The first 75 out of 250 new buses, which are set to bolster the TITSA fleet in Tenerife, have arrived at the port of Santa Cruz. These new buses, of which 70% are hybrid, mark a significant step towards rejuvenating the existing fleet, which has been in service for over a decade. Their introduction will reduce CO2 emissions and achieve a 30% reduction in fossil fuel consumption.
As reported by the Cabildo, this represents the largest investment in public transportation in their history, amounting to €88.5 million. The objective behind this investment is to enhance sustainable mobility for users by launching new routes and reinforcing the most congested ones in the North and South of the Island.
All the new buses comply with accessibility standards, positioning TITSA as the third-largest public transportation company in Spain with the most modern and sustainable fleet.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, emphasised the significance of continuing their commitment to sustainable mobility in Tenerife. She stated, "The largest purchase in TITSA's history and the hiring of 67 new drivers represent significant milestones in this government's commitment to improving quality of service and advancing towards sustainable and ecological mobility for Tenerife."
Dávila added, "If we have affordable public transport, with enough buses, enabling access to all locations while being fast and sustainable, we will increase the usage of this type of transportation, thereby reducing the use of private vehicles, a longstanding issue that we are addressing through a determined approach combining road infrastructure projects, public transportation improvements, railways, and mobility policies such as surface parking regulation or the establishment of Low Emission Zones."
In the same vein, she reiterated that one of the crucial pillars of the congestion relief plan is promoting the use of public transportation through measures such as expanding and renewing the TITSA fleet, launching two university shuttles, and automatically renewing the transportation pass for subscribers in different categories - Canary residents, seniors, youth, and people with disabilities - by simply making ten trips within a three-month period.
"The new buses will facilitate the replacement of the current fleet, which is over a decade old, and the leasing vehicles. This will reduce the average age of the interurban fleet to 3 years and enable the company to own vehicles, moving away from the leasing plans that were in place for many fleet units," added Dávila.
Moreover, all vehicles will be adapted for people with disabilities, a significant improvement as currently only 60% of the buses in service are adapted. Additionally, these new buses will lead to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions and fossil fuel consumption, with an estimated 30% decrease in consumption thanks to this system.
The vehicles come with a 4-year warranty, 7 in the case of hybrid vehicle batteries. The reinforcement of the new buses is part of a package of measures implemented in recent months, including the hiring of 67 new drivers, of whom 25 have already completed training.
