AVT drivers confirm deficiencies and irregularities in the "Move Alto Tâmega e Barroso" transport service
Deep concern about the concession of public road passenger transport in the Alto Tâmega e Barroso Intermunicipal Community (CIMAT) has mobilized drivers from Auto Viação do Tâmega (AVT) to evaluate all the lines in the municipalities of Chaves, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Boticas, Ribeira de Pena and Valpaços. Fear of non-compliance with the concession contract, based on the recent experience in Montalegre, is the motivation of the workers who have been serving these populations for 80 years.
Chaves, January 3rd - On the second day of operation of regular public passenger transport in the Alto Tâmega e Barroso Intermunicipal Community (CIMAT), and the start of the school season, there were several irregularities and breaches of the concession contract by the new operator.
With the bad experience of the start-up of the operation in Montalegre, and in anticipation of a repeat of this situation in Chaves, AVT workers mobilized, on behalf of the people of Flavi, to monitor the service. With their experience and knowledge, they were able to verify various faults and failures in the service stipulated in the concession contract awarded to Flaviamobil, Lda on all the lines in the municipalities of Chaves, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Boticas, Ribeira de Pena and Valpaços.
Buses that didn't exist, leaving people unable to travel; buses that broke down; ticketing systems that didn't work or even didn't exist; non-compliance or even absence of timetables; the new Chaves bus “terminal” without any infrastructure; young people waiting without knowing which bus would take them to school and when. Young people who were going to travel without a pass, as they were unable to buy one due to the lack of information about the change of location.
In addition, there were several illegalities in the bus operation itself. Information about the destination and the line operated was absent; in situations where this information existed, it was wrong; information panels with the name of the company that owns the operator and not the operator; reports of passengers making the journeys without paying or without reaching the final destination. Confusion prevailed and consternation reigned: “If you think this is a 21st century service, look at this”, António Gonçalves Carvalho, the drivers' spokesman in this action, has been working at AVT for 26 years and is a representative of SNMOT (National Union of Drivers and Other Workers).
The day before, on Tuesday, the date of the start of the operation in Chaves, the workers of AVT, the operator of the public passenger transport service for the last 80 years, had already gathered evidence of the new operator's failure to comply with the concession contract. These workers, namely drivers and security guards, have operated the routes and lines of the service now concessioned to another operator for years, and their track record puts them in a better position than anyone to assess the operation by the new concessionaire. This mobilization reflects AVT's justified concern about the service to be provided by the new concessionaire, which has been repeatedly shared with the community and responsible bodies.
"Our number one priority has always been the people we serve. Our dedication to the community is unwavering and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that it has the services that will help its well-being, prosperity and development." says Miguel Nogueira, manager of AVT. "The mobilization of our workers in defence of the region's inhabitants is further proof of our commitment to the trust that has been placed in us over the last few decades and that we want to maintain" he adds.
Since the beginning of the concession process, AVT has been critical and skeptical of the international public tender and over the last few months it has been attentive and vigilant, closely following developments to make its concerns heard with the competent authorities.
"With the rigor, seriousness and transparency with which it has provided its services for almost eight decades and guided its actions to better serve its community, AVT seeks to safeguard the public interest." says Miguel Nogueira, manager of AVT. At this base and at the "and our own offices, we have positioned ourselves and argued about the deficient international public tender for the concession and operation of the public passenger transport service in the region launched by CIMAT in 2021." he adds.
About Auto Viação do Tâmega (AVT)
Auto Viação do Tâmega (AVT) is a private limited company, made up of five partners, which has exclusive rights to around 70 official concessions for public road passenger transport in the municipalities of Chaves, Vila Real, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Valpaços, Vinhais, Boticas, Montalegre, Peso da Régua, Santa Marta de Penaguião, Ribeira de Pena and Mirandela. AVT also operates daily express services to Braga, Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon and international transport services - in partnership - to Spain, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. Each year, occasional rental services have become increasingly important to the company, which has nearly 150 employees and a fleet of more than 140 vehicles. More information at https://avtamega.com.