A number of public and school buses not considered up to safety standard have been removed from circulation on Monday, with various routes out of service, particularly in the Paphos district.
“Unfortunately, we could find no other solution but to remove buses that are not properly equipped in accordance with their contracts,” Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades said, speaking on CyBC’s morning programme.
The decision by the ministry comes after long meetings over the weekend after an incident on Friday in Aglantjia in Nicosia where a school bus transporting students caught on fire—the third of its kind.
All Emel buses with more than 22 seats that carry students have been pulled off the streets from Monday until such as time as they are outfitted with automatic engine-fire extinguishing systems, the ministry announced.
The withdrawal includes buses subcontracted by Emel to transport public school students from primary age to secondary, without affecting other activities of the same buses.
Despite the company’s disagreement, the buses’ operation had to be suspended in order to ensure student safety and their record does not inspire confidence, Vafeades said.
“One incident [of fire] might be considered an accident but after the third one it is clear that the safety environment is weak, and you can expect a fourth,” the minister noted.
He added that inspectors are to be sent out by the ministry to evaluate all premises which certify the suitability of vehicles for circulation, to record precisely where the weaknesses lie.
The problem of lack of updated safety equipment is one of a “difference of interpretation” of the terms of contact with the state, the minister explained, specifying that after the second bus fire incident in October, the ministry had demanded that all buses be upgraded with the system, despite a law allowing any vehicle in circulation prior to 2009 to not require this.
European safety regulations did not come into effect until September 1, 2021 and were not in effect when the buses in question were registered, the ministry elucidated.
According to Emel’s announcement, the following routes will be affected: Moutayaka – Linopetra High School (D7), Polemidia – Polemidia High School (B3), Polemidia – Polemidia High School (B6), Nikos Evagorou (Palodia) – Ayia Phyla High School (A11), Germasogeia – Germasogeia Primary School, Sanida, L. Linopetras – A Technical, Moni, L. Linopetras – A. Technical, Pyrgos – A. Technical, Pyrgos – Agios Nikolaos, Monagrouli – Monagrouli Primary School, Kyvides, Agios Silas – A Technical, Kyvides, Apostolos Loukas – A Technical School, Souni, Hanatzia – Omodos High School, Kalavasos – L. Linopetras, A&B Technical School, Silykou – Lemythos High School, Foini – Trimiklini Primary School, Limnati – Trimiklini Primary School, Pelendri – Ag. Phyla – A. Techniki, Silikou, Ag. Georgios – Omodos High School, Kalo Chorio – Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Techniki, Fasoula, Spitali – Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Techniki and Apsio, Gerasa – Gymnasium & Lyceum Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Technical.
The ministry clarified that Emel buses with over 22 passenger seats which carry out regular intercity and urban routes, are up-to-date and certified according to European standards, which include fire extinguishing systems in the engine, as well as fire extinguishers and sensors inside the cabin.
The Paphos transport organisation (Osypa) issued an announcement late on Sunday stating that due to the ministry’s decision all buses with over 22 seats will be out of circulation on Monday and will not operate their routes, including school routes.
Due to the very limited availability of minibuses, most routes in the Paphos district will thus not be running.
The company will make updated announcements about routes re-starting as the buses get upgraded over the next two weeks, Osypa said.
Cyprus Public Transport (CPT) informed the public that its entire fleet is equipped with the latest technology in terms of safety, and therefore this directive does not apply to its routes.
