Half of Athens buses are idle on shortages
The fleet of buses and trolley buses that serves the Greek capital under Road Transport SA (known as OSY) is so obsolete and the ability of the company to obtain spare parts so limited that its vehicles are simply not enough in number to provide service on all routes, which is why some have been abolished.
A planned restructuring of public transport companies has not been implemented despite being part of the third bailout agreement and being voted in Parliament in October.
It is estimated that on a daily basis more buses (1,100) remain parked in their lots, half without tires, than those that go into service in the Greek capital (1,050-1,070).
At the same time, shortages in the company’s human resources resulting from retirements and a policy for zero hirings, mainly in drivers and technical support staff, prevent all buses and trolleys from circulating regularly. OSY data show that one in three shifts (of drivers and technical staff) required for the daily operation of a bus or a trolley bus is no longer covered. From 12,000 shifts in 2013 and 2014, fewer than 10,000 were covered last year, showing a shrinking of transport service by about 24 percent.
