DOHA - The new fleet of 360 school buses being launched by the Public Transport Company (Mowasalat) comes with several unique features, including a "vehicle data recorder" which functions like a "black box".
Many of these features are introduced in Qatar for the first time, claims the company management.
On Sunday, Mowasalat is launching a campaign dubbed "Karwa Fun Trip - All New School Bus, All New Experience" to introduce the new buses to the public.
These buses are the latest addition to the large fleet of school buses being operated by Mowasalat on behalf the Ministry of Education, raising their total number to 1,231.
"We are proud of this effort for the Ministry of Education, having custom-made buses for our specific needs in the education sector in Qatar. They are so special that we have our brand on the buses, bearing in mind the three important things that matters most: safety, comfort and reliability," said Ahmed Al Ansari, Mowasalat's marketing manager at a press conference held at the company premises yesterday.
Anthony Tallant, director, Mass Transit at Mowasalat and Mohammed Ali, Engineering Manager were also present.
The campaign will be launched on September 2 with a free "fun trip" for parents and students around Doha in the new buses. Similar trips will take place on September 4 and 6. Participants have to register starting at 3.30pm to 4.30pm at the Qatar Sports Club on the first day, Al Sadd Sports Club on September 4 and Al Khor on September 6. English and Arabic speaking guides will accompany the students and parents during the trip.
As part of the campaign, leaflets will be distributed at major shopping centres and malls during the weekend with detailed information on the new buses.
The "vehicle data recorder" will record the journey time, stops, speed, driver's licence number, and other important details. These data can be directly downloaded from the computer and will help in tracing traffic violations and causes of accidents, if any of these happens. This is the first time this technology is introduced in Qatar, claimed the officials.
Other features include individual seatbelt for each passenger, spacious cabin having only a maximum of 41 seating capacity, low-first-step deck for quick and harmless access going in and out of the buses and a dependable braking system that comes standard on all the new Karwa branded buses.
Each of the new buses is equipped with a power-folding 15-inch LCD screen running on DVD/VCD/CD player, full suede/leather interior, tropical, in-climate roof-mounted air-conditioning system and a first-of-its-kind thermo-cooler drinking dispenser.
© The Peninsula 2007
