The new bus network in the Porto metropolitan area (AMP), dubbed Unir, is “reformulating and adapting” timetables in the Norte Nascente, Sul Nascente and Sul Poente sections, according to a note published on its website on Tuesday.
“Unir is reformulating and adapting the schedules of lots 2, 4 and 5 to the service provided. “They will be available soon,” says a note at the entrance to the brand’s website, created by AMP for a new network of automobile passenger transportation in the region.
The areas at stake are the northeast (Gondomar, Valongo, Paredes and Santo Tirso), the southeast (Arroca, Oliveira de Azemeis, Santa Maria da Feira, São João da Madeira and Vale de Cambra) and the southwest (Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho). ), which are now unavailable on the site due to its reformulation.
In a social media post on Tuesday, the AMP brand already mentioned that it is “closely monitoring situations reported” across its communication channels “and is working with partner transport operators and municipalities to normalize operations in AMP’s 17 municipalities.
“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation,” concludes the post, a day after the first day of operation of the new 439-line network across AMP, which has sparked much controversy and complaints from users, largely due to the lack of regular bus and school services , as well as information at stops.
Some buses still operate with the old design and without a working flag, as well as without a route number, retaining an A4 sheet indicating the destination, as was the case with previous passenger road service operators in AMP.
Unir began operations on 1 December, a public holiday Friday, replacing the services provided by approximately 30 private road operators in the AMP, such as Caima, Feirense, Transdev, UT Carvalhos, Gondomarense, Pacense, Arriva, Maré, Landim, Valpi, Litoral Norte, Souto, MGC, Celuwe, Espirito Santo and others.
In Porto and neighboring municipalities, the STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Coletivos do Porto) service remains unchanged.
The entire UNIR network will use the Andante ticketing system and ends with the line-by-line concession model inherited from 1948, as the public tender was divided into five lots, although they all operate under the same brand.
The network will use four numbers to designate lines, following the logic of distribution by municipality, and will have blue, white and black buses.
According to the contracts, AMP will provide a total of €311.6 million over seven years as part of the new public road transport network.
The most expensive lot was Norte Nascente (Santo Tirso/Valongo/Paredes/Gondomar), transferred by AMP to Nex Continental Holdings (known as Alsa) for €93.5 million, followed by Norte Centro (Maia/Matosinhos/Trofa), transferred Vianorbus. (consortium of Barraqueiro and Resende) for 82.3 million euros.
Following in the table is Sul Poente (Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho), awarded to Transportes Beira Douro (from Auto Viação Feirense) for €59.8 million, Sul Nascente (Santa Maria da Feira/São João Madeira/Aroca/Oliveira de Azeméis/Vale de Cambra), transferred to Xerbus (Xerpa Mobility and Monbus) for 41.9 million euros, and Norte Poente (Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde), transferred to Porto Mobilidade ( consortium of Transdev, Auto Viação do Minho and Litoral Norte) for 34.1 million euros.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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