), providing shuttle service for the Hong Kong United Dockyard in Hung Hom. It later expanded into operating a residential bus route between City One Shatin and Kowloon Tong MTR station.

In 1984, Citybus began a cross-boundary coach service between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The following year, the company introduced its first air-conditioned double-deck coaches. Since then, it has continued to expand its fleet of air-conditioned buses. This was the start of the remarkable history of air-conditioned double-deck buses in Hong Kong.

In 1991, the Hong Kong Government awarded Citybus its first franchised route 12A (Admiralty Tamar St <> Macdonnell Rd) on Hong Kong Island, which was originally operated by China Motor Bus and then withdrawn in the 1980s. It marked the arrival of Citybus as a franchised bus company serving Hong Kong Island routes. Also in 1991, several thousand miles away in London, Citybus launched a new company called Capital Citybus with an all-yellow livery for the routes in North and East London and a red and yellow livery for central London. This was sold to FirstGroup in 1998 and now trades as First Capital. In 1993, Citybus took over 28 franchised routes from China Motor Bus after winning a competitive tender. A further 14 franchised routes were awarded to the company in 1995 without tendering, with the fleet now expanded to more than 500 buses. During these years Citybus expanded its penetration of the Hong Kong Island market pushing nearly all CMB routes into low profitability. The areas of Hong Kong Island, especially Central, Wanchai and Causeway Bay, more and more CMB passengers chose Citybus rather than CMB.

In 1996, with the Tsing Ma Bridge coming into operation and commencement of settlement in the Tung Chung new town, Citybus won another tender to operate 13 new franchised routes serving Tung Chung and the new Hong Kong International Airport. The airport bus service, started in 1998, is called Cityflyer which is part of Citybus and is solely used for Airport express routes to the city. The Cityflyer service consisted of a series of 4 routes: A11, A12, A21 and A22, with A10 being added to the mix in 2006. Citybus also operates various Overnight Airport routes and Airport Shuttle Routes.

In 1998, following the expiry of the franchise of the China Motor Bus, a further 12 routes were transferred to Citybus. Citybus's fleet was up to 1,100 buses. The remaining routes of China Motor Bus were transferred to a new operator New World First Bus.

Its business was expanded into mainland China with a joint venture operation in Beijing through Citybus (China) Limited. It was not only Beijing's first joint venture bus operation, but it also marked the introduction of air-conditioned buses for the first time in the capital city. Following the success of this route, a second urban express coach route was introduced in Beijing. However, the services in Beijing were terminated shortly after the disposal of shares of Citybus (China) Limited from Citybus to Kingsman Global Limited, another Hong Kong company, in June 2004. Citybus had also once operated a route (route 658) in Tianjin. The service is now operated by another company after Citybus disposed all its interest in Citybus (China) Limited.

In 1999, Citybus was acquired by Stagecoach Group of the United Kingdom.

In 2001, Citybus discontinued the cross-boundary coach service between China and Hong Kong.

The company was acquired by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, the parent company of the major rival operator New World First Bus, in June 2003. And after a series of restructurings, Citybus is now a subsidiary of NWS Transport Services Limited, which is also the parent company of New World First Bus and New World First Ferry. NWS Transport has since re-dominated the franchised bus services on Hong Kong Island.

• Citybus Leyland Olympian 10.4m

• Citybus Volvo Olympian 10.4m

• Citybus Volvo Olympian 11.3m

• Citybus Volvo Olympian 12m

• Citybus Dennis Dragon 10.3m

• Citybus Dennis Dragon 12m

• Citybus Dennis Trident 10.6m

• Citybus Dennis Trident 12m

• Citybus Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 12m (with Euro 4 engine)

• Citybus Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 12m (with Euro 5 engine)

• Citybus Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 10.5m