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Double-decker buses arrive

DUBAI — Finally, the much-awaited swanky double-decker buses have arrived in the emirate.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) yesterday announced the arrival of a batch of 626 buses, which includes 170 double-decker buses, 150 standard buses and 300 articulated buses.

Essa Al Dossari, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, said the agency would be taking the delivery of one double-decker bus next month. The remaining buses would be received in June. The double-decker buses would be mainly used for Dubai-Sharjah service.

Earlier, the RTA had pointed out that these buses would start carrying passengers in between the two emirates from September this year. The RTA would be starting with 15 double-decker buses in September and the number would be increased to 70 in the coming months. The remaining buses would be used on various other routes in Dubai.

The double-decker bus can accommodate up to 160 passengers in all. The articulated bus will accommodate 100 passengers and the standard bus has a capacity of 57 passengers. These buses are fitted with the latest technologies and highest security and safety standards. Their designs have been customised to serve the requirements of special need persons.

“They have low floors rising 38cm above the ground level compared to 100cm in the ordinary buses, which require three steps to board their decks. The entrance of the second door in the articulated buses has been fitted with an anti-slipping floor to facilitate embarkation and disembarkation of special need persons. The entrance directly leads to the position designated for the wheelchairs or prams,” the official opined.

He added that the new buses are fitted with sophisticated systems and technologies such as voice announcement of the next stop, and a statistical system to count passengers and automatically detect demand on various bus routes.

They also include on board GPS linked with the Control Centre at the Agency.

“Each of the new buses is fitted with a giant screen at the front façade of the bus enabling passengers a clear vision of the bus destination, route and number. There are also three screens at the right and left hand sides of the bus indicating the route and destination in both Arabic and English.