Citybus (Hong Kong)

Citybus was founded on 5 August 1979 by former China Motor Bus employee Lyndon Rees with one Volvo B55 double deck bus, providing a shuttle service for the Hong Kong United Dockyard in Hung Hom. In 1981, it commenced operating a residential bus route between City One Shatin and Kowloon Tong MTR station.[5] In 1982, the United Transport group purchased a 49% shareholding.[6][7]

In 1984, Citybus began a cross-boundary coach service between Hong Kong and Shenzhen with ex National Trabel West and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive Eastern Coach Works bodied Leyland Olympians. In 1985, the company introduced five air-conditioned Olympian coaches. Since then it has continued to expand its fleet of air-conditioned buses.[7]

In the late 1980s, Citybus was purchased by Tsui Tsin-tong's CNT Group. It commenced operating residential bus services with 100 new Olympians linking housing estates to MTR stations.[7]

In December 1990, Citybus launched Capital Citybus in London with an all-yellow livery for the routes in North and East London and a red and yellow livery for central London.[8][9] This was sold to FirstGroup in July 1998 and renamed First Capital.[10][11][12]

In 1991, the Hong Kong Government awarded Citybus its first franchised route, 12A (Admiralty Tamar Street to Macdonnell Road) on Hong Kong Island, which was originally operated by China Motor Bus and then withdrawn in the 1980s.[7]

In September 1993, Citybus took over 26 franchised routes from China Motor Bus after winning a competitive tender. These were branded as Network 26. To operate these a fleet of 101 Leyland Atlanteans was purchased from Singapore Bus Service. A further 14 franchised routes were awarded to the company in 1995 without tendering, with the fleet now expanded to more than 500 buses. During these years Citybus expanded its penetration of the Hong Kong Island market pushing nearly all China Motor Bus routes into low profitability.[5][7]

In 1996, with the Tsing Ma Bridge coming into operation and commencement of settlement in the Tung Chung new town, Citybus won another tender to operate 13 new franchised routes serving Tung Chung and the new Hong Kong International Airport. In 1998 the airport Cityflyer service commenced, which is part of Citybus and is solely used for Airport express routes to the city. The Cityflyer service consisted of a series of four routes: A11, A12, A21 and A22, with A10 being added in 2006. Citybus also operates various Overnight Airport routes and Airport Shuttle Routes.[5]

In 1998, following the expiry of the franchise of China Motor Bus, a further 12 routes were transferred to Citybus. Citybus's fleet was up to 1,100 buses.[5] The remaining routes of China Motor Bus were transferred to a new operator, New World First Bus.

Its business was expanded into mainland China with a joint venture operation in Beijing through Citybus (China) Limited. It was not only Beijing's first joint venture bus operation, but it also marked the introduction of air-conditioned buses for the first time in the capital city. Following the success of this route, a second urban express coach route was introduced in Beijing. However, the services in Beijing were terminated shortly after the disposal of shares of Citybus (China) Limited from Citybus to Kingsman Global Limited, another Hong Kong company, in June 2004. Citybus had also once operated a route (route 658) in Tianjin. The service is now operated by another company after Citybus disposed all its interest in Citybus (China) Limited.

In July 1999, Citybus was purchased by Stagecoach Group of Scotland.[5][13] In 2001, the cross-boundary coach service between China and Hong Kong was discontinued.

In June 2003, Stagecoach Group sold Citybus to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, the parent company of the major rival operator New World First Bus.[14][15] And after a series of restructurings, Citybus became a subsidiary of NWS Holdings, which was also the parent company of New World First Bus and New World First Ferry.[5]

In August 2020, Citybus was sold to private equity firm Templewater Bravo.[16][17]

As of 2015 Citybus operates 108 routes.[3]

It currently operates two franchises:

• Franchise 1: 1 July 2006 – 31 May 2016,[18] already extended for another 10 years starting 1 June 2016
• Franchise 2: 1 May 2013 – 30 April 2023[19]

As at 2015, the fleet consisted of 981 buses.[3] Most buses are from British manufacturers (such as Alexander Dennis) or European busmakers (such as Volvo Buses), but CityBus has ordered five single deck K9R buses from Chinese manufacturers like BYD Auto[20] as well as Youngman JNP6120GR (based on Neoplan).

Operation Department One

• Chai Wan (CWD) – 38 Sheung on Street
• Wong Chuk Hang (WCD) – Next to Aberdeen Police Office
• Ocean Park (OPD) -Next to Ocean Park MTR Station

Operation Department Two

• West Kowloon (WKD) – Hing Wah Street West off West Kowloon Highway
• Siu Ho Wan (SHD) – Sham Fung Road off North Lantau Expressway
• Tuen Mun (TMD) – Hoi Wong Road near Tuen Mun Swimming Pool LR Stop
• Tung Chung (TCD) – Opposite to Yat Tung Estate

• 
  Youngman JNP6120GR on Route 11
• 
  Volvo B9TL 11.3m on Route 75
• 
  Alexander Dennis Enviro400
• 
  Alexander Dennis Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC
• 
  Enviro500 MMC in 1979 retro livery
• 
  Cityflyer Alexander Dennis Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC
• 
  Route map of Cityflyer airport services
• 
  Citybus bus stop

• Media related to Citybus (Hong Kong) at Wikimedia Commons
• Citybus and New World First Bus Company website
• Bus Fan World
• A Chinese news report on the termination of Citybus's service in Beijing