Prague will limit the operation of trams, buses and the metro. Almost ten drivers are missing
Public transport will not return to normal mode until 15 January. There is a critical shortage of drivers, and they have often exhausted the maximum number of overtime hours. The transport company offers new drivers a starting salary of 35,000 crowns.
Prague – In the next two weeks, Prague’s public transport will run on weekdays according to holiday timetables. The reason is the insufficient number of drivers within the Prague Integrated Transport (PID). He introduced Martin Šubrt, Deputy Director of the Ropid organization, which is planning Prague’s public transport.
The connection interval is extended by about two minutes on average by about ten minutes. The connections will return to normal mode from Monday, January 15. The restriction applies to connections in the territory of Prague, not to suburban lines. He pointed out the restrictions server www.irozhlas.cz.
According to Šubrt, there is a shortage of drivers, and they have often completely exhausted the maximum number of overtime hours. “Half-holiday PID operation in the first two weeks of January is introduced in order to reduce the requirements for hours worked by drivers from the beginning of the new year, or to offer some of them the opportunity to take time off, for which only a week-long Christmas holidays did not provide enough space. “, He said.
Last year, for example, the Transport Company (DPP) complained about the lack of tram and bus drivers. He ran a recruitment campaign due to the lack of employees. There were also problems in suburban transport, especially in Kladno.
Ropid claims that the restrictions do not cause traffic problems. Compared to other periods at the beginning of January, public transport is said to be used by ten to 20 percent fewer passengers.
During normal holidays, all school lines will be in operation and the increased number of connections will run on student lines type 107 or 143. Restrictions will not apply to suburban lines and also do not apply to city lines, adjacent lines are coordinated with the operation of those suburban lines.
About eight percent of drivers and drivers are missing from the Prague transport company, said its spokeswoman Aneta Řehková. Due to the lack of drivers, holiday timetables will apply until 12 January 2018. The company currently employs 4,230. For example, the company has increased the number of courses and also offers benefits to attract applicants. The company, whose sole owner is the capital, has 10,932 employees.
For those interested in a job, the transport company offers a starting salary of 35,000 crowns and a contract for an indefinite period. Drivers are also entitled to discounted fares for themselves and family members, the company renting them for supplementary pension insurance or meal vouchers.