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Long on space and comfort... get on
board! Montreal, March 17, 2008 - Tomorrow, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) will begin testing of the prototypes of the articulated city buses on loan from Nova Bus. These vehicles will travel on routes 80 – Avenue-du-Parc, 165 – C�te-des-Neiges and 535 – R-Bus du Parc / C�te-des-Neiges. These tests, which will enable transit users to express their opinions on the new interior design, the available space and the capacity of this new model, will continue until the end of August 2008. Here are a few of the elements of the model bus that should be noticeable to passengers on bus routes 80, 165 and 535: new design of the seats and support poles, wider centre aisle, new window design in the rear, full-width side windows that open at the top, etc. STM customers are invited to climb aboard one of the two models of the low-floor articulated bus and to share their impressions, in particular by filling out the comment cards placed on board the vehicles. During the trial period, more detailed questionnaires will be distributed by Société employees, and clients will be invited to participate in discussion groups. « The STM will evaluate the comments received in order to decide on the final product that will be put into service as of next year » explained the chairman of the STM, Mr. Claude Trudel. « Furthermore, this new type of vehicle will enable the STM to ensure better service for its clientele and promote increased ridership on the surface network routes with growth potential » the chairman stressed. Finally, it should be noted that, within the context of group purchase contracts that were subject to an invitation for tenders issued to Canadian bus manufacturers, the STM purchased 202 articulated city buses, the first of which will be delivered in the summer of 2009 and will begin circulating on the streets of Montréal at that time. - 30 -
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