Public transport's Creci: Perhaps an increase in public transport travel ticket be considered when at European standards

In an interview with the National News Agency AGERPRES, the managing director of the Bucharest Transport Society (STB) Andrei George Creci is confident that when the public transport in the Romanian capital city will be at European levels, then the STB could think of raising the pay for a travel ticket.

We pride ourselves with our public transport network, says Andrei Creci, and adds that it is one of the largest in central and eastern Europe, when it comes to tramways, in particular. It is about 765 square kilometers, out of which 228 sq kilometers of metropolitan area, and the STB operates for nearly 2.5 million inhabitants. All in all, there are rd 500 kilometers operated by 26 tramway lines, 16 trolleybus lines, 122 bus lines. Around 280 tramways, 181 trolleybuses and 865 buses operate in the traffic. In Bucharest are covered daily 1.18 million travels of which 520,000 with the tramways, 120,000 with the trolleybuses and 540,000 with the buses.

The STB already operates almost 100 Otokar buses and by 1 June all of the 400 buses will be at work in Bucharest, says Creci, adding that as many as 860 old buses Mercedes the life span of which was already exceeded still operate.

Director Creci says that as of mid-February, all of the pupils will travel for free in Bucharest, no matter ...their school grades. The pensioners as well will continue to travel free of charge.

Andrei Creci says that the travel pay for the surface transport is the smallest in the country, as reported to the transport network, yet no bid was tabled to raise the tariff. When traveling at European standards, then perhaps a raise in the travel tariff will be tabled, too, but not now.

In the first 9 months of 2018, the STB's total incomes parked at over 752.5 million RON, of which 130.6 million out of travel tickets, 564.7 million RON from compensations, 470,040 RON from rentals (vehicles and spaces), and circa 4.39 million RON from advertising.

Currently, the STB counts for roughly 10,642 employees, with a net salary of 3,840 RON per driver and 2,001 RON per cashiers, to which bonuses are added, as foreseen in the collective labour agreement and in the Labour Code. To this add the meal tickets.

Andrei Creci says the STB is to implement a dual education project, with an agreement among the economic operator, the education unit and the student/parent regarding a certain school period, with costs supported by the state, through the minister and the economic operator, having the obligation that at the end of the 3-year study period, the graduate comes to work in the operator's company. The crafts are in particular those that are not taught in schools anymore, such as locksmiths, electricians.AGERPRES(RO - author: Mariana Nica, editor: Nicoleta Gherasi; EN - author, editor: Maria Voican)

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