
Bus transport has emerged as a preferred mass-transit option due to its fuel efficiency, high capacity, cost-efficiency and low emissions.

He global bus demand is projected to grow at an annual rate of over 5 per cent up to 2012 and Latin America is expected to account for a sizeable share of the transit buses market (see Box 1 on for different bus segments). France-based Alstom Transport is one of the key rolling stock providers in the region. Besides, Tunisia has a fully operational modern LRT system which is being further expanded. Of these, new tramways are being developed largely in Algeria and Morocco. The North Africa region comprises Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and the Western Sahara region. Global Mass Transit offers a snapshot into the key LRT (tram and monorail) projects proposed for the MENA region. Many of these systems are scheduled to enter revenue services during 2011-13, considerably changing the urban rail landscape in the region. This, however, is set to change in the near future, with governments across the MENA region proposing and implementing ambitious light-rail transit (LRT) projects. Nlike Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, light-rail transit has not been the prevalent mode of public transportation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The project is aimed at providing a comfortable and safe city transport service while meeting the future transportation needs of the city. The key to the project’s success has been sound planning under the framework of an integrated and comprehensive transport vision supported by all three tiers of the government. In addition, the project won a national urban award for being the best mass-transit system under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in December 2009.

It also has the distinction of being the first project in South Asia to receive the Sustainable Transport Award for its mass acceptance and contribution to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. He Ahmedabad bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Gujarat, India has recently been in the spotlight, becoming the first BRT project in India to have received positive feedback from all quarters – especially from commuters – for its planning and operations. Global Mass Transit Report Information and analysis on the global mass transit industry Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System
