Arona (Tenerife), 22 (Europa Press)
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, visited the Titsa workshops in Parque de la Reina on Tuesday, accompanied by the Minister for Mobility, Eulalia García, and the mayor of Granadilla de Abona, José Domingo Regalado, to unveil the new buses that will be added to the service starting next Monday as part of the enhancement and reinforcement of public transport in the southern region of the island.
This initiative encompasses the launch of new strategic lines, an increase in service frequencies, route reorganisation, and the addition of 13 new buses along with 52 new drivers, 40 of whom will be stationed in the south.
During the visit, Rosa Dávila highlighted that “the south of Tenerife already serves approximately 20 million passengers annually, and thus, bolstering public transport in this area is a top priority.”
She noted that this reorganisation “not only addresses the rise in users opting for free transport, but signifies a structural commitment to enhance the service; we aim for a faster, more punctual, and better-connected public transport system.”
The initiative to enhance and reinforce public transport in Tenerife is part of a historic strategy championed by the Cabildo, which includes the renewal and expansion of the Titsa fleet with 320 new buses between 2024 and 2026, with a total investment of 113.4 million euros.
This unprecedented initiative aims to “strengthen the most in-demand routes, enhance punctuality, replace older vehicles, and move towards a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible mobility system, which will decrease reliance on cars and help alleviate congestion on the island’s primary routes,” stated Rosa Dávila.
Of the total, 250 hybrid buses are set to be incorporated during 2024 and 2025, while an additional 70 buses—many of which are 15 metres long and double-deckers—are expected to arrive in 2026.
As explained by the Minister for Mobility, Eulalia García, “these units are designed to significantly increase transport capacity, accommodating from 65 to over 100 seats per vehicle.”
She added that “a substantial portion will be deployed in the southern part of the island, where some of the most congested routes in the island network are located and where it’s essential to operate vehicles with higher capacities to meet the growing demand.”
The new line 114, commencing operations on April 28, will serve as a key feature of the enhancement plan.
This route will provide a direct link between San Isidro and Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s interchange, considerably improving transport availability between the south and the capital.
Notably, the San Isidro stop hosts the highest passenger volume, with over 4,000 users daily.
Along its route, the 114 will make all stops between San Isidro and Punta Prieta, proceeding directly to Santa Cruz, thereby reducing travel times and improving punctuality.
This design seeks to enhance the experience of users currently availing themselves of lines 10 (South Airport – San Isidro – Santa Cruz) and 111 (Costa Adeje – Santa Cruz), providing more service frequencies and diversifying offerings in the South-North corridor.
Additionally, as a new feature, for the first time, long-distance lines will offer two spaces for individuals with reduced mobility.
Line 111 will modify its route, including stops at Los Cristianos and establishing its new terminus at Costa Adeje station, resulting in reduced travel times for long-distance passengers.
For those travelling between San Isidro and Los Cristianos, line 450 will receive enhancements, increasing its frequency to an average of one service every 20 minutes, ensuring seamless connections.
Line 883: Internal shuttle in Las Chafiras
Another significant addition is the establishment of the 883 shuttle, aimed at providing internal service in the urban area of Las Chafiras (seaside), which is particularly affected by traffic during peak hours.
This line will operate between 7.30 and 19.30 on weekdays and Saturdays, covering the most congested sections and facilitating internal mobility.
It will traverse Modesto Hernández González Avenue and the TF-655 towards La Reina Park, offering links with other intercity routes.
Thanks to this shuttle service, lines 415, 470, and 483 will cease to operate within the urban core of Las Chafiras and will instead run along the TF-1, enhancing travel times and regularity of service.
These three lines will maintain their regular routes on Sundays and during periods of less congestion.
Titsa has also proposed the creation of new strategic stops near the South Golf and on Tenbel-CC Avenue to facilitate transfers.
According to Titsa data, this initiative will benefit 86.5% of passengers using these lines, travelling to or from areas such as Médano, the coasts, south golf, or La Reina Park.
Additional reinforcements in pivotal lines of the South and Metropolitan Area
In addition to the new lines, the plan encompasses an increase in services on high-demand routes such as line 416 (Granadilla – Los Cristianos), 417 (Costa Adeje – Guía de Isora), and 120 (Santa Cruz – Güímar) with expanded frequency on working days.
In Güímar, on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the service will commence earlier from Güímar to the capital, catering to the needs of workers and students.
Approximately 25 million passengers annually in the south
In 2024, Titsa recorded a total of 82.2 million passengers, with 19,900,837 using southern lines, accounting for 24.2% of the island’s total and representing a 20.25% increase compared to 2023 (over 3.3 million additional passengers).
The most frequented lines were 467, 473, and 447, which connect major hubs such as Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, La Caleta, and Callao Salvaje.
In the first quarter of 2025, the company transported a total of 21,563,747 passengers, reflecting a 7.97% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
This growth equates to 1,592,633 new passengers in just three months.
In terms of regional demand, the south of Tenerife ranked as the second-largest generator with 5,404,565 passengers, representing 25.1% of the island’s figures during this period.
Furthermore, it was the area with the highest year-on-year growth, increasing by 9.24%, surpassing the central region (+7.91%), northern region (+8.40%), and long-distance services (+5.83%).
According to Eulalia García, “these figures underline the necessity to continue expanding and enhancing the public transport network in the south of the island, as outlined by the initiative launched by the Cabildo de Tenerife and Titsa, with additional lines, more buses, and improved connectivity.”
