Chile signs contracts for a new fleet of buses for the RED system

MTT statement

This is a machine translation of the original press release issued in Spanish

Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications (MTT), the contracts for the Bus Supply Tender of the Santiago Public Transport System were signed, which will allow the renewal of a fleet of up to 2,030 new buses with sustainable technology. electric or ecological Euro VI.

The contracts were signed between the MTT and the companies representing the brands Mercedes Benz, Volvo , Scania , Foton and BYD , which were awarded each of the five bus lots that includes type A and B vehicles for ecological technologies (Euro VI diesel) and electric, and type C (articulated) in Euro VI diesel eco technology.

With this new step, the process that aims to have a new system that raises the quality of service for people, enters its final stretch.

The new model consists of two tenders: one to ensure the supply of buses, which has already been awarded; and the second, which provides the operation of services and defines a scheme with smaller companies , with an average of 400 buses per operator. This new design will provide greater flexibility to the system with tools that allow the replacement of companies that do not meet the quality standards required in the new contract.

The final definition of the number of buses to be supplied according to their type and technology (diesel or electric) will be carried out once the tender for the Road Use Concession has been resolved, which is currently awaiting receipt of the offers scheduled for mid of August. It will be the operators who will determine the number of buses and the type of technology that each service unit will have.

This tender will renew a fleet of up to 2,030 buses, with the highest standards of quality, safety and comfort, to guarantee a better travel experience for users, which will be added to the 2,220 buses that are already operating. Once its operation begins, the Red standard will represent 62% of the system's fleet.

"With this step, the implementation of the redesign of the new Public Transport System for Santiago is closer and closer, which seeks to implement greater inspection tools and increase the quality of service requirements to improve the travel standard of users," he explained. the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Gloria Hutt.

Among the main attributes and advantages that this tender provides to public transport, greater guarantees of buses and their components stand out, demands and guarantees are established to have spare parts and local support, overhaul or maintenance of the average life of buses and spare parts is required. of batteries in the case of electric vehicles, internal and external security cameras, object proximity detection systems (to avoid collisions and collisions), internal screens to display travel information, energy efficiency systems and driving quality, safety requirements. training of drivers and maintenance personnel. In addition, it establishes computer and telemetry systems for a better online control of the status of vehicles.

The director of Metropolitan Public Transport, Fernando Saka, added that, to guarantee that the maintenance of the buses is carried out correctly, “a fleet maintenance certification system was included to ensure quality service until the end of life. useful of the buses ”.