RTA has contracted FAMCO to supply 373 Volvo SB3 buses
In Volvo’s largest chassis order to date in Dubai, and the largest ever purchase of Euro VI city buses in the Middle East region, FAMCO and Volvo Buses have been selected as the supplier of 373 city buses to Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The RTA’s contract to purchase 373 Volvo SB3 buses along with a 10-year maintenance contract with FAMCO’s newly created buses division is in support of Dubai’s mobility plan and to cope with the rising number of public bus riders.
It will be the first time that the new Euro 6 standard-compliant buses will be operated in the MENA region.
The contract signing took place on the sidelines of UITP Summit in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, and Håkan Agnevall, President, Volvo Bus Corporation, signed the contract in the presence of representatives from FAMCO, Volvo and RTA.
“The procurement of these new buses is part of RTA’s strategy to improve Dubai’s public transport services in the Emirate and meet the sustained growth of public transport riders. It serves RTA’s efforts to raise the share of public transport ridership to 26% by 2030,” said Al Tayer.
Each bus can accommodate 74 riders and is fitted with interactive touch screens to display instant information about the journey. Buses are also equipped with Raqeeb (Driver Behaviour Monitoring) System to track drivers’ exhaustion by using innovative technology to enhance bus safety standards. They also have Rasid (Automated Passenger Counting) System to record the actual number of passengers and match it with the Automated Fare Collection System.
“This tender was evaluated based on total cost of ownership comparison, including fuel and operational costs, and Volvo came out as the most competitive alternative. The order is a recognition of the value we deliver to the RTA”, commented Håkan Agnevall.
“During the procurement process, RTA was keen to ensure that these buses are compatible with European Carbon Emission Standards, which are in line with RTA’s efforts to protect the environment and enhance power efficiency,” remarked Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
