Attica’s bus and trolley bus operator, OSY, has increased the fleet of special service vehicles for people with disabilities, from three to 10.
With electric buses, hydrogen vehicles and new technology trolleybuses (the so-called IMC), Athens urban transport seeks to renew its fleet, while in parallel it will continue the practice of granting bus lines to private individuals.
Regarding hiring drivers, the lack of which is a thorn in the side of urban transport, the goal of Athens buses (OSY) is to increase their number to 3,200 by the end of the year, from approximately 2,750 now, in order to run 110% of the route planning of the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA).
Moreover, the lack of some 600 drivers has resulted in services being skipped today, testing the patience of passengers. At the same time, in the long term and as the new strategic transport plan for Attica is being shaped by OASA, the goal is for the number of buses and trolleybuses to reach 2,000 vehicles by 2035, from approximately 1,540 today.
That would contribute to an increase in travel by public transport to 40%, from 27% now.
As announced on Monday during an OSY event presenting the new vehicles for disabled transport service, a tender by OASA for €15 million is also in the works for the assignment of an additional 12-13 bus lines to private individuals.
This, it appears, will concern the concession of even circular lines, like in municipalities such as Papagou, so OSY can strengthen everything that has to do with a narrow urban fabric and high densities.
OSY operates 200 bus lines, while the concession of 63 regional lines in Eastern and Western Attica for eight years has already been preceded by a consortium under the KTEL and tourist buses.
On the driver search front, OSY reports, in addition to the announcements of permanent drivers – to eight-month contracts for the recruitment of 500 drivers – at present only 118 are the final applications that have been submitted.
In the meantime, OSY has increased the fleet of special service vehicles for people with disabilities, from three to 10, in order to serve more citizens.
“We used to cover over 3,000 people annually, now we will cover 6,000,” said Stefanos Agiasoglou, the chief executive officer of OSY.