Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, during a Press conference during announced the official launch of the Kingdom’s new Public Transport Network, said that since the launch of the phase one the number of daily passengers surged to 25,500 from 16000 a few months back.
“The Government can only offer such facilities if the public wish to use them and in public transport segment this have been a great success,” the Minister said.
The initiative is an ambitious venture that aims to modernize and upgrade the national public transport service and provide residents and citizens with a safe, accessible, high-quality public transport system on par with global standards.
The 141-strong bus fleet has been designed to local market specifications by international manufacturers from UK and Germany and is equipped with all the facilities, amenities and technology to enhance passenger travel experience and ensure public safety, ease of access and movement. Some key features of the new buses include special conveniences for passengers with disability and special needs, surveillance cameras, on-bus infotainment, priority seating for women, families and elderly, digital destination displays in multiple languages and free WiFi.
The new public transport service started the first phase of operations with 77 brand new state-of the-art buses servicing an enhanced network of 22 routes – compared to 35 buses and 12 routes that made up the old network. The new bus service will be rolled out in phases with full implementation by August 1st 2015.
The Minister reiterated the significance of this national project aimed to elevate the standard of living for all citizens while boosting the country’s economic growth and prosperity. The new public bus system forms the initial phase in the MTT’s solid long-term land transportation development strategy which is set to modernize the Public Transport Network in the Kingdom of Bahrain and enhance the quality of life for citizens and residents in line with the country’s Economic Vision 2030.
The new public transport system is based on a zonal structure similar to that used in major cities across the globe, and will result in a tremendous increase in reach, connectivity and usage, significantly improving the passenger journey. A new 14-zone fare system has also been put in place designed to make travel simpler by facilitating the use of multiple bus services at competitive rates and superior service standards. Information about the zones and the new routes is available on bahrainbus.bh, where riders can get all the information regarding timetables in order to plan their journey.
“The major overhaul to the Kingdom’s public transport system including the introduction of a new, comprehensive public transport service is a significant milestone for the country and will not only enhance the quality of life for citizens but will create a new, sustainable industry that will contribute to the Kingdom’s economic development in line with the Economic Vision 2030. Public transport is a vital component of any modern economy and the network put in place 15 years ago in the Kingdom can no longer sustain the country’s rapid growth and future market trends. The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications conducted a comprehensive research to fully understand the market needs, and this study is the foundation stone on which we have constructed our full-scale strategy to modernize and launch a new public transport network and infrastructure that meets the need of the local community,” he said.
“Our approach to the launch of the new Public Transport Network is multi-faceted; most importantly today, we are not only launching a new public bus service, we are launching a public transport model that aims to offer a viable alternative and attractive solution to the nation’s transport needs built on safety, accessibility and service excellence, with the passenger’s experience at the forefront. The project will be rolled out over the next few months, allowing us the flexibility to gauge passengers’ feedback and make improvements along the way. As we have adopted an approach of advancement in this project, we will be implementing major technological advances over the next few months, including smart ticketing and a new mobile app which will be introduced by August,” he added.
The Minister extended his thanks and appreciation to all parties involved in the conception and realization of this ambitious project including the Cabinet, the Ministerial Committee for Services and Infrastructure, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning and Ministry of Interior. He also stated that their collaboration during the past few years has been instrumental in ensuring the success of launching the new Public Transport Network.
“Starting August, the modern network will further expand to cover a total of 35 routes being serviced by 141 buses operating on a daily basis across 77% of the country, reaching suitable and highly populated areas across Bahrain formerly not covered by the network. The new network will have the capacity to serve around 51,000 passengers daily, compared to 16,000 previously,” Mariam Ahmed Juman, Undersecretary for Land Transport and Post Affairs, Engineer told the press conference.
“The MTT is simultaneously working to upgrade the supporting infrastructure and facilities and is collaborating with leading UK-based engineering company Trueform on the reconstruction of over 400 bus shelters in the new areas to be covered by the network. Construction work for this project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016,” she added.
“Our comprehensive strategy and tactics for modernizing the public transport model have been all-encompassing, with all aspects of the service being addressed. We took into consideration the passenger journey from start to finish in order for designing a service that would drastically improve their journeys in terms of safety, reliability and service. As of April 1st, the new network was extensively expanded in reach and connectivity in order to cover a wider area,” she said.
She added that new connections to and from the Bahrain International Airport have been introduced as well express services operating north-south and east-west along Bahrain’s main arterial corridors, and a new circular service connecting Manama, Salmaniya Hospital, Mina Salman, Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), Arad, the airport, Muharraq and the Diplomatic Area along with localised routes across the entire central Manama area and other vital locations in Muharraq, Isa Town and Riffa New areas connected to the network include the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Souq Waqif, Sitra, the Ahmed Al Fateh Mosque, Jidhafs, areas in the northern governorate such as Budaiya Highway, Tubli, both University of Bahrain Campuses, Arad and KBSP. When the plan is fully rolled out in August, new routes will cover all of the Kingdom’s Governorates.
The new interchange locations will facilitate safe and easy transfer between buses – the network is well connected and co-ordinated to ensure that passengers can quickly move across the Kingdom. Interchange locations at the Bahrain International Airport, City Centre Mall, Salmaniya Hospital, Budaiya, Alba and Souq Waqif will supplement the three main bus terminals at Manama, Muharraq and Isa Town which are all currently being refurbished to provide passengers with improved information, real-time departure displays, manned ticket office facilities and ticket vending machines.
The new buses have a number of safety features such as EBS (electronic brake system) with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control function (TCS) function. The buses are very fuel efficient due to their ergonomics and unique aluminum body to facilitate weight savings and thereby reduce the fuel consumption while ensuring more energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
“Under the supervision and regulation of the MTT, Bahrain Public Transport Company (BPTC) has been appointed to operate the new bus service operation under a 10-year concession agreement. Following a rigorous tendering and negotiation process, BPTC, a private joint venture between UK Company National Express plc and Bahrain-based Ahmed Mansour Al Aali (AMA) is responsible for the efficient operation of the entire bus network in accordance with international standards and practices. BPTC is also responsible for providing the buses and related equipment and the upgrading of related facilities at the three main terminals and at the Isa Town Bus Depot.”
Mark Kipling, Operations and Mobilisation Director for National Express – International Division, the UK partner in the BPTC joint venture, praised the vision of MTT in launching the ambitious new Public Transport Network; highlighting the new operator’s commitment to managing this service with the highest level of safety and customer-focus, ensuring maximum accessibility and ease of usage across different market segments.
“BPTC boasts over 20 years of experience operating similar services across North America, Europe and North Africa, and we are confident that our solid partnership with the MTT and our strategic blend of international expertise and local knowledge, will guarantee an accessible, efficient, high-quality public transport network for the country,” he added.
“We are introducing a special full-day pass for 500 fils that allows unlimited trips on any route and bus. Passengers taking numerous trips daily can use this ticket for an enhanced service at a significant cost,” he added.
“We are expecting the capacity of the new network to reach around 50,000 passengers daily, compared to 16,000 previously. Each bus is also tracked in real-time and managed by a central control centre located at the BPTC depot facility in Isa Town, to ensure a reliable, efficient service,” he added.