JUTC to launch Rural Express Service to towns across Jamaica

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company is to launch a JUTC Rural Express Service offering premium travel on long-haul direct routes from the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew to Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and Mandeville.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said 15 of the 30 new diesel buses acquired by the company will be used to offer the service with minimal stops along the route at an introductory fare of $2,000.

He said the remaining 15 diesel buses will support the demand for charter services offering flexible, reliable options for institutions, organisations and summer events.

The JUTC is also expanding routes out of Spanish Town, with new services to Linstead via the highway, and Spanish Town to Kitson Town, while 70 compressed natural gas (CNG) will be deployed along new routes across the Spanish Town depot corridor.

In addition, JUTC is collaborating with the University of Technology Jamaica and the University of the West Indies (Mona) to introduce dedicated student routes from Spanish Town, Portmore, and Gregory Park—operating during morning and evening peak times.

Vaz made the disclosures on Wednesday as he announced the successful delivery of 93 new buses to the JUTC.

Speaking at the official handing-over ceremony, Vaz declared that the government has “followed through with its commitment to the people” in the second phase of its bus fleet expansion initiative.

Of the 100 buses expected in this phase, 93 have already arrived on the island, with 63 powered by CNG and 30 designed to use diesel fuel. The remaining seven buses—specially manufactured to accommodate passengers with special needs—are scheduled to arrive in August.

“This is a bold signal that the government is committed to delivering safer, cleaner and more efficient transportation options for the people of Jamaica,” he declared.

The minister also highlighted the tangible economic benefits of the shift toward cleaner fuel technology. He noted that the government had already deployed 100 buses in 2024, ten of which were specially outfitted to serve members of the special needs community. he said those buses, powered by CNG, have delivered noticeable cost savings.

“The average monthly bill for a diesel-powered bus is $1 million compared with $350,000 per month for those powered by CNG. This has resulted in a saving of $650,000 per bus,” Vaz explained.

The introduction of these fuel-efficient buses has led to a significant drop in operating monthly costs for the JUTC.

“As more CNG buses were introduced, the average fuel cost fell from $660,000 in October 2024 to $520,000 by April 2025, creating a total saving of $174,000,” the minister reported.

He further revealed that “63 per cent of the JUTC's operable fleet now runs on cleaner fuel and ignition technologies and has yielded significant cost saving and environmental benefits.”

Vaz also emphasised that this modernisation push is not just about new buses, but about changing the overall structure of the JUTC’s operations.

“The 100 buses were procured and deployed in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region and has led to significant improvement in service delivery,” he said, adding that the company has since recorded an increase in both passenger and chartered trips.

- Ruddy Mathison

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