Deep concern about the public road passenger transport concession in the Alto Tâmega e Barroso Intermunicipal Community (CIMAT) mobilizes workers from Auto Viação do Tâmega (AVT). Fear of non-compliance with the concession contract in Chaves based on the recent experience in Montalegre. Importance of the service to the community it has served for almost 80 years motivates AVT.

Chaves, January 1st - The start of regular public passenger transportation in Chaves tomorrow is a serious concern for Autoviação do Tâmega (AVT), which has been serving the Alto Tâmega and Barroso community for almost 80 years. For the benefit of the people of Chaves and everyone else in the region, AVT workers have mobilized to check the service provided by the new operator. The recent experience in Montalegre proved the inability of the new concessionaire to respond to the specifics of the tender it won and there is a well-founded fear that the situation will be repeated in the municipalities of Boticas, Chaves, Ribeira de Pena, Valpaços and Vila Pouca de Aguiar.

At the start of the operation in Montalegre, a series of non-compliances were noted, such as the absence of an on-board ticketing system, non-compliance with the obligation to provide information on intermediate routes and timetables or the absence of a sales and public information point.

In anticipation of a repeat of the situation in Chaves, AVT workers have mobilized, on behalf of the people of Flavi, to monitor the service and verify, with their experience and knowledge, the failures and non-compliance with the service stipulated in the concession contract awarded to Flaviamobil, Lda.

These AVT 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 entities.

"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.