KMB Route 1

KMB Route 1 is a busy bus route operated in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is run by Kowloon Motor Bus and connects Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier and Chuk Yuen Estate in Wong Tai Sin. The bus via Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Kowloon City and Lok Fu.

Major milestones in the service history

*1920s:The route was started, known as route 6 at that time. The route served between Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon City. Fares were divided into first and second classes at that time.
* December, 1941:The route ceased operation during the Battle of Hong Kong
* 1942-01-10:Service resumed as the Japanese military government in Hong Kong reorganized the bus services.
* October, 1942:The route was renumbered route 1 in October, 1942.
* 1943-08-12:The route was shortened to serve between Tsim Sha Tsui and Waterloo Road due to shortage of fuel.
*After the Japanese occupation:This route was only bus route remaining in service in Kowloon at the end of the occupation.
*Mid-February, 1946:KMB resumed the route.
*1949-04-17:The first four double decker buses in Hong Kong were allocated to the route as the population in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Kowloon City increased rapidly.
*1967 riots:The route is one of only few routes still in service in Kowloon during the riot.
*1972-04-27:The route was extended to Wang Tau Hom to serve the newly developed areas.
*1976-07-01:The route was extended to Lok Fu to serve the newly developed areas.
*1984-06-05:The route was extended to Chuk Yuen Estate, which is the current terminus.

As the population in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Kowloon City, which are in the centre of Kowloon Peninsula, has increased steadily since World War II, buses on this route are often full, and becomes one of major bus routes in Kowloon.

Fleet

Single decker buses were used before WWII, and double deckers joined the route from 1949. Air conditioned services started from August 3, 1992, and since 2003, more and more Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses have been deployed in the route. The route is currently operated with 18 double decker buses in which 16 are air conditioned.

Route information

* Journey distance: 9.1 km
* Journey time: 51 mins
* Non air-cond. fare: $3.5
* Air-cond. fare: $4.7

Routing

Towards Tsim Sha Tsui (Star Ferry) [ [http://www.kmb.hk/eng/pda/route_stops.php?route_no=1&bound=1&select_from=&select_to= KMB Route Search Engine PDA Version ] ]

Towards Chuk Yuen Estate [ [http://www.kmb.hk/eng/pda/route_stops.php?route_no=1&bound=2&select_from=&select_to= KMB Route Search Engine PDA Version ] ]

References

* [http://www.kmb.hk/eng/pda/route_no.php?route_no=1 KMB official website]
* [http://www.td.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/UTIL_UTRAFFIC_WF/YL/nike%2010k%20eng.pdf]