Record Heat Turns Bus Cabins into Ovens; Temperature Gaps of 9°C Measured on Upper Deck
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong recorded its highest-ever temperature of 36.9°C at the Observatory on July 9, with Sheung Shui approaching 40°C. Sing Tao reporters measured bus cabin temperatures during an extreme heat warning on July 10, discovering substantial temperature variations within vehicles and inconsistent cooling performance across the fleet. Passengers reported discomfort, with some describing the air conditioning as "barely cool air rather than proper air conditioning." Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) acknowledged the issue and stated it is progressively adjusting cabin temperature settings across all buses.
Key Points
- Temperature tests on Route 277X found upper deck front vents reaching 28°C while rear vents measured just 19.3°C, a 9°C difference
- Cabin temperatures remained consistently hot at 29-31°C across all locations, despite varying vent temperatures
- A KMB bus captain revealed the company recently limited air conditioning vent temperature to 25-26°C, two to three degrees higher than previous settings
- KMB confirmed it has begun gradually lowering temperature settings fleet-wide in response to the extreme weather conditions
- City Bus stated its air conditioning system maintains constant temperature based on operational experience and passenger comfort
Why It Matters
This issue affects hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who rely on franchised buses for cross-district travel, particularly during peak hours when buses are most crowded. The situation highlights tensions between operators balancing fuel costs and passenger comfort expectations, especially as climate change makes extreme heat events more frequent and severe in Hong Kong.
This issue affects hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who rely on franchised buses for cross-district travel, particularly during peak hours when buses are most crowded. The situation highlights tensions between operators balancing fuel costs and passenger comfort expectations, especially as climate change makes extreme heat events more frequent and severe in Hong Kong.