SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 31st March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has received the first batch of 75 new buses out of a total of 250 that will be added to the fleet of the Interurban Transport (Titsa). These new buses, with 70% being hybrid, aim to replace the existing fleet, which is over a decade old, in an effort to decrease C02 emissions and achieve a 30% savings in fossil fuel consumption.
As announced by the insular Corporation, this represents the largest investment in public transport in the history of the Cabildo, with a total investment of 88.48 million euros. The initiative is geared towards enhancing the sustainable mobility of passengers by introducing new routes and bolstering services on the most congested routes in the North and South of the Island.
All the newly introduced buses comply with accessibility standards, positioning Titsa as the third-largest public transport company in Spain, equipped with the most modern and sustainable fleet.
The President of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, emphasized the significance of persisting with their established objectives, stating, “Our unwavering goal is to achieve sustainable mobility in Tenerife.” She added, “This landmark purchase by Titsa and the recruitment of 67 new drivers amidst the backdrop of free public transport showcase the government’s dedication to improving service quality and transitioning towards sustainable and eco-friendly mobility for Tenerife.”
Dávila pointed out that providing “affordable public transport, with optimal frequencies, reaching all destinations swiftly and sustainably, will help drive up public transport usage, subsequently reducing private vehicle usage – a longstanding issue that we are addressing with a resolute strategy combining infrastructure projects, public transport enhancement, railway development, and mobility policies such as surface parking regulation and the establishment of Low Emission Zones.”
She further reiterated that an integral part of the anti-traffic congestion action plan is to promote public transport through various measures, including expanding and modernizing the Titsa fleet, introducing two university shuttle services, and automatically renewing travel cards for subscribers in different categories – Canarian residents, seniors, youth, and individuals with disabilities – after just ten trips in a three-month period.
“The addition of these new buses will not only refresh the aging fleet but also replace rented vehicles, resulting in a reduction of the interurban fleet’s average age to 3 years, enabling the company to own its vehicles and move away from the leasing model that was prevalent for many units in the fleet,” added Dávila.
Moreover, all buses will be equipped for individuals with disabilities, marking a significant enhancement as only 60% of the existing buses in service are currently adapted. Additionally, these new buses will lead to a considerable decrease in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption savings, with an anticipated average reduction in consumption by 30% due to this system.
The vehicles come with a 4-year warranty, extended to 7 years for hybrid vehicle batteries. The reinforcement of the new bus fleet is part of a series of recent actions, including recruiting 67 new drivers, with 25 having already completed training.
The procurement of the new buses coincides with a surge in passenger numbers across all areas served by Titsa on the island. In 2023, the island’s transport company moved 69,472,103 passengers, signifying a 44.88% increase compared to the previous year, with a total passenger growth of 21,387,561.
