KMB's First North Line Route 77 will Open Next Monday, Connecting Fung Wong Leng Estate and Sheung Shui, with a Two-Way Segmented Fare Discount

To support the development of the Northern Metropolis and the upcoming move-in of residents at Fung Wong Leng Estate in Fanling, The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. (“KMB”) announced that it will introduce new Route 77 next Monday (August 17), connecting the new estate with Fanling and Sheung Shui. The route will pass through Luen Wo Hui, Fanling Station Bus-bus Interchange (BBI), Pak Wo Road (Flora Plaza, Fung Ying Seen Koon), and North District Hospital, making it easier for residents to travel and go about their daily business. KMB will also offer a two-way section fare between Fung Wong Leng Estate and Lok Wo Street; eligible passengers can enjoy the fare discount.

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

KMB’s Head of Communications and Public Affairs Kenny Kan said the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, and the HKSAR Government is also pressing ahead with related work. The Kwu Tung North and Fanling North New Development Areas are the first new development areas in the Northern Metropolis to enter the construction stage. Around 55,000 people are expected to move in by the end of next year, with a long-term capacity for about 227,000 new residents. After being selected through a tender exercise conducted by the Transport Department, KMB has become the first bus company to serve the new development areas of the Northern Metropolis. It will operate several routes, with the first Northern Metropolis route, Route 77, entering service next Monday to meet the daily travel needs of residents of the new estate and construction workers during the initial intake period.

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

KMB's Operations Director Kelvin Yeung said the new Route 77 will pass through Luen Wo Hui in Fanling, Fanling Station Bus-bus Interchange (BBI), Pak Wo Road (Flora Plaza, Fung Ying Seen Koon), and the North District Hospital, making it convenient for residents to buy daily necessities and handle various matters. KMB has introduced a two-way section fare between Fung Wong Leng Estate and Lok Wo Street. Passengers can enjoy the fare discount simply by tapping the same Octopus card on the fare reader, or by using the same e-payment tool to validate their journey when boarding and alighting.

KMB announced that it will introduce new Route 77 next Monday (August 17), connecting the new estate with Fanling and Sheung Shui. Photo by Bastille Post

Kelvin Yeung said KMB will operate seven new bus routes in the Kwu Tung North and Fanling North New Development Areas. Two of these will be intra-district routes: the soon-to-be-launched Route 77, and a planned route between Kwu Tung North and Sheung Shui Station. The five external routes will include services between Kwu Tung North and Lam Tin; between Kwu Tung North and Kwai Fong; between Fanling North and Kowloon Bay; between Fanling North and Sham Shui Po; and the new Route 276D, which runs between Sheung Shui (Choi Yuen) and Tin Shui Wai Town Centre via Kwu Tung North.

The new Route 77, Photo by Bastille Post

Asked about KMB’s transport arrangements at the new Huanggang Port, Kelvin Yeung said the overall drill on August 13 went as expected, and KMB exchanged views with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department after the drill. He noted there is still room for improvement in some passenger waiting arrangements and signage. KMB will actively make improvements and continue refining its services during upcoming drills.

KMB announced that it will introduce new Route 77 next Monday (August 17), connecting the new estate with Fanling and Sheung Shui. Photo by Bastille Post

On the recent controversy over air-conditioning on buses, Kenny Kan said that in response to the recent extreme heat, KMB is closely monitoring seasonal changes and temperature fluctuations and is setting cabin temperatures based on the experience of bus captains and passengers. It is now gradually lowering cabin temperatures. As the fleet is large, the adjustments need to be carried out in phases, with the aim of providing passengers with the most comfortable travel experience.

The topping-out ceremony was held by MTR for the Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line, after which the construction project will enter the mechanical and electrical engineering stage, to be finalized in 2027.

Photo source: MTR FB

MTR said that the civil engineering construction of Kwu Tung Station has been almost completed, with all platform screen doors installed. The construction team will continue to make efficient use of the "golden two hours" after the closure of train to advance the interior decoration of the station and the installation of mechanical and electrical building equipment, including elevators and signal systems, etc., as well as test the interconnection between different systems to ensure smooth operation, as to minimize the impact on daily operations.

Photo source: MTR FB

Dr Jacob Kam Chak-pui, the CEO of MTR, said in his speech that the structural engineering of Kwu Tung Station is highly challenging. It's quite hard to build a new station in the tunnel that is still in operation on the East Rail Line. He noted that, over the past two years, the engineering team has showcased close cooperation in maintaining the daily operation of the line and ensuring the safety and smoothness of train operation. The team members' rigorous planning and construction, as well as their extensive application of new technologies, are the important factors that guarantee the project's high quality and its smooth advancement according to the schedule.

Photo source: MTR FB