The Kowloon Urban Bus Route 18 is operated by Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB). It runs circular between Cheung Sha Wan (Hoi Tat Estate) and Oi Man, via MTR Nam Cheong Station, Sham Shui Po (Lai Chi Kok Road→/Hai Tan Street←), Tai Kok Tsui and Mong Kok.
As KMB's first circular route, Route 18 has been travelling in Kowloon West for more than 40 years and has never been interrupted. Currently, it observes Ho Man Tin Estate, Fat Kwong Street southbound, Chung Hau Street northbound (MTR Ho Man Tin Station, Oi Man Estate, Chun Man Court) in order within Ho Man Tin and then turns back to Cheung Sha Wan.
History[]
Initial Period of Service[]
- 1 August 1975: Route 18 was put into service, running circular between Oi Man and Ho Man Tin from Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier.[1]
- 18 February 1976: In conjunction with the construction of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), service was diverted via Tung Choi Street instead of Nathan Road when heading towards Oi Man.
- 25 April 1978: In conjunction with the construction of the West Kowloon Corridor, the route was diverted via Pok Man Street, Tai Kok Tsui Road, Cherry Street, Beech Street and Anchor Street when heading towards Oi Man.[2]
- 29 August 1978: Diverted to Princess Margaret Road via Waterloo Road, Pui Ching Road and Sheung Hing Street when heading towards Oi Man.[3]
- 21 December 1979: Diverted via Sai Yeung Choi Street South, omitting Tung Choi Street for Oi Man direction.
- 28 September 1983: Circular operation was cancelled and the route was extended from Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier to Mei Foo (Lai Chi Kok (Bridge)) (renamed Mei Foo from 31 May 1985 onwards).
- After reaching Pui Ching Road in the direction of Oi Man, the route was diverted via Fat Kwong Street, Sheung Shing Street, Sheung Fu Street, Fat Kwong Street and Chung Hau Street southbound (Chun Man Court), no longer observing Princess Margaret Road and Chung Man Street.
- 21 May 1990: Truncated from Mei Foo to Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier:[4]
- The fare was reduced from $2.0 to $1.7, and the headways remain unchanged;
- A new bus stop at Yen Chow Street near Tung Chau Street for Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier direction was added; whereas new bus stops at Yen Chow Street near Yee Kuk Street, Cherry Street opposite to Ming Kei College and Shanghai Street opposite to No.629 for Oi Man direction;
- No longer observed Cheung Sha Wan Road and Yen Chow Street (near Barracks) for Oi Man direction.
- 15 July 1991: After departing from Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier, the route was changed to turn right at Yen Chow Street directly to Lai Chi Kok Road without passing through Yee Kuk Street.
- 22 October 1991: After reaching Lai Chi Kok Road in the direction of Oi Man, the route was changed to go to Tai Kok Tsui Road via Nam Cheong Street and Tung Chau Street without going through Boundary Street.
- 17 June 1992: After departing from Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier and heading for Yen Chow Street, the route resumed observing Yee Kuk Street and omitted Lai Chi Kok Road.
- 25 September 1992: To tie in with the change of Shanghai Street to one-way southbound towards, the route resumed via Reclamation Street to Mong Kok Road after reaching Argyle Street for Oi Man direction.
- 7 February 1993: Resumed circular operation and the routing was modified:
- Change to operate from Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier and turned back at Oi Man, omitting Valley Road Estate.
- 27 March 1994: The routing within Ho Man Tin was modified:
- After arriving Fat Kwong Street in the direction of Oi Man, the route would go straight to Valley Road Estate and turn right to Chung Hau Street (northbound), then turn back to the original routing;
- The circular point of "Oi Man" was changed to Oi Man Estate opposite to Oi Man Bus Terminus.
- 4 August 1997: To tie in with the section of Tai Kok Tsui Road between Tung Chau Street and Boundary Street being changed to one-way southbound, the route was diverted via Chui Yu Road and Nam Cheong Street to Hai Tan Street for Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier direction.
- 7 March 1999: In conjunction with the permanent decommissioning of Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier, the terminus was relocated to Sham Shui Po (Tonkin Street).[5]
- 1 June 1999: The route resumed observing Lai Chi Kok Road after arriving Yen Chow Street for Oi Man direction, omitting Yee Kuk Street.
After the Millenium[]
- 23 June 2002: Upgraded to full air-conditioned service.[6]
- 29 June 2003: To tie in with the opening of the newly completed Ho Man Tin Estate Public Transport Interchange, the route no longer observed Sheung Shing Street when going to Oi Man, and no longer observed Sheung Fu Street, Sheung Shing Street and Ho Man Tin Estate Public Transport Interchange when going to Sham Shui Po.[7]
- 16 November 2002: Bus-Bus Interchanges (BBIs) with various New Territories Bus Routes were introduced.
- 16 November 2003: The terminus was relocated from Sham Shui Po (Tonkin Street) to Nam Cheong Station to tie in with the imminent commissioning of the KCR West Rail (now the Tuen Mun to Nam Cheong section of the MTR Tuen Ma Line).[8]
- 20 December 2003: A $1.0 Octopus Interchange Concession with KCR West Rail was introduced until 31 May 2005.[9][10]
- 14 March 2004: Omitted Sai Yeung Choi Street South when go to Oi Man, and was via Sai Yee Street to Argyle Street; the bus stop originally located at Sai Yeung Choi Street South was relocated to Mong Kok Road.[11]
- 29 September 2012: The terminus was relocated back to Sham Shui Po (Tonkin Street) to tie in with the permanent closure of the Nam Cheong Station Public Transport Interchange for property development above the station.[12][13]
- 17 March 2013: A new bus stop was added at Sham Mong Road near Tonkin Street West for Sham Shui Po bound.[14]
- 5 September 2015: Estimated Time of Arrival Enquiry System was introduced on this route.
- 6 October 2016: The terminus was relocated from Sham Shui Po (Tonkin Street) to Cheung Sha Wan (Sham Mong Road) to tie in with the decommissioning of the former due to the construction of the public housing development at Site 6, North West Kowloon Reclamation.[15][16]
- The route would return to the original routing at Sham Mong Road via Hing Wah Street West, Lin Cheung Road and Tonkin Street West when leaving the new terminus towards Oi Man.
- 14 October 2016: The "Chung Hau Street" bus stop was cancelled and changed to call at "Ho Man Tin Station" stop when going to Cheung Sha Wan.[17]
- 9 July 2017: The original stop at Ho Man Tin Bus Terminus was relocated to a new lay-by at Sheung Fu Street westbound near One Homantin when going to Oi Man.[18]
- 23 April 2023: The Cheung Sha Wan terminus was relocated from Sham Mong Road to the new Hoi Tat Public Transport Interchange; the stop at "Tonkin Street West" on Sham Mong Road was cancelled for Cheung Sha Wan direction.[19][20]
Historical route information[]
Details of the past service hours and headways, fares and other route information of this route are set out in the "Historical route information" sub-page of this article.
Service Hours and Headways[]
The latest update is on 4/2023, please refer to the link below for the official route information.
| from Cheung Sha Wan (Hoi Tat Estate) | |
|---|---|
| Service Hours | Headways (mins) |
| Mondays to Fridays | |
| 06:00 - 06:30 | 30 |
| 06:30 - 08:10 | 25 |
| 08:10 - 17:40 | 30 |
| 17:40 - 18:20 | 20 |
| 18:20 - 21:20 | 30 |
| 21:20 - 23:20 | 40 |
| Saturdays | |
| 06:00 - 06:50 | 25 |
| 06:50 - 07:30 | 20 |
| 07:30 - 18:20 | 25 |
| 18:20 - 21:20 | 30 |
| 21:20 - 23:20 | 40 |
| Sundays and Public Holidays | |
| 06:00 - 06:30 | 30 |
| 06:30 - 08:10 | 25 |
| 08:10 - 10:40 | 30 |
| 10:40 - 13:10 | 25 |
| 13:10 - 20:40 | 30 |
| 20:40 - 23:20 | 40 |
| Detailed Departure Timetable |
|---|
|
KMB Route 18/Detailed Timetable |
- This route provides Estimated Time of Arrival Enquiry Service.
Fares[]
| Journey/Boarding Stop | Air-conditioned Fare |
|---|---|
| Full Fare | $5.2 |
| Fare Remarks |
|---|
|
Bus-Bus Interchange Concessions[]
Passengers using the same Octopus card to interchange to the designated route after this route within a specific time, or transfer from the designated route to this route can enjoy an interchange concession. The details are as follows: (Half discount for children and senior citizens.) Template:KMB Route 18 BBI Concession Scheme
LWB A Routes and KMB Interchange Concession Scheme[]
| LWB Airport Routes ("A Routes") and KMB Interchange Concession Scheme | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st leg | Direction | 2nd leg | Direction | Discount for 2nd leg | Time limit |
| A30, A31, A32, A33, A33X, A34, A36, A37, A38, A41, A41P, A42, A43, A43P *, A46, A47X | to Urban | KMB Solely-operated Routes | Any | $6.0 or Actual Fare of KMB leg (Ones with lower fare comes first) |
120mins |
| KMB Solely-operated routes | Any | A30, A31, A32, A33, A33X, A34, A36, A37, A38, A41, A41P, A42, A43, A43P *, A46, A47X | to Airport | ||
|
Note:
＊: For interchanging from KMB Route B1 (Tin Tsz direction) to LWB Route A43P ( Airport direction), the actual fare paid for the first journey will be refunded for the next journey, except that the interchange concession cannot be enjoyed for the first journey of Route B1, otherwise, only the normal (i.e. maximum $6.0) interchange concession will be offered; for interchange from LWB Route A43P (Luen Wo Hui direction) to KMB Route B1 (Lok Ma Chau direction), passengers will be offered a free interchange concession for the second journey, but no interchange discount will be offered for the first journey of route A43P and no other interchange concession will be offered for route B1 thereafter. This special offer is not applicable to other LWB A routes (including Routes A36, A37 and A43). | |||||
Bus Deployments[]
A total of 4 double-decker buses are allocated as scheduled buses of this route, with the model allocation as follows:
- 3 Enviro500 MMC 12m (ATENU)
- 1 Volvo B9TL 12m (AVBWU)
Also, there will be order shifts running on this route from Routes 12A and 118.
| List of buses on Route 18 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fleet No. | Plate No. | Depot |
| ATENU529 | TK7298 | Lai Chi Kok Depot (L) |
| ATENU690 | TR372 | |
| ATENU759 | TS8156 | |
| AVBWU433 | TS9880 | |
The above list of scheduled buses are as of August 2023, forwarded from hk2007.buscess website (Chinese only). The above buses might not be listed according to running orders.
The related content is for reference only and will be updated according to fleet changes (check update list). To check scheduled bus changes, refer to detailed information on hk2007.buscess website.2823
Bus Deployment Evolution History[]
| Bus Deployment Evolution History of KMB Route 18 |
|---|
|
Due to the road condition of Sheung Foo Street, this route could only be served by buses of 11 metres long or less in the early days. The route was operated by Leyland Olympian9.6m (BL) and Dennis Dominator (DM) in the late 1980s (when Mei Foo was the terminus), and was switched to use Leyland Victory II (G) after truncating to Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier in 1990. After the decommissioning of Leyland Victory II in 1997, the service of Leyland Olympian 9.6m (BL) and Dennis Dominator (DM) on this route was resumed. This route was converted to fully air-conditioned service in June 2002. Initially, low capacity Mitsubishi MK single-decker buses were deployed throughout the route, making it difficult for passengers to board the buses at the intermediate stops, and then one month later, Dennis Dragon9.9m (ADS) and two brand new Dennis Tridents 10.6m (ATS133/KR2110 and ATS134/KR2278) double-decker air-conditioned buses were deployed. After the lifting of the vehicle restriction in 2010, this route was replaced by the original short-bodied double-deck buses with high-capacity 11 and 12 metre buses, using Volvo Olympian 11m (AV) and Volvo Super Olympian12m (3ASV). In 2011, Dennis Trident12m (ATR) was deployed to replace Volvo Super Olympians, and Volvo B7RLE 12m (AVC) was added to this route in March of the same year. 2012 onwards, straight ladder buses were added to the fleet (Volvo Super Olympian12m (AVW) and Enviro500 12m (ATE)), with the former having been withdrawn). In 2015, the Volvo Super Olympian10.6m (ASV) was reassigned to replace the 12m version of the same model (AVW) with Wright Explorer bodywork, and a Volvo Olympian 11m (AV) rejoined this route in September of the same year. In December of the same year, the Enviro500 12 metre (ATE) was reintroduced to this route. At the end of the same month, one Enviro500 MMC 12m (ATENU) was added to the route as this route's special shift running order needs to run on other low-emission routes at midday (i.e. it has to pass through low-emission zones). In January 2016, 2 Volvo Super Olympian 10.6m (ASV, withdrawn)buses were added again to replace 2 Enviro500 12m (ATE). In April of the same year, 2 Volvo B9TL 12m (AVBE) buses were added to the service, resulting in a full route having an entirely straight-staircase fleet. In July 2020, Enviro500 MMC (ATENU) buses replaced the original scheduled buses. In April 2023, Volvo B9TL 12m (AVBWU, withdrawn) joined this route. |
Routing[]
- AM: The distance of this route is approx. 14.2km, and the journey time is approximately 100mins. (The average speed is 8.5km/h.)
- PM: The distance of this route is approx. 14.2km, and the journey time is approximately 110mins. (The average speed is 7.7km/h.)
Via: Hoi Tat Street, Sham Mong Road, Yen Chow Street West, Yen Chow Street, Lai Chi Kok Road, Nam Cheong Street, Tung Chau Street, Tai Kok Tsui Road, Cherry Street, Argyle Street, Reclamation Street, Mong Kok Road, Sai Yee Street, Argyle Street, Waterloo Road, Pui Ching Road, Fat Kwong Street, Sheung Foo Street, Ho Man Tin Bus Terminus, Sheung Foo Street, Fat Kwong Street, Chung Hau Street, Fat Kwong Street, Pui Ching Road, Waterloo Road, Argyle Street, Cherry Street, Tai Kok Tsui Road, Chui Yu Road, Nam Cheong Street, Hai Tan Street, Yen Chow Street, Yen Chow Street West, Sham Mong Road and Hoi Tat Street
| Kowloon Motor Bus Route 18 (Cheung Sha Wan (Hoi Tat Estate) ↺ Oi Man） | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Area | Road | Bus Stop Name | Remarks |
| 1 | Sham Shui Po West | Cheung Sha Wan (Hoi Tat Estate) Bus Terminus | ||
| 2 | Sham Mong Road | Fu Cheong Estate  |
||
| 3 | Sham Shui Po | Yen Chow Street | Nam Cheong Estate | |
| 4 | Yee Kuk Street Sham Shui Po | |||
| 5 | Lai Chi Kok Road | Pei Ho Street Sham Shui Po | ||
| 6 | Nam Cheong Street | Sham Shui Po Public Dispensary | ||
| 7 | Tai Kok Tsui | Tai Kok Tsui Road | Larch Street Sitting-out Area | |
| 8 | New Kowloon Plaza | |||
| 9 | Cherry Street | Ming Kei College | ||
| 10 | Mong Kok | Reclamation Street | Reclamation Street | |
| 11 | Mong Kok Road | Mong Kok Road |
||
| 12 | Ho Man Tin | Argyle Street | Kadoorie Avenue | |
| 13 | CLP Power Argyle Street | |||
| 14 | Waterloo Road | Man Kee Mansion | ||
| 15 | Pui Ching Road | Pui Ching Middle School | ||
| 16 | Sheung Foo Street | Ho Man Tin Bus Terminus | ||
| 17 | Homantin Plaza | |||
| 18 | Fat Kwong Street | Sheung Lok Street | ||
| 19 | Ho Man Tin Station |
|||
| 20 | Chung Hau Street | Carmel Secondary School | ||
| 21 | Ho Man Tin (Oi Man Street) | Circular route return point | ||
| 22 | Chung Man Street | |||
| 23 | Cascades | |||
| 24 | Fat Kwong Street | Housing Authority Building | ||
| 25 | Hong Kong Metropolitan University | |||
| 26 | Waterloo Road | Metropark Hotel Kowloon | ||
| 27 | Argyle Street | Yee On Court | ||
| 28 | Peace Avenue | |||
| 29 | Mong Kok | Mong Kok Station |
||
| 30 | Mongkok Market Complex | |||
| 31 | Tai Kok Tsui | Cherry Street | Ming Kei College | |
| 32 | Tai Kok Tsui Road | Foo Kwai Street | ||
| 33 | Cosmopolitan Estate | |||
| 34 | Fuk Lee Street | |||
| 35 | Sham Shui Po | Hai Tan Street | Nam Cheong Street Sham Shui Po | |
| 36 | Kweilin Street Sham Shui Po | |||
| 37 | Yen Chow Street | Tung Chau Street Park | ||
| 38 | Sham Shui Po West | Sham Mong Road | Fu Cheong Estate |
|
| 39 | Cheung Sha Wan (Hoi Tat Estate) Bus Terminus | |||
Ridership[]
The frequency of Route 18 is low and it faces competition from red and green minibuses. According to the Transport Department's reply to the Kowloon City District Council, the patronage of this route during non-peak hours is less than 30%.[21]
According to the District Council papers and other information, the ridership of this route is as follows:
- 1993: The peak hour occupancy rate was less than 50% and the off-peak occupancy rate was on average less than 25%.
- After the commissioning of the Kwun Tong Line Extension: The average occupancy rate for the busiest half hour increased from 64% in January to March 2016 to 75% in November 2016[22]
- 2018: With the implementation of the new timetable, the peak hour patronage ranges from 23-57% and off-peak patronage ranges from 8-50%.[23]
Related Incidents[]
- 27 August 2006: Upon arrival at Nam Cheong Station, a seat on the left side of the upper deck of a Volvo Super Olympian (ASV50/KU5862) running on this route caught fire. The driver extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher, but he felt unwell after inhaling smoke while putting out the fire and had to be sent to hospital.[24][25]
- 26 June 2020: At around 7:00a.m., a Dennis Trident (ATS133/KR2110) on this route crashed into the rear of a Volvo B9TL (AVBWU532/UV2794) on KMB Route 12A heading towards Whampoa Garden, with three primary school students on board of the former being sent to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.[26]
Gallery[]
Remarks[]
Related Articles[]
- Citybus Route 701
- PLB Ho Man Tin - Mong Kok Route
- PLB Ho Man Tin Estate - Mong Kok Route
- Kowloon GMB Route 27M
References[]
- ↑ 九巴由八一起 增設十八號綫 (KMB to introduce Route 18 from 1 August), Wah Kiu Yat Po, 30 July 1975.
- ↑ Transport Department Announcement: Transportation measures for the Tai Kok Tsui, posted on Wah Kiu Yat Po, 24 Apr 1978.
- ↑ 九巴18號路綫 廿九日起更改 (KMB Route 18 to be diverted from 29 August onwards), Sing Tao Daily, 26 August 1978.
- ↑ 九巴十八號改行車路線 (KMB Route 18 routing amended), Wah Kiu Yat Po, 20 May 1990.
- ↑ 巴士新聞（1999年3月） (Bus News (March 1999)), bustop.info.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "Summary on the Bus Service Enhancement in June 2002" [News Release].
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "[https://web.archive.org/web/20030728083823/http://www.kmb.com.hk/english.php?page=next&file=news/service/news2q03/news2003062501.html Bus Terminus Relocation of Route 109 Ho Man Tin - Central (Macau Ferry Piers)]" [News Release], 25 June 2003.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "The Opening of Nam Cheong Station Bus Terminus" [News Release].
- ↑ Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, "西鐵乘客享用轉乘優惠" (WR Passengers can Enjoy Interchange Concessions) [News Release], 10 December 2003.
- ↑ Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, "為西鐵乘客提供貼心優惠" [eng-Interchange Concessions Provided for West Rail Passengers].
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "Rerouting of KMB Routes in Mong Kok" [News Release], 14 March 2004.
- ↑ Transport Department HKSARG, "Public Transport Arrangement for Permanent Closure of Nam Cheong Station Public Transport Interchange" [Traffic Advice], 20 September 2012.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "Routes 12A and 18 Terminus Changed" [News Release], 26 September 2012.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "18 Additional Bus Stop" [Passenger Notice], 13 March 2013.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "12A.18.36A.212.118.118P.N118.296C Permanent Relocation of Bus Terminus" [Passenger Notice], 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Transport Department HKSARG, "Temporary Relocation of Sham Shui Po (Tonkin Street West) Bus Terminus" [Announcement], 4 October 2016.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "7B. 8. 17. 18. 41. 45. 109. Permanent Addition and Cancellation of Bus Stop" [Passenger Notice], 12 October 2016.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "7B, 8, 17, 18, 109 New Road Alignments - Bus Stop Re-arrangement" [Passenger Notice], July 2017.
- ↑ Transport Department HKSARG, "Public Transport Arrangement for Opening of Hoi Tat Public Transport Interchange" [Traffic Advice], 20 April 2023.
- ↑ Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd., "12A, 18, 36A, 286C Commencement of new bus terminus – Permanent Route Adjustment" [Passenger Notice], April 2023.
- ↑ 九巴削減18號巴士班次 愛民邨街坊︰40分鐘車程 等車要20分鐘 (KMB cuts services of Route 18; Oi Man Estate residents: I need to wait 20mins for a 40min bus trip), HK01, 20 Jul 2018.
- ↑ Transport Department HKSARG,"觀塘線延線通車後區內居民出行模式的變化及公共交通服務重組計劃最新安排" (Changes in the travelling pattern of local residents upon the commissioning of the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the latest arrangements of the Public Transport Re-organization Plan), Dec 2016.
- ↑ Sham Shui Po District Office District Council Secretariat."第5屆深水埗區議會交通事務委員會 第15次會議記錄（第105點）" (Minutes of the 15th meeting of the Panel on Transport of the 5th Sham Shui Po District Council (point 105)), July 2018.
- ↑ 巴士椅背起火乘客疏散 (Seat backrest of a bus caught fire, passengers evacuated), Apple Daily, 28 August 2006.
- ↑ 雙層巴南昌站火警司機不適 (Double-decker byus at Nam Cheong Station caught fire, bus captain felt unwell), YouTube
- ↑ 2 KMB buses crashed on Sham Mong Road, 3 primary school students sent to hospital with minor injuries, Ming Pao, 26 Jun 2020.
External Links[]
Template:Ref-KMB
Template:List of Sham Shui Po District Bus RoutesTemplate:List of Kowloon City District Bus Routes