Public Transport: Chinese Company Launches New CNG Bus Service

LAHORE:The Foton Bus Company (FBC) finally launched operations in Lahore on Tuesday, introducing a fleet of 56 new imported CNG buses on three routes.

Now this has to be seen that how long this company manages to run these modern buses

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Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif rode on the bus from his residence to the secretariat after the inaugural ceremony in Model Town, which he attended along with Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan and FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones.

Foton was supposed to start services at the end of June with a fleet of 111 buses, but was delayed after the federal government imposed a new sales tax on imports. LTC officials said that another 55 Foton buses would hit the roads before the end of the year.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said that transport was critical for the country’s development. Apart from theFoton Bus Company, he said that the government had signed an agreement with a local company for the provision of 200 quality buses. He said that the Punjab government had decided to bring 700 new buses to the cities of Punjab.

He said that a Chinese company’s investment in the transport sector in the province despite the problem of terrorism showed how much China trusted the Punjab government.

Hassaan said that commuters would “feel the difference” in terms of comfort when they ride the new Foton buses. He later told The Express Tribune that they were negotiating with the federal government for a gas deal so that the buses could run on the weekly CNG holidays.

He said that there was no need to clamp down on alternative means of transport like unlicensed rickshaws and vans on the FBC’s routes, as people would immediately stop using them. “We strongly believe that citizens want to travel in affordable and quality buses. These other forms of transport became popular because they were cheap and the buses were always overcrowded and in poor condition,” he said.

FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones said at the inauguration ceremony that the company was planning to expand its operations in Lahore. He said that the Punjab government had facilitated the company in all matters and this would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Foton will run buses on route B-9, which starts at the City Railway Station and ends at Kahna via Lakshmi Chowk, Hall Road, Ganga Ram Hospital, Mozang, Ichhra, the Canal, Kalma Chowk, Model Town and Chungi Amar Sadhu; on B-20-B, which starts at Green Town and goes to Bagrian Chowk, Akbar Chowk, New Campus, Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Data Darbar, Azadi Chowk and end at Niazi Chowk; and route B-33-B, which starts at Hamdard Chowk and goes to Barkat Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Jinnah Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Wahdat Road, Muslim Town, Shadman, Lawrence Road, Egerton Road and the City Railway Station.

Date announced by LTC for start of Bus Service

November 15th is the day when the Bus Service is going to be inaugurated .......... Finally

Public transport: Route No 1 could go to Chinese bus service

Seems LTC is doing something ........ as now its November but no buses on the road.

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The Lahore Transport Company is considering offering the most lucrative bus route in the city to a Chinese company about to start operations here even though a local company is currently running buses on the route.

Route No 1 runs from RA Bazaar to Sanda near Bund Road and is run by the First Bus Service. Thousands of commuters use it daily to get to government buildings and private offices as well as schools, colleges and universities on The Mall. The route is also kept clear of motorcycle and two-stroke rickshaws, which are often accused by bus companies of stealing their customers.

An LTC official told The Express Tribune that the management would probably award the route to the Foton Bus Company (FTC), which is to start operations in Lahore this month. He said that the LTC had engaged in lengthy negotiations with the Chinese company, in which Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and LTC chief Khawaja Hassaan had also been involved.

“An international company will always want the main routes and that was the case here too,” he said. “There is no comparison between the Chinese and local company … the government will always give preference to the Chinese company.”

LTC spokesman Amjad Hussain said no final decision on the issue had been made yet. He said that the LTC would facilitate all bus companies. He said a lack of buses meant that many commuters were forced to arrange their own transport. “Once quality bus services start their operations, the number of public transport users will definitely increase,” he added.

The First Bus Service won Route No 1 a year ago after the LTC took it away from New Khan Bus Service, which had operated there for over a decade, because it could not run the required number of buses on the route or keep its vehicles road worthy. The FBS is also currently operating just 15 buses on the route, when it is supposed to run at least 32. However, it has imported 20 buses from China which are currently at Karachi port and are to arrive in Lahore next week.

FBS Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Dastgeer said that the government would not be easily able to give the route to Foton since they had a signed agreement with the LTC in this regard. He said he had not heard of plans to award the route to the Chinese company.

FBS General Manager Maqsoodul Haq said he had not heard the plan either, but the FBS would oppose it. He said that the LTC had started a Coaster service on the route a few months ago that had hurt their business. “We have yet to receive the subsidy for buses operated on this route since January this year. We are owed a total of Rs13.8 million in subsidies on Route No 1,” he added.

Lahore Mass Transit: No News No Update

August 14th, 2011 was the date for the inauguration of this project and now Sep 14th, October 14th, and November 14th is near but till yet no news. I just want to convey a message to CM Shahbaz Sharif, give us the LRMTS and we will give you the vote.

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LTC: Still Exists or all Gone

Imagine the condition of Urban Transport in Lahore and the plight of daily commuters .......... Where are those Foton buses which are supposed to be arrived by now. Ironic and shameful.

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Foton Buses arriving in Lahore: Hope to see them soon on Roads

ww.chinabuses.org: On 6th September 2011, the delivery ceremony of 111 units CNG City Buses to Pakistan was held in AUV plant in Changping, Beijing. Ye Zhaoyou, general manager of Foton Bus, Li Hongjun, secretary of the Party committee and the directors from Overseas Sales & Marketing Division of Foton Bus attended this ceremony.

Foton company management attented the delivery ceremony

In recent years, Overseas Sales & Marketing Division of Foton Bus is always dedicated to promoting of the brand influence in the overseas market. In 2011, Foton AUV buses export to the countries such as Taiwan, India, Syria and Algeria in mass production.

Foton AUV CNG city bus BJ6100

Since the delivery of the prototype two years ago, Foton Bus has made breakthrough in the market in Pakistan and made the purchasing agreement with the public transport company in Sindh province. These 111 units BJ6100 gas city buses are the first buses for this order, which lays important foundation for the bus builder in the market in Pakistan.

Inner decoration of BJ6100

Foton AUV BJ6100 buses perfectly combine energy-saving and environment protection, outfitted with powerful engines made in China and innovative chassis confirming higher security of the complete vehicles, showing high level of passenger comfort as well as good performance of products.

Zhao Liang, manager of overseas sales & marketing made a speech

Mr. Zhao Liang, executive deputy general manager of Overseas Sales & Marketing Division, made a brief introduction about the exporting buses to Pakistan and showed their obedience to the brand concept of “science & technology creates values and green leads to the future”, further developing long-term cooperation with the customers in Pakistan.

the first batch AUV city buses will serve Pakistan people

LTC to give training to Drivers:

Another drama to waste time .................. Guys no chance of seeing buses on road

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The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) will establish a professional driving school for drivers of buses on urban routes,The Express Tribune has learnt. The driving school is to be located at Badami Bagh, where the LTC owns 11.5 kanals.

The need for the school arose as transport companies were found short of professionally trained drivers. Although, some companies employ professionally trained drivers, most depend on drivers who have not been professionally trained.

The passengers of many local companies have complained about rash driving but the companies do not take any action due to the shortage of drivers.

LTC chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan told The Tribune that bus companies are keen for a driving school. He said they had asked the National Logistic Cell (NLC) to be driving consultants as they were already operating five driving schools. He said the NLC had agreed to provide input to the project.

“Lahore is running out of professionally trained drivers. Many transport companies are working with inexperienced and poorly trained drivers. All the transport companies appreciate this plan and are keen to invest in the school,” he added

First Bus Service general manager Masoodul Haq said LTC should have the authority to monitor drivers and control over issuance of driving licenses.

However, he wondered whether or not a transport company that was investing in the infrastructure could be fair to the drivers of another company.

He said the idea was that the NLC would be consultants on the project and the investing transport company would clear drivers for licences. He said a better method would be for the LTC to give driving tests and leave the licensing to the appropriate authority. He said it would also be fine if one company provides the training and the LTC monitors the training.

Hassaan countered Haq’s misgivings, saying that the school would be under the LTC’s control.

He added that Foton Bus Company had shown an interest in investing. He pointed out that the ‘investing company’ would only be investing in the infrastructure and all companies were free to call in experts from anywhere in Pakistan or abroad to help train LTC trainers. “After training, only these LTC trainers would be authorised to train the bus drivers and to approve them for driving licences.”

Atif Nazar who frequently travels by urban buses said that the move was for the better for the transport system. He said drivers were often rash especially as they were aware of the absence of a monitoring authority. He said proper training by international standards and monitoring of the drivers would solve the problem.

He said besides fine tickets, the real threat to drivers would be when their driving licences start getting suspended or withdrawn.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2011.