Reprieve for Palmanova to Palma bus

There was a public outcry when it was announced last week that the EMT, the Palma municipal bus company, was to scrap its Palma to Palmanova route. Yesterday however, the local authorities buckled under pressure and announced that the Palma-Illetes-Portals Nous-Palmanova service will return, but be provisionally operated by another bus company from tomorrow. The new bus company has been ordered to charge the same fares as before and buses will leave Palma for Palmanova every 12 minutes. The bus to Illetes, with services starting at 6am, will set off from a new stop in Calle Eusebi Estada, near the Soller train station. The reprieve for the hugely popular and vital bus services will be welcomed by thousands of commuters and residents as for many the bus was a lifeline. Last week's announcement that the route would be scrapped not only threw people's lives into disarray but also threatened people's jobs as they had to look for alternative transport arrangements. The axing of the bus service was also ironic, considering the huge emphasis being placed on public transport and the massive drive to encourage more people to use the buses and trains.