ABC Transport Plc has introduced a new coach operation known as Smart Coach, aimed at meeting the increasing demands  of its customers in the medium size bus segment. The Smart Coach, a Navigo-model 27-seater luxury coach, is designed to offer passengers an alternative between a coach and a mini bus.

ABC Transport introduced this new segment as a result of its findings that fatality rate of passengers in mini buses operating long hauls is usually very high, so as a matter of safety policy, the management of ABC Transport Plc has never favoured the use of mini buses for long distance travels.

According to a statement made available by the company, the Smart Coach combines the advantages of a coach and mini bus to deliver excellent service. Coach features and the sleekness of a small bus, which imbue it with easy maneuverability on difficult roads.

Thus, ABC Smart Coach will meet the needs of customers who do not want to travel in a luxury bus because of the road condition in some parts of the country, which turns a simple trip to a tiring experience, and also the needs of customers, who want to enjoy coach comfort  but are rather too skeptical about travelling in a small bus because of its safety implications.

According to Mr. Jude Nneji, Deputy Managing Director, ABC Transport Plc, the Smart Coach will add value to “customers of ABC Transport Plc, particularly those who have kept faith with the company over the years. Its distinctive styling, aesthetic design and enhanced ergonomics will provide the same quality of ride and passenger comfort that is the hallmark of coach.”

The Smart Coach will be operating in Nigeria for the first time and will be deployed on the Lagos-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Port Harcourt routes for now.

Already, technical staff of ABC Transport had been trained in Turkey in readiness for the Smart Coach operation in Nigeria. The training was organised by Otokar Otomotive, a major automotive manufacturer in Europe, and was aimed at equipping ABC Transport engineers with firsthand knowledge and special competence in  maintenance and repair of the Smart Coach.

The ABC Smart Coach is medium size, with roomy interior and lush upholstery. It is very ideal for intercity travels and provides a high level of comfort for passengers. It has been meticulously designed to give every passenger that all-important feel-good factor.

It has on-board entertainment facilities, genuine leather passenger seats with adjustable foot rests, fold-down armrests, and two-point seat belt. The air-conditioning system and air channels from the heat exchanges guarantee a comfortable interior climate. It also has a spacious luggage compartment, which can be loaded and unloaded easily, and overhead luggage racks.