Adequate public transport for first school day

 The Transport Department said today (August 30) that public transport services would be adequate to meet an upsurge in transport demand on the first school day on Monday (September 3).    

     "Major transport operators have again been reminded to have standby buses and ferries to meet an upsurge in transport demand on the commencement of the new school term.  Nanny van and school bus operators are also reminded to liaise with parents and schools for conveyance of students to and from schools, pay attention to traffic conditions and drive carefully," a spokesman for the department said.

     On Monday, the Department's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) would closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services. There would be close liaison between the relevant Government departments and major public transport operators. Transport Department staff would be deployed at various locations over the territory to observe and provide on site information to the co-ordination centre.

     The spokesman reminded students to familiarise themselves with the public transport routes to be taken and the traffic routing to school and allow more time for travel on the first school day, especially if they were attending a new school this term.

    Students living on the outlying islands or attending schools on the outlying islands are advised to check the ferry schedules and the vessel types to be used on their intended ferry trips beforehand.

     Bus companies had been asked to reserve some standby buses for areas where there may be high student demand in the morning peak period to meet the contingency needs, the spokesman said.

     "Cross-harbour tunnel traffic is likely to become busier compared with the August situation and motorists are advised to allow more time for their trips in particular cross-harbour trips during the morning peak hours."

     The spokesman said major government works departments had been requested to avoid starting repair or utility works as far as possible on roads leading to major school areas on the new school term commencement dates. In addition, traffic police had been requested to monitor those road junctions or sections which were expected to suffer traffic congestion during school hours.

     "In view of the possible congestion in school areas, motorists should not travel to these areas if possible. They should familiarise themselves with the routings and avoid prolonged kerbside activities if they have to go to these areas," the spokesman said.    

     The department also advised people to pay attention to announcement of radio and TV stations for the latest transport and traffic news before leaving home. For enquiries please call the department's hotline 2804 2600.

     For enquiries on bus and ferry schedules, people can call the following hotlines or visit the websites of the major public transport operators:

Operator                     Hotline                               Website
--------                           -------                                  -------

New World                 2136 8888                    www.nwfb.com.hk
First Bus

CityBus                       2873 0818                     www.citybus.com.hk

Kowloon                     2745 4466                      www.kmb.com.hk
Motor Bus
and Long Win Bus

New Lantao                 2984 9848                     www.newlantaobus.com
Bus

New World                  2131 8181                     www.nwff.com.hk
First Ferry

Hong Kong                    2815 6063                       www.hkkf.com.hk
and Kowloon Ferry

Ends/Thursday, August 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:31