New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) is the third-largest bus operator in Hong Kong. Established by
NWS Holdings
NWS Holdings Limited () is the conglomerate flagship of New World Development. It was established in 2002 when its predecessor, Pacific Ports Company Limited, acquired New World Services Limited from New World Development and the infrastructure ...
and
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.China Motor Bus
The China Motor Bus Company, Limited (), often abbreviated as CMB, is a property developer in Hong Kong. Before its franchise lapsed in 1998, it was the first motor bus operator in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-d ...
services in Hong Kong Island. Since 2020 it has been a subsidiary of
Bravo Transport
Bravo Transport Services Limited (), simply Bravo Transport is a Hong Kong public transport company, which owns two of the city's bus operators Citybus and New World First Bus. Another subsidiary, Bravo Media, is the agency for the company's ext ...
which also owns Citybus. The NWFB brand will be retired on 30 June 2023 with operations merged into Citybus.
History
Before NWFB was established, franchised bus service in Hong Kong Island was provided by
China Motor Bus
The China Motor Bus Company, Limited (), often abbreviated as CMB, is a property developer in Hong Kong. Before its franchise lapsed in 1998, it was the first motor bus operator in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-d ...
(CMB) (franchisee since 1933) and Citybus (franchisee since 1991). In the early 1990s, the service levels of CMB were in decline. Therefore, the Government of Hong Kong started to introduce new competitors by transferring the franchise of CMB routes to other companies. As a result, Citybus became the second franchisee of the bus service on Hong Kong Island. Over 40 routes were transferred between 1991 and 1995.
In spite of the loss of many profitable routes, the service of CMB did not show any significant improvement. In February 1998, the government announced the franchise for all 140 routes operated by CMB would not be reviewed when it expired 31 August that year. Eighty-eight of the routes were placed to open tender, 12 routes were transferred directly to Citybus, one cross-harbour route to
Kowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) is a bus company operating franchised services in Hong Kong. It is the largest bus company in Hong Kong by fleet size and number of bus routes. It is a subsidiary of Transport International.
...
, and the remaining routes were cancelled.
Six companies lodged bids:
* Affluent Dragon Island Limited
**
China Motor Bus
The China Motor Bus Company, Limited (), often abbreviated as CMB, is a property developer in Hong Kong. Before its franchise lapsed in 1998, it was the first motor bus operator in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-d ...
(50%)
** Stagecoach Group () (50%)
* Argos Bus
** Argos Enterprise (Holdings) () (50%)
** HKR International (50%)
* Hong Kong Public Bus Co Limited
** Dah Chong Hong ()(70%)
** Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings () (30%)
* Hong Kong United Bus Limited
** Citybus Group (35%)
**
Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings
CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI), is the largest publicly listed infrastructure company in Hong Kong with diversified investments in energy infrastructure, transportation Infrastructure, water Infrastructure and infrastructure related ...
() (35%)
** China Travel International Investment Hong Kong () (25%)
** CNT Group () (5%)
* Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings ()
* New World First Bus
**
NWS Holdings
NWS Holdings Limited () is the conglomerate flagship of New World Development. It was established in 2002 when its predecessor, Pacific Ports Company Limited, acquired New World Services Limited from New World Development and the infrastructure ...
() (74%)
**
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.dark horse as it was the only bidder with no local bus operation experience. However, New World First Holdings was awarded a five-year franchise in March 1998 with commitments of new facilities, improved service standards and employment of CMB staff. During the handover in mid-1998, NWFB faced a lot of difficulties since CMB was reluctant to cooperate. NWFB commenced operating at midnight on 1 September 1998 after a series of negotiations and with help from the government. However NWFB had already started its operation of other non-overnight routes at midnight as CMB refused to operate after that time.Panel on Transport (Papers) Legislative Council Panel on Transport 31 July 1998
NWFB commenced operations with around 50 new buses and 710 former CMB buses, with the NWFB logo applied over the CMB logos and blue patches over the CMB corporate flag. Having purchased large numbers of second-hand buses from CMB, NWFB started an extensive program to refurbish them. The floor, handrails, lighting system and seating layout were all upgraded. The seating layout was changed from 3+2 to 2+2, making a typical refurbished bus accommodate 10 fewer passengers than one before refurbishment. Most of the non-air-conditioned buses from CMB were withdrawn prematurely in favour of more new buses.
In May 2000
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.New World Development
New World Development Company Limited (NWD), is a Hong Kong-based company focused on property, hotels, infrastructure and services and department stores. It was established on 29 May 1970 by Cheng Yu-tung. The company is publicly listed on the ...
NWS Holdings
NWS Holdings Limited () is the conglomerate flagship of New World Development. It was established in 2002 when its predecessor, Pacific Ports Company Limited, acquired New World Services Limited from New World Development and the infrastructure ...
In June 2003 fellow franchised bus operator Citybus was purchased by NWFB parent company
NWS Holdings
NWS Holdings Limited () is the conglomerate flagship of New World Development. It was established in 2002 when its predecessor, Pacific Ports Company Limited, acquired New World Services Limited from New World Development and the infrastructure ...
, bringing the bus services of Hong Kong Island once again under control of a single organisation. Before the acquisition, many of the two companies' competing routes overlap each other. In order to make better use of company resources, many routes were reshuffled. Redundant routes were cancelled, and Octopus card bus-bus interchange discounts were introduced between routes of both companies.
In January 2004 NWFB took a 51% shareholding in Kunming New World First Bus, a
joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and economic risk, risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four rea ...
established with the Kunming government to operate services to Kunming in
Yunnan
Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...
on 39 routes with 700 buses.
In August 2020, along with Citybus, NWFB was sold to the
Bravo Transport
Bravo Transport Services Limited (), simply Bravo Transport is a Hong Kong public transport company, which owns two of the city's bus operators Citybus and New World First Bus. Another subsidiary, Bravo Media, is the agency for the company's ext ...
consortium, made up of private equity firm Templewater Bravo, Hong Kong-listed investment holding company Hans Energy and Ascendal Group.
In July 2022, Bravo Transport announced that it would be retiring the NWFB brand, with operations to be merged into Citybus when the next franchise commences on 1 July 2023.
China Motor Bus
The China Motor Bus Company, Limited (), often abbreviated as CMB, is a property developer in Hong Kong. Before its franchise lapsed in 1998, it was the first motor bus operator in Hong Kong, and was responsible for the introduction of double-d ...
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
R bodied
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by Leyland between 1980 and 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production.
Construction
The Olympian had the same chassis and running gear as t ...
at
Shau Kei Wan
Shau Kei Wan or Shaukiwan is a neighborhood in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island. The area is bordered by Chai Wan to the east, Mount Parker to the south, Sai Wan Ho to the west, and Victoria Harbour to the north.
Shau Kei Wan is cons ...
File:NWFBNeoplanWthWavyLivery.png, Neoplan Centroliner painted in the standard wavy livery
File:VA-NWFB.JPG, Refurbished
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
R bodied
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engined 2-axle and 3-axle double decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo at its Irvine, Scotland factory. The first was built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian.
History ...
in
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is an area and a bay on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, straddling the border of the Eastern and the Wan Chai districts. It is a major shopping, leisure and cultural centre in Hong Kong, with a number of major shopping centres. Th ...
in November 2005
File:DennisPlaxton.JPG, Plaxton Pointer bodied
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, England in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, In 1996 the low-floor seco ...
SLF in November 2005
File:EZ7136.jpg, Carlyle bodied
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, England in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, In 1996 the low-floor seco ...
File:NWFB&CMB-VAs.jpg, Second-handed
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
R bodied
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engined 2-axle and 3-axle double decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo at its Irvine, Scotland factory. The first was built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian.
History ...
, one in CMB livery, other repainted in NWFB livery at
Chai Wan
Chai Wan (; ), formerly known as Sai Wan (西灣), lies at the east end of the urban area of Hong Kong Island next to Shau Kei Wan. The area is administratively part of the Eastern District, and is a mosaic of industrial and residential are ...
in August 1999
File:Nwfb dennis condor 11m.JPG,
Duple Metsec
Duple Metsec was a bus bodywork builder based in West Midlands of England in the United Kingdom. It usually supplied body kits for bus assembly overseas.
It was originated from the bus body manufacturing business of Metal Sections, know ...
bodied Dennis Condor
File:NWFB Leyland Olympian 11m.JPG,
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
R bodied
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by Leyland between 1980 and 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production.
Construction
The Olympian had the same chassis and running gear as t ...
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
R bodied
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engined 2-axle and 3-axle double decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo at its Irvine, Scotland factory. The first was built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian.
History ...
in October 2009
File:ADL-Enviro500MMC-NWFB.JPG,
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC
The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC (sold as the Alexander Dennis Enviro500) is a low-floor, three-axle double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis since 2012, replacing the Alexander Dennis Enviro500. The Enviro500 ...
, introduced in 2013.
File:NWFBTrident 3326.jpg, Interior of a NWFB Dennis Trident 3 fitted out to
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.New Kowloon
New Kowloon is an area in Hong Kong, bounded in the south by Boundary Street, and in the north by the ranges of the Eagle's Nest, Beacon Hill, Lion Rock, Tate's Cairn and Kowloon Peak. It covers the present-day Kwun Tong District and Wong T ...
Development Area and
Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O New Town is one of the nine new towns in Hong Kong, built mainly on reclaimed land in the northern half of Junk Bay (known as Tseung Kwan O in Chinese/Cantonese language) in southeastern New Territories, after which it is named ...
. On the bus stop signs, different types of routes are distinguished by different colours. As at November 2013 NWFB operates 51 routes. As it is also the second bus operator to be fully air-conditioned fleet in Hong Kong, triple digit routes beginning with 5 do not have significant meaning. In October 2009, NWFB commenced operating through its Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus subsidiary.New World First Bus Hong Kong Transport Department
See also
*
List of bus routes in Hong Kong
The following is a list of current franchised bus routes in Hong Kong, sorted according to bus companies. All current franchised bus routes are operated by air-conditioned buses only and fares are paid through flat fares. Note that Hong Kong Isla ...
*
List of Hong Kong companies
Hong Kong is an autonomous territory of the People's Republic of China on the Pearl River Delta of East Asia. Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consiste ...
*
New World Development
New World Development Company Limited (NWD), is a Hong Kong-based company focused on property, hotels, infrastructure and services and department stores. It was established on 29 May 1970 by Cheng Yu-tung. The company is publicly listed on the ...
Transportation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. Based on Hong Kong Government's Travel Characteristics Survey, over 90% of the daily journeys are on public transport, the h ...