titsa registers close to ten million passengers in the first two months of the year. There are practically three more than in the same period of 2022 and the figure coincides with the measure of the free public transport in force from January 1, 2023. The vice president of the Cabildo de Tenerifeinsular Councilor for Mobility and president of Titsa, Enrique Arriaga, indicates that these figures “show a significant increase compared to before the pandemic, since 33.2% more travelers have been consigned than in the same period of 2019.” Arriaga values that “the main significance of this balance is in those 2.5 million users, an increase compared to before the covid-19 pandemic.”
Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife (Titsa), company of the Council of Tenerife, displaced a total of 9,989,959 passengers during the past months of January and February. This figure represents a increase of 3,088,832 passengers, 44.8% of increase, compared to the data for those months in 2022. Arriaga indicates that these figures “also show a significant increase compared to before the pandemic with the transport of 2,492,650 more people.” The president of the transport company points out that “the figures confirm the good acceptance of the use of free passes, such as the one for young people or residents, as well as the preference in the use of the bus to enjoy events such as the Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He adds that “this record reinforces the decision taken to purchase more vehicles for the service, as well as the new driver recruitment processes that will be opened throughout 2023.”
The largest increase in passengers occurred on the long-distance lines to the north, with an increase of 57.9% compared to last year, followed by the area of influence of intercity trips Candelaria-Güímar, a route that also increased by 57.6%. On the other hand, the lines in the northern zone increased globally by 51.7%, followed by long-haul lines to the south, which experienced a rise of 46.1 percent. Arriaga emphasizes that “it is clear, based on the response of the passengers, that the free measure has been a resounding success.”
long distance routes
The insular councilor for Mobility underlines as a factor to highlight «the 50 percent increase in long-distance routes, especially to the south». It emphasizes the comparison with 2019, a reference prior to the pandemic. Enrique Arriaga connects the increase in demand, with more and more people claiming the discount for free buses, and “the best service we can offer.” Hence, he values, that “in response we are going to hire a hundred new drivers this year and acquire 250 buses, of which 177 are hybrids, between 2024 and 2025.” He sentences: “This will mean the expansion of the fleet and the renewal of interurban vehicles with more than 10 years old.”
Meeting in Metropolitan
Metropolitano de Tenerife and the company’s Works Council will hold tomorrow at the Cocheras -facilities of the public entity dependent on the Cabildo at the El Cardonal Line 1 stop-, at a time to be defined, the key appointment for try to unblock a entrenched labor conflict. Its current translation is the strike of the 202 workers on the staff that began on February 17, the day of the Carnival Parade, and is expected to last until the end of May. The positions are far apart with two points of friction: the carcinogenic silica dust from the braking system and the 35-hour work week, which will center the agenda. The most recent novelty is the appointment of Pedro Ribeiro as the new manager. Enrique Arriaga highlights his “experience in the guided transport sector and his knowledge of the entity where he has already worked.”
