Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes 96, 290E and 298X to commence tomorrow with multiple BBI connections A grand opening ceremony to witness a new way to travel from Tseung Kwan O

Tseung Lam Highway opens to the public today (11 December). The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. ("KMB”) will be operating three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes 96 [Tseung Kwan O (Hong Sing Garden) ⇋ Tai Po Industrial Estate], 290E [Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate ⇋ Tsuen Wan West Station] and 298X [Hang Hau (North) (Tseung Kwan O Hospital) ⇋ Cheung Sha Wan (Kom Tsun Street)] starting from the first working day after the commencement of the new road (12 December, Monday). There will be an opening ceremony to celebrate the maiden trips of three routes with souvenirs ready for passengers taking the departures in the morning, witnessing the new travelling way of Tseung Kwan O with them.

First departure of Route 96 to become the first bus route to observe Tseung Lam Highway

The routes observing Tseung Lam Highway, namely Routes 96 [Tseung Kwan O (Hong Sing Garden) ⇋ Tai Po Industrial Estate], 290E [Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate ⇋ Tsuen Wan West Station] and 298X [Hang Hau (North) (Tseung Kwan O Hospital) ⇋ Cheung Sha Wan (Kom Tsun Street)] will be put in service on the first working day after the commencement of the new road (12 December, Monday).

Route information

For details, please refer to the promotional poster.

Route 96 provides a direct and convenient bus service for passengers travelling between Tseung Kwan O and Science Park, Tai Po, making it the best choice for commuting. The first departure of Route 96 departs at 07:15 in both Tseung Kwan O (Hong Sing Garden) and Tai Po Industrial Estate, which will be the first bus from Tseung Kwan O to pass through Tseung Lam Highway, allowing passengers to experience the new way to travel in the community.

Meanwhile, Routes 290E and 298X offer an express service for residents in LOHAS Park, Pak Shing Kok and Hang Hau for Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan, or Mong Kok and Lai Chi Kok Business Area. According to data collected during route trials, the journey time from LOHAS Park to Kwai Fong and Mong Kok takes only 40 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively*.

* Actual journey time may vary due to traffic conditions.

KMB Manager (Planning and Development) Dennis Lee said, “All three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes will only initially provide services during peak hours. KMB will continue to discuss with the Transport Department the expansion of service hours to the whole day and daily progressively and introduce more routes depending on the actual traffic conditions and passenger demand after the commencement of Tseung Lam Highway.”

Connecting Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories through multiple BBI networks

Route 96 observes Tate’s Cairn Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange (“BBI”), where passengers can interchange to over 35 KMB routes for Sha Tin Central, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan and North District with discounts offered, covering the entire New Territories East. As for Route 290E, it observes Wong Tai Sin BBI and the newly introduced Choi Hung & Ngau Chi Wan BBI and Tai Wo Hau BBI and connects with over 70 KMB and LWB routes for the New Territories and Lantau Island. KMB Monthly Pass holders can also enjoy ten rides per day to make use of KMB BBIs flexibly and travel to Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories easily.

Interchange discount example

KMB Assistant Operations Director (Division 1) Douglas Mak said, “The three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes connect multiple KMB BBIs so that they not only serve locations en-route but also areas covered by the BBIs. Passengers can make use of KMB’s extensive route network for a more flexible journey. KMB is also expanding the BBI networks to offer passengers more valuable and convenient choices.”

In addition, all three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes will observe the newly-established Tseung Lam Tunnel BBI after departing from Tseung Kwan O. A top-up fare discount is available for passengers to interchange between Routes 96, 290E and 298X, or Eastern Harbour Crossing Routes, which are solely operated by KMB at Eastern Harbour Crossing BBI for a three to five-minute walk through the flyover, offering a new choice for passengers going to Hong Kong Island.

Souvenirs for passengers taking the first departure in the morning

As a crucial part of the new way of travelling from Tseung Kwan O, KMB will organise a ceremony for maiden departures of Routes 96, 290E and 298X to witness with passengers. Buses with whole-body advertisements promoting the routes will be deployed on the first trip of three routes in Tseung Kwan O. KMB is arranging photo props for passengers to commemorate the maiden trips. Souvenirs are also ready for passengers departing in the morning while stock lasts.

KMB Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Department Kenny Kan said, “KMB believes some vehicles will choose to use the Tseung Lam Highway over Tseung Kwan O Tunnel to travel to the city after its grand opening. This will help ease the traffic congestion at Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, which will also speed up the buses via the old tunnel to return to the bus terminus and make room for us to enhance our services. KMB will also continue investing resources to serve Tseung Kwan O residents.”

Passengers may call the KMB Customer Service Hotline on 2745-4466 or visit KMB website www.kmb.hk or App1933 for more details.

Photo captions

	KMB Assistant Operations Director (Division 1) Douglas Mak (Centre), Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Department Kenny Kan (Left) and Manager (Planning and Development) Dennis Lee (Right) officiated the commencement ceremony of Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes.
	KMB has invited Sai Kung District Council Chairman Francis Chau (fourth from the left in the first photo), Member Andrew Chan (third from the left in the first photo), Lau Kai Hong (fifth from the left in the ) and Christine Fong (fourth from the right in the second photo) to experience Tseung Lam Highway Express Route 298X in advance.
	Three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes will put into service on 12 December, the first working day after the commencement of the new road.
	Three Tseung Lam Highway Express Routes observe a number of KMB existing BBIs where passengers can make use of our extensive route network to travel to anywhere across Hong Kong.