ITALY
On 1 November 2021, RATP Dev subsidiary Autolinee Toscane in the Tuscany region of Italy took over the area’s entire regional public transport system. The firm now holds the concession for all Tuscan public transport, previously operated by 22 companies, acquiring all of their buses, depots, and offices, and transferring their staff. The company now operates 965 routes using a fleet of 2,700 buses travelling 110 million kilometres every year.
After two years of operation, the operator says that it has achieved significant improvements to the services it provides, including new buses, innovative recruitment campaigns to help address the chronic shortage of bus drivers, and technological innovation including improvements to service and passenger information and video surveillance. The company says it has invested €310 million in two years, to which a further €35 million will be added in 2024, including €24 million for the further fleet renewal.
“The past two years cannot be summed up in numbers alone. It has become clear that Tpl (Tuscany local public transit) plays a key part in a cultural transformation closely connected to the environmental concerns of cities. By providing a more extensive service and having a greater presence, Tpl can reduce pollution, improve travel experience, and decrease accident costs with numerous benefits,” commented Gianni Bechelli, President of Autolinee Toscane.
“These 770 days of intense, daily, and constant work, accompanied by massive investments, have produced major results. Much has been done, but we are and always will be committed to improving the service,” added Autolinee Toscane CEO, Jean-Luc Laugaa. “To achieve the best performance, it is essential to get all the relevant parties involved in local public transport strategies, with investments, resources and, above all, consistent choices to make Tpl a top priority in mobility alternatives.”