"Solaris" wins in "Rīgas satiksme" bus tender
When organising the procurement procedure, "Rīgas satiksme" has set forth the following requirements: 12-meter buses – 60, 18-meter buses – 115, 100% low floor (without steps at entrances and main passages), model of funding the delivery contract, delivery within five years. The compulsory equipment of buses: vehicles and all their systems functioning at outdoor temperatures of -40°C – +40°C, lifetime of buses is 12 years with annual run of 70,000 km, 2-year warranty or 150 000 km run, wheelchair platform with electromechanical drive (for disabled persons), heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, integrated on-board information system, set of engineering maintenance materials and spare parts for a run of 150 000 km, set of special tools. The additional equipment includes automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine chamber, movement dynamics regulation system, interior LCD monitors and information and communications equipment to transmit information.
Initially, 38 bidders took interest in the "Rīgas satiksme" bus procurement procedure and received application forms, yet offers were submitted by "Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.", consortium of SIA „Domenikss” and AS „Swedbank” ("Mercedes Benz"), "Iveco Czech Republic a.s." and "VDL Bus & Coach" ("Amoplant").
As the most advantageous offer was recognised that of "Solaris Bus&Coach S.A.", which offered the following prices:
- Basic price of bus (without additional equipment)
"Solaris Urbino 12" – 242,500.00 EUR
"Solaris Urbino 18" – 318,000.00 EUR
- Price of bus with possible additional equipment
"Solaris Urbino 12" – 283,609.00 EUR
"Solaris Urbino 18" – 359,109.00 EUR
"Rīgas satiksme" provides 52 bus routes and 9 night bus routes, and the total distance run by buses exceeds 27 M km per year. The company runs a fleet of 432 buses, of which 140 buses are 18 meters long, 72 buses are 15 meters long and the remaining 220 buses are 12 meter long or shorter (Ikarus E 91). The new buses will replace those whose lifetime (12 years) is over. There are 121 such buses now, but in five years the lifetime of the remaining 311 buses will also expire.
Leons Bemhens, "Rīgas satiksme" Chairman of the Board: „Renovation of the public transport fleet is important not only for passenger’s comfort, it is also economically justified. For example, in the last three years repair costs associated with bus maintenance have grown by 20% and in 2013 are planned to be LVL 6.7 M. The costs of the new vehicles are lower not only because of the more favourable warranty terms, but also because of their quality. It is also important that the purchase of new public transport is provided for by long-term plans of "Rīgas satiksme" and will not increase the amount of subsidies paid to the company.”
According to statistics, the number of passengers carried by buses is growing every year. For example, buses carried 57.6 M passengers in 2010, 62.2 M passengers in 2011 and 64.4 M in 2012, an increase of 6.8 M passengers in just three years.
In eight months of 2012 and 2013 the Information centre of "Rīgas satiksme" filed 581 complaints that it is too cold in public transport and 504 complaints that it is too hot. Only 1/5 of buses have air conditioning systems. In eight months of 2012 and 2013 the Information centre of "Rīgas satiksme" also received 221 complaints that public transport is overcrowded, as well 157 requests for larger vehicles to be launched. In a customer satisfaction survey carried out by SKDS in 2013, 72% passengers claimed having dealt with overcrowded public transport.
For more information about the services provided by "Rīgas satiksme", public transport routes and schedules, types of tickets and other news, please visit our webpage at www.rigassatiksme.lv, social networks "twitter", "facebook", "draugiem.lv" or call our toll-free information phone 80001919.
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