SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 7th October (EUROPA PRESS) –
Tenerife Interurban Transport (Titsa), a company run by the Cabildo, is projected to surpass 80 million passengers in 2024, thereby affirming a significant growth trajectory which commenced with the introduction of complimentary public transport in January 2023.
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, emphasised that this initiative is “essential” to ensure transport accessibility for all residents of Tenerife and “has enabled thousands who previously relied on private vehicles to now choose a public service that is efficient and of high quality.”
The president made these comments during her visit today, Monday, to the Titsa Control Centre situated in the Interchange, accompanied by the Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García.
“Free transport has completely transformed mobility on the Island, achieving an annual average increase in passengers of over 20 percent, which indicates it has been one of the most transformative and necessary policies of this term,” stated Dávila, who noted that thanks to this initiative, TITSA has recorded unprecedented user numbers, with 69.4 million passengers in 2023, and anticipates concluding 2024 with over 80 million individuals transported.
Furthermore, Dávila reported that TITSA operates more than 7,000 trips daily across the Island, positioning it as the “backbone” of the regional transportation network. She added that this growth has necessitated an expansion of the workforce, with the recruitment of 300 new employees in the past two years, of which 240 are drivers, and an expectation to hire an additional 66 drivers for the intercity service in 2025.
“This workforce expansion is crucial to ensure we maintain the quality and efficiency levels that users deserve,” said the president, who also indicated that the Cabildo has initiated the largest undertaking in the history of the Canary Islands towards sustainable mobility, incorporating 317 new eco-buses by 2026, of which 250 have already been procured this year with an investment totalling 88.4 million euros. These buses, 70 percent of which are hybrid, will decrease fossil fuel consumption by 30 percent and lower CO2 emissions by 6,650 tonnes annually, establishing Tenerife as a leader in sustainable mobility within the Canary Islands.
In addition, Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García, recognised the dedication of all Titsa employees and highlighted that from November 2023 to September 2024, 149 new daily services have been added and enhancements have been made to 29 key lines, based on punctuality and capacity considerations.
Moreover, García has introduced specific shuttles for universities and regions with high demand that previously lacked sufficient coverage, thus improving access for thousands of students and workers to their destinations.
