REMAINING JUTC BUSES HANDED OVER

From left to right; Minister Robert Pickersgill, Mr. Rennie Wellington from the JR Transport Group; Belgian Ambassador Portacarero and Mr. Ryan Whyte, President of the JUTC.

The remaining ten buses of the fifty which were ordered for the JUTC were handed over to the company on Wednesday, June 27 at Lady Musgrave Avenue.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister Robert Pickersgill charted the course of the new JUTC service noting that the company (JUTC) "performed something of a 'rescue mission' from a shameful and almost dehumanising system which was in existence."

"With the advent of the JUTC, much of the negativity which characterised the old service was reduced. Today, we are handing over a further ten buses which will enhance the service of the JUTC to its customers," the Minister said.

The buses are fully air-conditioned, fabric upholstered, affords more leg room and allows for light luggage to be stored overhead. The units are A/C articulated and have a capacity of eighty-one each, in addition to the driver.

Four of the units are fitted with toilets and are especially good for long routes. As far as aesthetic appeal goes, they boast wide screened windows and will afford commuters a panoramic view of surroundings while travelling in them.

All told, the disaggregation of the 50 buses are as follows:

• 10 articulated with a seating capacity of 81 each
• 26 MAN buses with a seating capacity of 38 each
• 10 Volvo Mistral (Premium Service) with a capacity of 45 each
• 4 Volvo Mistral with a seating capacity of 53 each

For the last financial year, the JUTC transported over 66 million passengers. With the acquisition of the new buses, it is envisaged that the carrying capacity will be greatly increased for the ensuing period.

The Minister appealed to commuters as well as the bus crews to take care of the buses as if they were their own.