To enhance its fleet to transport students in the next school year 2010 - 2011, Emirates Transport received 350 buses of various sizes and types, fully-equipped with all the international established standards and specifications of safety and security.

"Emirates Transport strives to provide the transported students with a safe and comfortable environment," Jasem Mohamed Al-Marzooqi, the Executive Manager of the School Transportation Center, the Public Department, Emirates Transport, Dubai, said.  "It provides new buses which will meet the needs of both students and drivers.  This increase in the number of the buses is for the purposes of upgrade and growth that will take place in all emirates as per the foundation strategy applied in this regard and the continuous enhancement of the fleet to suit the foundation's position in school transportation," Al-Marzooqi added.        

"The new buses are of various sizes and types so as to meet the different needs of the transporting schools.  There are big buses of 60 passenger capacity from Hyundai, Daewoo and Blue Bird, and small buses of 30 passenger capacity from Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi.  These buses are manufactured specifically for the purpose of driving the school students.  The buses are now being distributed among the foundation's branches and stations in accordance with the strategy applied by the Center," Al-Marzooqi said.

"The new buses are fully-equipped as per the international approved standards and specifications of safety and security for the transported students.  They include all the internal and external security elements in accordance with the highest relevant quality standards.  The internal safety is provided through the comfortable high back seats, the high ceiling and flat ground.  This is in addition to the provision of the safety and security elements such as emergency equipments, the first aid kit, the fire extinguisher and the seat belt in the main seats," Al-Marzooqi explained.     

"As for the external elements of the buses, these are: the appropriate color, which is yellow, the design of the school bus door which suits the age of the students so as to help them in getting on and off the bus.  Moreover, there are the traffic lights, the warning signs, the electronic arm and the "stop" sign," Al-Marzooqi pointed out. 

"The 60-passenger school buses support the country's public transport system.  They contribute in reducing the number of vehicles in the streets, as well as the operation costs which result from operating two small buses, while maintaining the time taken by the school bus to reach its destination" the Center's Executive Manager said.  

"The new batch of buses is for the purpose of upgrading and growth. The upgrade is the process of changing and replacing the old with the new, whereas the growth is the enhancement of the fleet with new buses to keep pace with the increasing students and improve the unique services provided by the School Transportation Service Center, which aim at achieving the strategic visions and goals adopted by Emirates Transport in its strategy of providing the best and the most unique services relevant to the schools transportation, and confirm its leadership in this field," the Center's Executive Manager concluded by speaking about the vast growing number of buses.     

Source: Emirates Transport – Government Communication