Bucharest public transport operator to add AC to trams, trolleybuses

The Bucharest public transport operator RATB has opened three bids to equip trams and trolleybuses in its fleet with air conditioning, Profit.ro reported. A total of 259 trams and 100 Astra Irisbus trolleybuses will be equipped with AC, under a contract estimated at EUR 20 million, without VAT. Thirteen Bucur trams will be equipped with AC by the end of the year, while the deadline for the remaining vehicles was set for two years after the contracts are awarded. The offers for the three auctions will be opened in the second half of November. This summer, RATB opened thebid to equip up to 150 buses it operates with air conditioning. The Bucharest City Hall is currently looking to selected the provider of 400 new buses for the city’s public transport network. It resumed the auction for the purchase of 400 new Euro 6 buses after the first auction for the same purpose was canceled because of a technical malfunction. RATB currently owns 1,000 Mercedes Citaro buses, which were bought during the term of the former mayor Adrian Videanu. However, only a part of them are currently operational. This June, the Bucharest City Hall was planning to purchase 100 new trolleybuses and 100 new trams. editor@romania-insider.com