The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has recently welcomed the arrival of the first batch of 75 new buses out of the 250 scheduled to be added to the Interurban Transport fleet (Titsa). These new buses, with a remarkable 70% being hybrids, are part of an initiative to refresh the ageing fleet, reduce CO2 emissions, and achieve a 30% reduction in fossil fuel consumption.
The investment of 88.48 million euros marks the largest commitment to public transport in the history of the Cabildo, aiming to enhance sustainable mobility for users through the introduction of new routes and the reinforcement of heavily used routes in the North and South of the Island.
All the new buses meet accessibility standards, positioning Titsa as the third largest public transport company in Spain with the most modern and eco-friendly fleet.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, emphasised the ongoing effort to achieve sustainable mobility in Tenerife, stating, “The significant purchase and driver recruitment underscore our commitment to enhancing service quality and promoting eco-friendly transport on the island.”
Dávila mentioned the importance of affordable, frequent, and efficient public transport to encourage a shift from private vehicles. This strategic approach involves infrastructure projects, public transport improvements, and mobility policies to address challenges like traffic congestion.
As part of the traffic congestion alleviation plan, the promotion of public transport includes the fleet expansion and renewal, the introduction of university shuttles, and the automatic renewal of transport passes for various categories of riders at a reduced rate, encouraging greater ridership.
In a move towards a greener fleet and improved service, the average age of buses will decrease to 3 years, reducing dependency on leased vehicles. Additionally, all new buses will be disability-friendly, a notable improvement from the current 60% of buses that cater to passengers with disabilities.
These eco-friendly buses are expected to bring about a significant cut in CO2 emissions and lower fossil fuel consumption by an estimated 30%, contributing to a more sustainable transport system on the island.
Boasting a 4-year warranty (increased to 7 years for hybrid vehicle batteries), the new fleet signals an era of modernisation for Titsa. And with the recent surge in passenger numbers across all regions, Titsa transported over 69 million passengers in 2023, marking a substantial 44.88% rise from the previous year.
