Dan Public Transport Co. Ltd. has won the Ministry of Transport tender to operate Haifa's Metronit electric bus system for 12 years.
Dan beat bus operators Metropoline Public Transport Ltd. and Kavim Ltd. (a joint venture of Mayer Cars and Trucks Ltd. and Horn & Leibowitz Ltd.) Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd. withdrew from the tender in the early stages.
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav welcomed the announcement by the tenders committee. He said that he was pleased that Haifa would be the first Israeli city to operate an advanced public transport system. "The winner is committed to meet the timetable and high standards for improving public transport in Haifa," he said.
Under the tender terms, Dan must procure 100 high-capacity articulated buses and begin operating the network within two years. Dan will use Man buses assembled by Ha'argaz Ltd.
The Metronit rapid transit system will cost an estimated NIS 1.3 billion.
Dan said that it was proud to be the first company to operate a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Israel, and to bear the good tidings of the new transport concept to the country. Winning the tender gives the bus company an important foothold in Haifa and the north.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 12, 2010
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