Citybus Route 12A

12A
A Youngman JNP6105GR at Admiralty (Tamar Street) terminus, 2022
Overview
OperatorCitybus
VehicleYoungman JNP6105GR
Youngman JNP6120GR
Began service16 December 1961 (CMB)
11 September 1991 (Citybus)
Ended service27 August 1987 (CMB)
Former operator(s)China Motor Bus (CMB)
Route
TerminiAdmiralty (Tamar Street)
ViaCotton Tree Drive, MacDonnell Road, Kennedy Road, Garden Road, Central
Length4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi)
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency3-25 minutes
Journey time~23 minutes
Operates06:50-00:00

Citybus route 12A is a bus route on Hong Kong Island. Operated by Citybus, it is a loop route originating from Admiralty (Tamar Street), passing through Cotton Tree Drive, MacDonnell Road, Kennedy Road and Central before returning to Admiralty. The route was first operated by China Motor Bus from its introduction in 1961 until it was suspended in 1987. It was then reintroduced in 1991, when the government put the route up for tender which was won by Citybus, becoming its first franchised bus route.

Route description

Map of route 12A showing all the route variants

Route 12A starts from Admiralty (Tamar Street) terminus along Tamar Street. From there, it turns left onto Harcourt Road and then makes another left onto Cotton Tree Drive. It continues southbound on Cotton Tree Drive and onto Garden Road before turning left to MacDonnell Road. It continues to the end of MacDonnell Road and turns left onto Kennedy Road. From Kennedy Road, it proceeds onto Garden Road, then turns left on Queen's Road Central into Central. It then makes three consecutive right turns into Pedder Street, Chater Road and Murray Road. From Murray Road, it turns left onto Queensway before turning left at Tamar Street to return to its terminus.[1]

There are two route variants. One runs on weekday mornings and turns onto Queensway directly from Garden Road, skipping Central. Another runs on Sundays and public holidays, proceeding further down on Pedder Street and turning right onto Connaught Road Central, then turning right at Cotton Tree Drive before turning left onto Queensway to return to Tamar Street.[1]

History

First introduction and suspension

Route 12A was first introduced by China Motor Bus (CMB) on 16 December 1961, running as a full-day loop service between United Pier in Central and MacDonnell Road.[2] The terminus at United Pier was shifted to a new large bus interchange nearby in 1972.[3] In 1982, the service level was reduced, with the route only running on weekdays and the weekend service replaced by public light bus services.[4]

The Central terminus was shifted twice in the 1980s, first on 1 February 1985 to Edinburgh Place,[5] and then on 3 March 1986 to Central (Exchange Square) Bus Terminus.[6] However, due to declining ridership as a result of mismanagement by CMB, the route stopped operating on 26 August 1987.[7][8]

Second introduction and Citybus takeover

After CMB stopped operating the route, residents along MacDonnell Road could only commute using public light buses, which were often unable to cope with the demand.[9] At the same time, Citybus began interested in operating routes 12A and 17 (Central to So Kon Po via MacDonnell Road, also suspended by CMB since 1985),[10] and in September 1989 expressed its interest in reintroducing route 12A to the Central and Western District Council. With the agreement of the council, Citybus formally submitted its application to operate the route to the government.[11]

On 30 November 1989, due to a breakdown of negotiations over pensions between the labour union and the management of CMB, bus drivers with CMB went on strike, resulting in chaos for commuters on Hong Kong Island. The Southern District was one of the worst-hit areas, with no CMB buses running during the morning rush hour. On that day, Citybus provided a temporary non-franchised bus service in Ap Lei Chau, where public light buses were not allowed to enter, significantly increasing its reputation among residents in the area.[8]

The next year, the government continued to process the application for the resumption of the route, and invited CMB to provide advice.[12] They ultimately decided to put the new route up for tender to determine the operator of the route, thereby introducing competition within bus operators on Hong Kong Island.[13] Despite the opposition of CMB and Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) (the other franchised bus operator in Hong Kong at the time), the tender was called on 19 April 1991.[14][15][16] Bidders included Citybus and several other non-franchised bus operators. CMB did not put forward a bid as they saw the route as unprofitable, while KMB briefly considered a bid but ultimately did not submit one.[17] Citybus was ultimately announced as the winner of the tender.[18]

The route restarted operations on 11 September 1991, reusing the route number 12A from the CMB era and running as a loop service from Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal to MacDonnell Road via Admiralty. It became Citybus' first franchised bus route,[18][19][20] breaking the monopoly CMB had on franchised bus services on Hong Kong Island and making Citybus the fourth franchised bus operator in Hong Kong (after KMB, CMB and New Lantao Bus).[21] On the first day, nine double decker buses were used on the route.[21]

On 15 February 1993, the starting point of route 12A was moved to Connaught Road Central. Fare discounts were simultaneously introduced for non-peak hours.[10] It was moved again to its present terminus at Admiralty (Tamar Street) on 30 June 1994, with the return journey via Queen's Road, Pedder Street and Chater Road.[10] In 1997, the route was rerouted to serve Garden Road cable car stop, with the fare discount scheme discontinued simultaneously.[10] The rerouting was reversed in 2000, with a new special route 12S introduced between Garden Road and Admiralty replacing the deleted sector;[10] route 12S would ultimately be withdrawn on 3 May 2004 due to "route restructuring".[22]

From 1 June 2016 onwards, Citybus implemented a next bus arrival time inquiry system on eight bus routes, including route 12A.[23] On 17 July 2017, an express variant of the route was introduced, running on weekday mornings and skipping Central on the return journey from MacDonnell Road to Admiralty.[24]

Fleet

When route 12A was operated by CMB, the fleet consisted mainly of non-air conditioned double decker Guy Arab V buses.[10]

Following its reintroduction by Citybus, brand new air conditioned Leyland Olympian double deckers were used on the route. This was followed by Volvo B6LE and Dennis Dart single deckers.[25] In 1998, the route started using MAN NL262s, which had a higher capacity than the previous fleet.[26] In 2015, newer Youngman JNP6105GR and JNP6120GR buses were introduced to replace the previous ageing fleet.[27][28]

In September 2024, Citybus announced it was seeking approval from the relevant authorities for the reintroduction of double deckers on route 12A.[20]

  • When Citybus reintroduced route 12A, Leyland Olympian double decker buses were used.
    When Citybus reintroduced route 12A, Leyland Olympian double decker buses were used.
  • The MAN NL262, which had a higher capacity than other single deck buses, was introduced on route 12A in 1998.
    The MAN NL262, which had a higher capacity than other single deck buses, was introduced on route 12A in 1998.

Ridership

According to a Wah Kiu Yat Po report on 23 October 1991, within the first month of route 12A's Citybus operations, the average daily ridership is 1,700, with ridership "steadily rising since mid-September".[21]

The Transport Department (TD) observed the ridership of route 12A at MacDonnell Road on 6 June 2013 during morning peak hours, and found that the average number of passengers on each bus between 08:30 and 09:30 was 25, with 35% occupancy.[29] In a similar survey on 1 June 2022, the average occupancy was at 54%. TD found that while some passengers were unable to get on the bus due to it being full, most were able to board the second bus seven minutes later.[30]

Route 12A serves the MacDonnell Road and Kennedy Road school districts, and is one of the only two bus routes serving housing estates along MacDonnell Road (the other being Hong Kong Island public light bus route 1A). Some commuters have thus criticised that the route is unable to cope with the demand, particularly during school reporting and dismissal hours, and pointed out that route 12A can sometimes have a frequency of over 30 minutes during non-peak hours.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b "城巴官方路線資料：12A" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Citybus. Archived from the original on 2022-09-16. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  2. ^ "麥當奴道巴士 今晨起行車" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Kung Sheung Daily News. 16 December 1961. p. 7. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  3. ^ "在統一碼頭舊站旁 新巴士總站啟用". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 11 September 1972. p. 5. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  4. ^ "多線電車今晚提早收車 九巴六十二號線後日起延長行車線 中巴十二號A取消晚間及假日服務 港島五條專線小巴明天起調整車費" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Ta Kung Pao. 4 September 1982. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  5. ^ "中環巴士總站開始重建 交易廣場總站明啟用 多線巴士將遷移終站 兩處道路列禁區 郵局外停車錶取消" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Ta Kung Pao. 31 January 1985. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  6. ^ "南區中巴多線 下周起作調整 包括四十七線九十M線九十二線等 多線巴士加班及延長服務時間". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 1 March 1985. p. 5. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  7. ^ "麥當奴道巴士 廿六暫停服務". Wah Kiu Yat Po. 23 August 1987. p. 5 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  8. ^ a b 香港島巴士路線與社區發展 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong: Chung Hwa Book Co. 2014. p. 28, 82. ISBN 9789888310067.
  9. ^ "中西區交運會主席稱交通服務不足 麥當奴道至中上環需要提供巴士服務 調查顯示逾萬人次需公共交通服務 城巴計算每日四千五百乘客可維持". Wah Kiu Yat Po. 24 June 1990 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Yung, Stanley (2004). The Development of Hong Kong Island Bus Routes in 20th Century. BSI Hobbies. pp. 70–72. ISBN 9789628414673.
  11. ^ "半山區豪華巴士綫 城巴申請開辦區議會表贊成 冷氣五十座位單程車費三元" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Wah Kiu Yat Po. 6 November 1989 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  12. ^ "經營第三家專利巴士 運輸署未接城巴申請 同辦麥當奴道至中環線邀中巴表態 中巴董事局撥款推行顧問公司建議". Wah Kiu Yat Po (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 20 June 1990. p. 5 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  13. ^ "麥當奴道新巴士線交諮會決公開競投". Wah Kiu Yat Po (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 28 November 1990. p. 1 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  14. ^ "信德至麥當奴道巴士線 將採公開競投方式批出 交諮會已同意 兩巴强烈反對". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 28 November 1990. p. 11.
  15. ^ "容許良性競爭促進巴士服務 中環至麥當奴道巴士線 港府宣布五月招標承辦 中巴昨晚曾商對策暫不作過多評論". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 31 January 1991. p. 11.
  16. ^ "行走中環至麥當奴道 專利巴士綫公開競投 首份合約三年經營權期滿可續約". Wah Kiu Yat Po (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 19 April 1991. p. 5 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  17. ^ "麥當奴道巴士綫 五間公司齊競投 兩專利巴士放棄". Wah Kiu Yat Po. 19 May 1991. p. 3 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  18. ^ a b "麥當奴道專利綫 城巴明日起服務 單程成人票價四元五角 金鐘至上環設分段收費". Wah Kiu Yat Po. 10 September 1991. p. 5 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  19. ^ "由中環至半山麥當奴道 城巴首條專利線昨通車 循環線行走料每日乘客三千多人". Ta Kung Pao. 12 September 1991. p. 10 – via Hong Kong Public Libraries Multimedia Information System.
  20. ^ a b "城巴半山線12A擬重用雙層巴士　正待獲得相關許可". am730. 11 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b c 香港巴士百年蛻變 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong: Chung Hwa Book Co. 2021. p. 187. ISBN 9789888759088.
  22. ^ "城巴取消路線12S服務" (PDF). Citybus (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 30 April 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  23. ^ "城巴增加票價優惠 八條路線新增「Next Bus」實時抵站時間查詢試驗服務" (PDF). Citybus (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 20 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  24. ^ "12A增設上午繁忙時間特快班次" (PDF). Citybus. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2017.
  25. ^ Chan, Arthur (1 July 2019). Citybus 40th Anniversary (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Hong Kong: New Overground Publishing. ISBN 9789887862260.
  26. ^ Yung, Stanley (2009). The Fleet Directory of Hong Kong Buses - Citybus & NWFB. BSI Hobbies. p. 64. ISBN 9789628414857.
  27. ^ Chan, Arthur (2021). The Fleetbook of Hong Kong Buses - Citybus & NWFB. Hong Kong: New Overground Publishing. ISBN 9789887862321.
  28. ^ Yung, Stanley (1 July 2021). The Fleet Directory of Hong Kong Buses: 2021-2022. Hong Kong: BSI Hobbies.
  29. ^ "要求12A巴士特別班次獨立於正常班次時間表" (PDF). Central and Western Council (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 September 2013.
  30. ^ "改善麥當勞道的公共交通服務" (PDF). Central and Western Council. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  31. ^ "改善麥當勞道的公共交通服務" (PDF). Central and Western District Council. 31 May 2022.