Kuo-Kuang to close 8 more bus routes on Sunday

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, a major long-haul bus company in Taiwan, will discontinue eight more routes on Sunday to curb long-term operational losses.

The eight routes scheduled to close at midnight are: 1836 Taipei-Xinying, 1837 Taipei-Tainan, 1838 Taipei-Kaohsiung, 1839 Taipei-Pingtung, 1862 Taoyuan-Kaohsiung, 1871 Taichung-Tainan, 1872 Taichung-Kaohsiung, and 1873 Taichung-Pingtung.

According to the company, the decision was made to stem losses caused in part by competition from an increasing number of trains and the high-speed rail, changes in consumers' public transportation preferences, and a labor shortage.

It comes following the closure of six routes between Kaohsiung and Pingtung on Aug. 31.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it has prepared gifts for passengers taking the last two departures on each of the eight routes on Sunday, and that the destination signs on the front of those buses will display commemorative thank-you messages.

The closures will reduce Kuo-Kuang's total number of routes from 56 to 48 -- the same as its major competitor, Ubus -- excluding routes operated on behalf of another company, according to Highway Bureau data.

Starting Monday, passengers can continue to use Ubus to travel on the eight routes closed by Kuo-Kuang.