Commuters relying on a vital Hong Kong bus route are experiencing severe overcrowding and dangerous congestion following recent service reductions, sparking concerns over public safety and accessibility. Three weeks after the Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) adjusted the timetable for Route 89C, passengers report being routinely left behind at stops, facing crush-load conditions, and being forced to stand dangerously on internal staircases.
The highly criticized frequency reduction, implemented on October 20, 2025, has specifically impacted residents in areas lacking direct Mass Transit Railway (MTR) access, including Siu Lek Yuen Road, Ravana Garden, and Ocean View. These neighborhoods depend heavily on Route 89C as the primary transit link for daily commutes.
Overwhelmed Service Sparks Safety Concerns
The primary issue stems from dramatic increases in passenger loads due to fewer available buses. Residents report that even before the cuts, buses were often heavily utilized, but the recent changes have resulted in multiple consecutive services departing at capacity during peak hours.
Scenes of severe overcrowding have intensified at key junctures, particularly the Kwun Tong and Choi Hung stops, where passengers repeatedly face “door-crushing” situations. Commuters have reported waiting an additional 15 minutes for the next bus after being unable to board, significantly lengthening journey times.
Transport advocacy groups vehemently dispute KMB’s implied rationale that ridership had dropped following the Tuen Ma Line opening. Campaigners highlight data showing that bus headways—the time between buses—have widened across most periods, with the afternoon peak from Kwun Tong towards Sha Tin being the most heavily affected. Instances included:
- October 21: Two consecutive buses arrived at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel interchange already full, unable to accommodate waiting passengers.
- October 30: Multiple services toward Kowloon Bay were reported at maximum capacity, with riders standing on internal stairs, yet still could not pick up passengers at the tunnel stop.
- November 5th–7th: Persistent crush loads were documented during the evening peak toward Sha Tin.
Regulatory Oversight and Operator Response
The ongoing congestion has prompted sharp criticism directed at both KMB and the Transport Department (TD) for the lack of remedial action three weeks after the cuts.
The TD acknowledged receiving reports of trip gaps, which KMB attributed to driver absences, leading to a failure to deliver even the revised, less frequent schedule. The TD has since instructed KMB to strictly adhere to the approved timetable and affirmed that schedule adjustments must align with official guidelines.
In late October, the TD deployed staff to monitor the weekday afternoon peak at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel interchange heading toward Ma On Shan. They reported that observed services operated per the revised schedule, with approximately 75% loading upon arrival from Kowloon, claiming no passengers were left behind on departure—a finding that sharply contrasts with persistent commuter reports.
Mandated Safety Rules Become Impossible
The safety implications of the overcrowding are paramount. Commuters voiced alarm over the practice of buses loading passengers all the way to the front doors on Kwun Tong Road and at Choi Hung, raising significant risks during motion or emergency braking.
A critical point of concern links the capacity issues to future safety regulations. Starting in January, seat belts will be mandatory for bus passengers, yet commuters note that the current lack of seating and standing space makes compliance impossible to enforce for those subject to crush loads. As one resident lamented, the service cuts have rendered future belt rules “meaningless in practice.”
To restore essential service quality and ensure passenger safety, KMB must urgently address driver shortages and immediately review service frequency on Route 89C. Authorities should coordinate with the operator to introduce targeted relief trips during peak hours, particularly serving the neighborhoods that rely solely on this crucial bus link.