Long distance buses to be renewed thanks to subsidies

The Balearic government has approved subsidies totalling 69.5 million pesetas to renew the fleet of buses which provide the service to outlying towns and villages, and belong to various companies. The Catalina Marques company will receive 30.1 million pesetas for the purchase of new vehicles. The money will be used to purchase five new buses for the service between Palma and Portals Nous, Palma Nova, Magalluf and Santa Ponsa, as well as 13 ticket machines and other improvements to the service. But in order to obtain the aid, the company has to withdraw three of its vehicles which are more than 16 years old and also prove the purchase of the new vehicles and equipment. The other bus companies which have benefited from the aid are Autobuses San Antonio SA, Autocares J Caldentey SL, Sebastià Cánovas Gómez, Valentin Roca Triay SL, Autocares Andratx SA and Torres Allés Autocares. They have received subsidies totalling 39.4 million pesetas. The subsidies for new buses, which do not have to be repaid, are for between 15 and 20 per cent of the cost. Aid for other improvements such as elevators for wheelchairs, is 100 per cent, with a limit of two million pesetas per bus.