New Era proposes ‘express bus’ service

New Era is putting forward a proposal to introduce an ‘express bus’ service, according to the company’s vice executive director, Kwok Tong Cheong, as per a report by Radio Macau. Mr Kwok said that the proposal has been sent to the Transport Bureau (DSAT), and is now under assessment.
“We are trying to introduce ‘express bus routes,’ as this would help ease pressure on the busiest bus routes. The proposal is with DSAT now and we’re still in talks. Of course the government has a different view but we will try to make things work,” he stated.
New Era is looking to offer bus routes featuring fewer stops so that users are able to reach their destinations faster. Mr Kwok believes that this would increase customer satisfaction levels.
Mr Kwok added that the express bus routes could start operating within two to three months if DSAT approves their proposal.
The Macau government is currently in talks with the other two bus operators, Transmac and TCM, to sign new contracts, after a report from the Commission of Audit slammed DSAT’s handling of public bus operations in 2013.
Mr Kwok did not want to elaborate on these negotiations, saying that New Era’s contract is different to those of other companies’ since it already featured the new scheme at the time of signing, while TCM and Trasmac’s contracts focus on the transition from the old to the new public bus model.