NWFB Route 4
Encyclopedia
Route 4 is a circular bus route on Hong Kong Island
operated by New World First Bus
, between Wah Fu (South)
and Central
.
, with no route number. On 1933-06-11 CMB took over the route as part of the Hong Kong Island bus service franchise, and given the number 4. In the next year, the Central terminus was moved to the piers of Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
. On 1935-04-01 circular arrangement was implemented, running in anti-clockwise direction, taking Bonham Road
and Caine Road
for Central bound. On 1937-06-14 service was extended to Queen Mary Hospital
, and the circular arrangement was cancelled. No service was provided during Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong
.
Service was resumed on 1946-04-16 between Central Ferry Piers and Queen Mary Hospital, with initially only two buses running and a frequency of one hour per bus, to be increased gradually. On 1968-10-03 the route was further extended to Wah Fu Estate with the completion of the estate's first phase. Since transportation was inconvenient for the estate, route 4 became the major means of transportation for the residents. As the population of Wah Fu increased, an express service was implemented in 1971, which faced delays caused congestion problems along Des Voeux Road West. On 1972-05-01 the express service was rerouted to serve Caine Road
and Bonham Road
in Mid-levels
to bypass the congestion, seeing full daytime service and becoming a normal route, denoted by red text on yellow background. On 1975-01-01 the express service was renumbered 40.
On 1972-09-11 the Central terminus moved to a bus terminus opposite to Hang Seng Bank
headquarters, on 1994-12-05 to Harbourview Street, and on 1995-03-17 to the new ferry piers. On 1998-09-01 the route was taken over by New World First Bus as part of the franchise handover. Air-conditioning of the route started on 1999-07-11 and completed in 2000.
The route has seen a drop of patronage since the 1990s with Citybus
taking over some of the Wah Fu routes and having lower fares than route 4. On 2004-12-19 the route became a circular route, and ceased to serve Hong Kong Station and the ferry piers.
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
operated by New World First Bus
New World First Bus
New World First Bus Services Limited , abbreviated as First Bus and "NWFB", is the third largest public bus operator in Hong Kong.NWFB was established in 1998, taking over China Motor Bus's franchise on 1 September 1998 to provide bus services on Hong Kong Island together with Citybus...
, between Wah Fu (South)
Wah Fu Estate
Wah Fu Estate is a public housing estate located by the Kellett Bay, Pok Fu Lam, Southern District, Hong Kong. It was built on a new town concept in 1967 and was renovated in around 2003...
and Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
.
History
The route was first started by The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels in the 1920s between Royal Pier in Central and the University of Hong Kong by way of Sai Ying PunSai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is part of Central and Western District in district administration....
, with no route number. On 1933-06-11 CMB took over the route as part of the Hong Kong Island bus service franchise, and given the number 4. In the next year, the Central terminus was moved to the piers of Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited , HYF, is a ferry company founded in 1897 in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry...
. On 1935-04-01 circular arrangement was implemented, running in anti-clockwise direction, taking Bonham Road
Bonham Road
Bonham Road is a road in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is a main road connecting Pokfulam Road in the west, near the University of Hong Kong, and Caine Road in the east, at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road...
and Caine Road
Caine Road
Caine Road is a main road in Hong Kong connecting Bonham Road in the west and Arbuthnot Road and Upper Albert Road in the east ....
for Central bound. On 1937-06-14 service was extended to Queen Mary Hospital
Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
Queen Mary Hospital , located in Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong, is the flagship teaching hospital of the Faculty of Dentistry and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong...
, and the circular arrangement was cancelled. No service was provided during Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
.
Service was resumed on 1946-04-16 between Central Ferry Piers and Queen Mary Hospital, with initially only two buses running and a frequency of one hour per bus, to be increased gradually. On 1968-10-03 the route was further extended to Wah Fu Estate with the completion of the estate's first phase. Since transportation was inconvenient for the estate, route 4 became the major means of transportation for the residents. As the population of Wah Fu increased, an express service was implemented in 1971, which faced delays caused congestion problems along Des Voeux Road West. On 1972-05-01 the express service was rerouted to serve Caine Road
Caine Road
Caine Road is a main road in Hong Kong connecting Bonham Road in the west and Arbuthnot Road and Upper Albert Road in the east ....
and Bonham Road
Bonham Road
Bonham Road is a road in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is a main road connecting Pokfulam Road in the west, near the University of Hong Kong, and Caine Road in the east, at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road...
in Mid-levels
Mid-levels
Mid-levels is an expensive residential area on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located halfway up Victoria Peak, directly above Central...
to bypass the congestion, seeing full daytime service and becoming a normal route, denoted by red text on yellow background. On 1975-01-01 the express service was renumbered 40.
On 1972-09-11 the Central terminus moved to a bus terminus opposite to Hang Seng Bank
Hang Seng Bank
Hang Seng Bank Limited is the second largest bank in Hong Kong. It is a listed company but it is majority owned by the HSBC Group via The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Hang Seng is also one of the constituent shares of the Hang Seng Index...
headquarters, on 1994-12-05 to Harbourview Street, and on 1995-03-17 to the new ferry piers. On 1998-09-01 the route was taken over by New World First Bus as part of the franchise handover. Air-conditioning of the route started on 1999-07-11 and completed in 2000.
The route has seen a drop of patronage since the 1990s with Citybus
Citybus (Hong Kong)
Citybus Limited is one of the three major bus operators in Hong Kong. It provides both franchised and non-franchised bus service. The franchised route network serves mainly Hong Kong Island, cross-harbour routes , Ocean Park, North Lantau and Hong Kong International Airport...
taking over some of the Wah Fu routes and having lower fares than route 4. On 2004-12-19 the route became a circular route, and ceased to serve Hong Kong Station and the ferry piers.