Network 26
Encyclopedia
Network 26 is a network of 26 bus routes on Hong Kong Island
previously belonging to China Motor Bus
(CMB) being annexed to Citybus
by the Government of Hong Kong
on 1 September 1993.
On 30 November 1989, CMB staff went on a strike due to problems on retirement pay. CMB services were completely suspended, and traffic on Hong Kong Island ran into chaos. The most severe situation occurred in Southern District
, which had no MTR
service, to an extent that even police vehicles were mobilized to provide transport services. Citybus operated temporary routes to deal with the situation. The Government decided to rearrange bus services on the Island.
In 1990, Citybus applied to start three non-franchised routes, namely 37R, 90R and 97R, all serving between Southern District to Admiralty. In March the same year, Citybus applied to operate the route 12A, which CMB had previously requested to be cancelled due to low patronage. The application was approved, and services by Citybus commenced in September 1991 with air-conditioned double deckers.
Later, seeing no improvement in CMB's services, the Government decided to re-tender 26 of CMB's routes to another company. Two companies applied, namely Citybus and Stagecoach
. Since Stagecoach had no experience on operating routes in Hong Kong, Citybus won the tender. The routes were operated by Citybus in effective from 1 September 1993.
In 1997 CMB gave up four routes which were taken over by Citybus immediately: 45 and 47 became 40P and 47A on 3 March, 41 became 41A on 21 April 1997, and 3 became 3B on 2 June 1997.
system in 1997 for public transport, CMB rejected to follow. Furthermore, it failed to deliver proposals that year for franchise renewal due in 1998. On 17 February 1998, the Executive Council discontinued CMB's franchise, which would expire on 31 August 1998. 12 routes were directly handed over to Citybus, and one to Kowloon Motor Bus
(KMB). 11 routes were scheduled for cancellation with the franchise expiry. The remaining 88 routes were opened up for tender. CMB, KMB and Citybus joined in the tender; however it happened to be New World First Bus
(NWFB), a completely new bus operator in Hong Kong formed by a joint venture between New World Development
and FirstGroup, which won the tender in the end. At midnight on 1 September 1998 CMB ceased to operate bus services with the expiry of its tender, and the routes were taken over by NWFB.
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
previously belonging to China Motor Bus
China Motor Bus
China Motor Bus Company Ltd. , often abbreviated as CMB, was the first motor bus company in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-decker buses to Hong Kong Island....
(CMB) being annexed to Citybus
Citybus (Hong Kong)
Citybus Limited is one of the three major bus operators in Hong Kong. It provides both franchised and non-franchised bus service. The franchised route network serves mainly Hong Kong Island, cross-harbour routes , Ocean Park, North Lantau and Hong Kong International Airport...
by the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
on 1 September 1993.
Background
After CMB's heyday in the 1960s and 70s, its service quality started to deteriorate in the 1980s, with service delays and aging vehicles.On 30 November 1989, CMB staff went on a strike due to problems on retirement pay. CMB services were completely suspended, and traffic on Hong Kong Island ran into chaos. The most severe situation occurred in Southern District
Southern District, Hong Kong
The Southern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 290,240 in 2001. This district has the fourth lowest population of Hong Kong.-Geography:...
, which had no MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
service, to an extent that even police vehicles were mobilized to provide transport services. Citybus operated temporary routes to deal with the situation. The Government decided to rearrange bus services on the Island.
In 1990, Citybus applied to start three non-franchised routes, namely 37R, 90R and 97R, all serving between Southern District to Admiralty. In March the same year, Citybus applied to operate the route 12A, which CMB had previously requested to be cancelled due to low patronage. The application was approved, and services by Citybus commenced in September 1991 with air-conditioned double deckers.
Later, seeing no improvement in CMB's services, the Government decided to re-tender 26 of CMB's routes to another company. Two companies applied, namely Citybus and Stagecoach
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. Since Stagecoach had no experience on operating routes in Hong Kong, Citybus won the tender. The routes were operated by Citybus in effective from 1 September 1993.
Routes
The routes included numbers 1, 1M, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 6A, 10X, 12, 12M, 48, 61, 61M, 70, 70M, 72, 72A, 72B, 75, 76, 90, 92, 96, 97, 97A, 98, 107 and 170.Further route annexations
Significant service improvements were observed on the annexed routes, while CMB's service quality remained unsatisfactory. On 1 September 1995 the Government annexed a further 14 routes to Citybus, namely routes 7, 11, 37, 40, 40M, 71, 73, 85, 99, 511, 592, 260, 103 and 182.In 1997 CMB gave up four routes which were taken over by Citybus immediately: 45 and 47 became 40P and 47A on 3 March, 41 became 41A on 21 April 1997, and 3 became 3B on 2 June 1997.
The demise of CMB
Even with the previous route annexations, CMB still declined to improve its services. When the Government decided to implement the Octopus cardOctopus card
The Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong...
system in 1997 for public transport, CMB rejected to follow. Furthermore, it failed to deliver proposals that year for franchise renewal due in 1998. On 17 February 1998, the Executive Council discontinued CMB's franchise, which would expire on 31 August 1998. 12 routes were directly handed over to Citybus, and one to Kowloon Motor Bus
Kowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
(KMB). 11 routes were scheduled for cancellation with the franchise expiry. The remaining 88 routes were opened up for tender. CMB, KMB and Citybus joined in the tender; however it happened to be New World First Bus
New World First Bus
New World First Bus Services Limited , abbreviated as First Bus and "NWFB", is the third largest public bus operator in Hong Kong.NWFB was established in 1998, taking over China Motor Bus's franchise on 1 September 1998 to provide bus services on Hong Kong Island together with Citybus...
(NWFB), a completely new bus operator in Hong Kong formed by a joint venture between New World Development
New World Development
New World Development Company Limited , based in Hong Kong, is active in property, infrastructure, services and telecommunications. It was established in 1970 with Dr Ho Sin Hang as Chairman and Chow Chi Yuen as Director and General Manager...
and FirstGroup, which won the tender in the end. At midnight on 1 September 1998 CMB ceased to operate bus services with the expiry of its tender, and the routes were taken over by NWFB.