Will the frequency of line 3 buses increase soon?
Faced with the ever-growing number of buses on the Fontvieille C.Cial / Hector Otto line, the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) could put new buses into service on line 3 as of next year. The opportunity to take stock with Roland de Rechniewski, CAM operations director.
“Line 3 is very poorly served”, “The buses are too small”, “Too often full”, ” the wait is long “… In recent weeks, many users have complained about line 3 from the Fontvieille shopping center to the Hector Otto Foundation. A nascent disenchantment which sometimes results in a rejection of buses in favor of other means of locomotion.
The route of line 3 condemns oversized buses
“Personally, I’ve stopped taking the bus for years and I travel by scooter or sometimes by car., says Carlo Bony. It is so much more convenient and much faster. ” The same goes for Jean-Marc de Monigue. “Vélib ‘are better than buses! ”
Aware of the lack of frequency on one of the busiest lines in the Principality, which depends in particular on the hospital, the operations manager of CAM, Roland de Rechniewski, told us that reinforcements will arrive in the course of 2022 to improve the situation.
“We regularly reinforce the lines by injecting additional buses, especially during peak hours, he explains. You should also know that the complexity of line 3 prevents us from running the same buses as on lines 1 and 2. We have to adapt the vehicles. “
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A half-hybrid fleet, while waiting for the electric
In this regard, and while awaiting the arrival of the first electric buses, already seen with the free and electric minibus from Larvotto beach, the CAM is continuing to renew its fleet. “Of our 45 vehicles, half are already hybrid, reveals Roland de Rechniewski. Since the delivery of our last buses in 2018, we have not ordered a single one. Ultimately, we will only have hybrid and electric buses. “
In a small state like Monaco … we have to rely on a solution
But for a 100% electric fleet, we will still have to be patient. By way of comparison, when a diesel bus averages 250,000 euros excluding tax and a hybrid bus is valued at 380,000 euros excluding tax, the price of electric buses is close to half a million euros. And for now, the game is not necessarily worth the candle.
“In a small state like Monaco, with frequent traffic and service obligations, we have to rely on a reliable solution. Today, the powers required to charge an electric bus are colossal. A 16-amp charging outlet is not enough. “ But as we delegated Roland de Rechniewski, if the electric buses will still take a little time to arrive, an announcement will be unveiled in 2022. “A great novelty. But I can’t say more at the moment. ” One chosen is sure, the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco has not finished surprising us.
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