Government presents "pioneering model" for bus services

The tender places an emphasis on the introduction of buses which run on natural gas or electricity. Under an agreement with Redexis Gas, which is the natural gas supplier, there will be buses generating "fewer contaminants", said transport minister Marc Pons. The eventual aim is for all buses to use gas or electricity.

Pons explained that a condition of the concessions will be that two-thirds of the buses will be new and that a minimum of seventeen need to be powered by electricity. For the gas, Redexis is to create supply points in Alcudia, Calvia, Felanitx, Inca, Santa Margalida and Palma. The company's president, Fernando Bergasa, expressed his "enormous satisfaction" at being involved in pioneering energy transition "for a cleaner world".

The minister echoed his words in describing the new bus services as "a pioneering model for the whole of Spain". There are no other concessions covering a size equivalent to Majorca that have the criteria which have been set out.

As far as passenger benefits are concerned, the total number of bus service frequencies is to rise by just over 50% as will the total number of kilometres covered by the new services.