Titsa, the transport company of the Cabildo de Tenerife, is preparing to face free travel for travelers with a voucher with the best service starting next January 1. Within this framework, the reception of three new intercity buses for the long-distance lines to the south of the Island, the ones with the greatest demand, must be placed. These vehicles precede the 60 that are expected to be received before April of next year and the total of 120 throughout 2023.
The insular Councilor for Mobility and president of Titsa, Enrique Arriaga, was accompanied in the presentation by the insular director of the area, José Alberto León, and the manager of the company, Raquel Martínez. Arriaga anticipates that these buses will be used for lines 10 –Tenerife Sur Reina Sofía Airport–, 110, 111 and 112, as they are the routes with the highest number of detected users.
The acquisition of the three new vehicles has a cost of 764,700 euros, Arriaga points out that in this way “the commitment to public transport is reinforced in order to make it more competitive compared to private vehicles.” In addition, it confirms that the new buses will serve to cover the high demand generated by the 50% reduction, since last September 1, of the prices of the monthly passes.
These vehicles are of the MAN brand and model Lion’s Chassis CO 26.430 (RR4). They are 15 meters long and have a maximum capacity of 93 passengers, 59 seated and 33 standing plus one space for wheelchairs. In addition, they are fully accessible, since, among other things, they have a lift platform at the rear door for customers in wheelchairs and are equipped with light signaling for those with visual difficulties. Arriaga clarifies that “on long-distance trips to the South, no passenger may stand with the sole exception of line 111, which makes stops along the route. They also have a next-stop singing system with activation through the ONCE universal remote control. Inside the bus, the space for guide dogs is marked.
The insular Director of Mobility, José Alberto León, explains that these new buses have a driver assistance system. It acts as an undistracted eye and performs constant analysis of the road, identifying pedestrians and cyclists on the road so you can avoid collisions.
Arriaga values: «These buses will allow us to face with quality in the service the increase in passengers produced with the 50% discount, on the 20% total, and the one that is expected with the free one from January 1, which oscillates between 7% and 15% more, depending on the lines in question”.
twelve more buses
Next week it is expected to present another twelve vehicles and before the end of the month two more that, in the latter case, will go to the route of the Teide. The three new ones will be operating this week on those routes with the greatest congestion. Arriaga adds that, in addition, “we are going to incorporate up to 100 drivers over the next year.” The counselor highlights small details, but “important” such as the presence of the Tenerife flag on the exterior side of the vehicles, the company logo on all seats, Wi-Fi or the USB connection for all passengers.
“We already had the forecast of buying buses in March 2021 – says Arriaga – to respond to the deficit of a rentin contract inherited from the previous mandate that forced us to return them this year.” He adds that “we have managed to delay this process and the removal of other vehicles.” He summarizes: “We do not lose but we increase the number in 2023 and in 2024 and 2025 the purchase of 248 is planned in a Renewal Plan to face the return.”
Arriaga assures that “you have to be on the lookout for the first few weeks as it already happened with the 50% discount.” He acknowledges specific problems that have grounded passengers at some stops in the south. He cannot guarantee that this will not happen again, but he does say that “we are working to the maximum so that it does not happen again. We study the schedules and lines carefully to avoid it.
The counselor concludes: «We worked to give the best response as in Güímar, where there were problems and we reordered successfully. We adapt so that it does not happen again that nobody is stranded at a stop ».
The “serious doubts” and “concern” of the Popular Party
The Popular Party shows its “concern” about “the effectiveness” of the implementation of free public transport as of January 1, 2023. Lope Afonso, candidate for the presidency of the Cabildo, points out: “If they had executed the motion that we presented in October, they would have time to prepare the necessary logistics to implement the measure on time. For his part, the insular councilor Manuel Fernandez understands that “it is contradictory that the Cabildo recommends to the population that they do not use public transport at rush hours if the objective is to get cars off the road.” Afonso and Fernández are categorical: “It is impossible for the Cabildo to have all the logistics to implement this measure in such a short term.” They ensure that those responsible for the areas involved recognize that in order to guarantee the application of the gratuity it was necessary to “ensure the availability of vehicles, hire personnel and update the computer systems”, three requirements that “will not be solved in the short term, therefore that we doubt that the free public transport will begin to be applied effectively from January 1 ». | JDM
