Bogotá’s BRT system expands eco-friendly fleet with new 64 NGVs
Transmilenio’s concessionaire, Masivo Capital, will start operating on June 23 the first 64 buses with Euro VI CNG engines, of a total 320 feeder vehicles that will join its fleet between June and October of this year, thus fulfilling the commitments to renew the bus fleet of Bogota city. These 64 buses will reinforce the operation of nine feeder routes in the town of Kennedy, with 26 buses, and the feeding services of Portal Américas and the Banderas intermediate station, with 38 vehicles.
The addition of this new fleet will not only help to improve the service in the neighborhoods, but also to have a better air quality in Kennedy, Bosa and Suba Oriental, reducing emissions of particulate matter by the latest technology of the engines. Furthermore, this renewal and the entry into operation of the new concessions represent an important source of employment for the city, as each bus generates approximately four jobs.
“We continue with the process of renewal of Transmilenio’s fleet, today the feeder part. We have introduced new clean, natural gas buses, which pollute 99% less than the vehicles we are replacing, which were Euro II. In addition to all the innovations they have, we are testing a new biosecurity tool that is a sheet that divides the chairs and an isolated cabin for its driver,” said the Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia Lopéz.
“We are committed to advancing major projects in the SITP (integrated public transportation system of Bogotá and positioning it as a leader in clean technologies. In addition, each new bus represents a new job opportunity, quality of life for a family and better service for users. Bogotá is on the path of implementing sustainable mobility, capable of meeting the needs of citizens and in accordance with the new District Development plan, a new social and environmental contract,” said Felipe Ramírez, General Manager of TRANSMILENIO S.A.
These standard vehicles (with capacity for 80 passengers) are Scania with Busscar and Superpolo bodies. They feauture quieter engines, insulation of the driver’s compartment to protect it from possible physical aggressions and exposure to COVID-19 contagion with independent cabin design, accessibility platform for people with reduced mobility (which makes them 100% accessible) and built-in security cameras.
Parallel to the renewal of the Feeder fleet, Transmilenio also advances in the renewal of the entire fleet of phases I and II of the Trunk routes with 1,441 new buses, process that began in mid-2019 and is close to completion. On June 27, 130 new bi-articulated buses with Euro VI CNG engines corresponding to the Patio Américas will come into operation, and with this addition, there will be 1,335 new buses of the expected 1,441. In other words, by the end of June, the renewal of the Trunk fleet (phases I and II) would be 93% completed. The last batch, which corresponds to 106 bi-articulated buses for the Usme yard, will come into operation before the end of the year.
