Many firsts for HK's coolest bus terminal

Passengers can stay inside a new Kwun Tong mall while waiting for buses in Hong Kong's first air-conditioned bus terminal, which opens on Friday.

The Yue Man Square mall, an Urban Renewal Authority redevelopment project, opens alongside its public transport interchange.

Eight bus and 21 minibus routes will move to the new two-story interchange.

The bus terminus will be integrated with the shopping mall on the upper level, with the minibus terminal one floor below.

Buses and passengers will be separated in the terminal - buses outside gates and passengers queuing inside.

Routes running between Kwun Tong and Lam Tin, Tsz Wan Shan, Ho Man Tin, Lok Wah as well as Kennedy Town will move into the terminus, with the first bus departing the station at 5.30am on Friday.

The URA's works and contracts director, Anderson Leung Tak-ming, said yesterday that the terminus also has an artificial intelligence-operated gate control system to open automatic gates for passengers.

"Sensors at the boarding gate will detect the presence of a bus, the engine sound of the bus, the presence of a bus driver and the opening of the bus door, before automatically opening the door at the boarding gate to let passengers through," Leung said.

His team ran through all sorts of emergency situations, including if the control system breaks down. Backup doors are at every gate and at the terminal in case of emergency.

The terminus will be able to cope with a large number of commuters, even during peak hours when a single route might generate some 100 passengers, according to Leung. A backup queuing area for affected routes has also been allocated.

Mrs Tong, in her 70s, who has lived in Kwun Tong for over 50 years, praised the new design as "it is far better than the terminus in Lam Tin," which was also built beside a mall. Another long-time Kwun Tong resident broke down in tears of joy and gratitude after seeing the terminus for the first time.

The new minibus terminal will be home to 12 green minibus routes and nine red minibus routes which will connect Kwun Tong to Lam Tin, Jordan, Mong Kok and Lok Ma Chau.

A locally invented bladeless air-induction unit, which uses aerodynamics to move air into the terminus, is featured along with kiosks and toilets for the drivers.

"Compared to conventional mechanical fans, the units can generate four times the airflow and let in more fresh air into the terminus, while also lowering the temperature inside by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius," URA said.

Three spaces are reserved for fast-charging facilities for electric minibuses, according to Leung.

This is meant to pave the way for Hong Kong's first public transport interchange for electric minibuses in the future.

He also said the interchange is aimed at alleviating road congestion problems in the vicinity.

Leung said Mut Wah Street, a very busy road, has been expanded to four lanes - two in each direction - and "we also made way for one more lane at the Hoi Yuen Road roundabout to reduce incoming traffic."

He added: "There are also separate entrances and exits for buses and minibuses to avoid traffic congestion."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com