The number of subscribers to public transport doubles in Tenerife with 50% discounts on regular travel vouchers. It is the balance of the first month of the measure, between September 1 and 30, when six out of ten bus and tram users moved with this system.
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, highlights “the effectiveness” of the measure and “its impact among citizens.” For his part, the Island Councilor for Mobility, Enrique Arriaga, values that “the increase in passengers reflects the effectiveness of the reductions applied to prices as a measure to promote public transport.”
Since the new prices came into force, the company Titsa has recharged a total of 71,147 subscriptions with reduced prices, among which the resident and the young prevail. While, Metrotenerife has sold a total of 42,718 bonus titles, among which the 5-trip voucher also stands out. Therefore, the total recharges recorded during the month of september is 113,865 in the different subscriptions, 97% more than in the same period of the previous year, when 57,578 were registered. The data of this first balance reflect that the sale and recharge of season tickets since the beginning of the 50% discounts on rates has practically doubled.
“Positive” rating
Pedro Martín highlights that the figures recorded in the first month are “positive”. He adds that “the economic situation, with a rise in prices that is maintained over time, made it necessary to adopt initiatives like this one by the Government of Spain.”
The island president emphasizes that “not only do they help families, students, workers, but also promote the increasing use of public transport as an efficient way to guarantee energy savings and, therefore, reduce environmental costs.”
For its part, the president of Titsa and Metrotenerife, and island councilor for Mobility, Enrique Arriaga, highlights the relationship between the reductions applied in prices and the promotion of public transport. In addition, it ensures that “many customers who were traveling using the Ten+ purse card have signed up for the monthly tickets due to the competitiveness of their prices.” He is confident that the trend will continue in the coming months.
“It has been an effective and far-reaching measure among the citizens of the Island”
During the month of September 5,368,576 trips have been made on public transport, of which 3,157,425 have been made with a season ticket. This implies that six out of ten trips have been made with the established discounts. Arriaga explains that “the resident subscription is the one that has increased its sales the most, since in September 2021 there were 12,538 and last month they reached the amount of 35,677.”
The youth season ticket, intended for people under 30 years of age, has always been the most popular title. In the month of September, recharges have doubled compared to the previous September, going from 25,984 to 49,687. As for the senior monthly bonus, aimed at people over 65 years of age, top-ups have gone from 1,029 in September 2021 to 2,145 in the same period this year, which represents an increase of 108%. A similar growth is the one that took place in the title aimed at people with disabilities, which went from 460 sales to 950 in the past month.
The 5-trip vouchers, exclusive for trams in the Metropolitan Area, have increased their sales considerably. In September, Metrotenerife sold a total of 16,718 bonds of this title, 178% more than in the same month of 2021, when 6,009 were sold.
“It is shown that the reduction in prices boosts the use of public transport”
For regular travelers
The island director of Mobility, José Alberto León, comments that the discount that began to be applied on September 1 “is designed for frequent travelers, since the titles that apply to this promotion are the monthly resident, senior, young or of people with disabilities, the title of 5 trips and the social bonds of Cabildo». To benefit from the discount, users do not have to carry out any additional procedures, only renew their subscription before it expires.
If you do not yet have the monthly Ten+ card, you can request it through the website www.tenmas.es, or at the Cabildo Citizen Services offices if you are elderly or disabled.
113,865 Recharges
During this first month of the 50% discount, 113,865 top-ups have been recorded in the different subscriptions, 97% more than in the same period last year (37,578).
Titsa has eleven offices in its stations and nearly 500 authorized recharging points throughout the insular geography. Metrotenerife has vending machines on all the platforms of the tramway network, in addition to the two commercial offices at the stops at the ends of Line 1, Trinidad and the Interchange, to buy and recharge travel tickets.
The first data on the discount as an incentive to use public transport are very positive. It remains to be seen whether the trend continues.
Award for the issuance of Green Bonds
Metrotenerife’s Green Bond issue has been recognized by the Global Light Rail Awards as one of the best sustainability and environmental initiatives. The island councilor for Mobility and president of the company, Enrique Arriaga, points out that the distinction and the nomination for Best Operator of the Year show its position and international valuation in the guided and concrete transport sector in the railway sector. Arriaga, and the island director of Mobility, José Alberto León, together with the team in charge of managing the complex operation carried out by the company in 2021, collected this distinction at the ceremony held this week in London, where the main European rail operators gathered . | jdm
