Annual Report 2024

71 2024 Annual Report Transport International Holdings Limited Population intake at LOHAS Park is ongoing, and KMB has enhanced its bus service connecting Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon with more convenient travel options. The ‘LOHAS Express’ Route 298X, now extended to Mei Foo, has significantly increased its service frequency during peak hours on weekdays, with extended service hours on Saturdays; and To accommodate the growing population in the residential areas of Tsing Yi, KMB introduced Routes 49 and 49M in 2023, connecting Ching Fu Court to Tsing Yi Station and Tseung Kwan O. In addition, a new Route 49A was introduced in November 2024 to ply between Ching Fu Court and Tsuen Wan. Boundary Bus Service To support the growing usage of Heung Yuen Wai Control Point, KMB introduced Route B9A to operate between the control point and Yuen Long West. Along with the existing Routes B9 and 79K, which have Bus-bus Interchange (“BBI”) arrangements with other KMB routes, passengers can transfer between multiple KMB routes to reach urban areas in Yuen Long and the Fanling Station BBI; To facilitate late-night boundary travel, KMB launched Route N276 [San Tin Public Transport Interchange ⇋ Tin Tsz] in August 2024, providing a late-night connection between Huang Bus and Yuen Long District; and Following the network improvements made in 2023, the LWB A-route bus network has become more mature. To respond to the increasing trend of outbound travel, LWB has increased the service level of A-routes, particularly during peak travel seasons. Upgrades to Bus Facilities Display screens have been installed on the lower deck of KMB buses to show the number of available seats on the upper deck. This helps passengers find vacant seats on the upper deck, contributing to a more even distribution of passengers and enhancing the overall passenger experience; KMB has launched a comprehensive upgrade of its 5G services and plans to upgrade its entire bus fleet to 5G-enabled buses, offering free 5G Wi-Fi service on board. For an elevated travel experience, passengers can now enjoy unlimited sessions of complimentary 5G Wi-Fi service with ultra-fast, stable and smooth 5G network connectivity; A total of four horizontal ventilation windows, located on both the upper and lower decks, are designed to facilitate natural ventilation and ensure a comfortable journey for passengers; KMB and LWB have installed the Bus Information Panel System on 4,123 buses. Real-time bus stop information is displayed on screens on both the upper and lower decks and is also available on App1933, featuring the alighting reminder function; The air quality in bus compartments has been improved with the installation of electrostatic air filters in KMB and LWB buses; and 4,010 KMB and 283 LWB buses are equipped with power- saving variable capacity air-conditioning compressors, providing more adaptive and refined thermal control in the most fuel-efficient manner under all weather conditions. The air-conditioning systems also feature a fresh air function that extracts outside air and purifies it through a double-layer filter system. In line with the intake progress of Fu Tip Estate in Tai Po, KMB has made several enhancements to the service level of Route 72K to better meet residents’ needs KMB plans to upgrade its entire bus fleet with free 5G Wi-Fi service, allowing passengers to enjoy ultra-fast, stable and seamless internet access during their journeys