Tunisia took delivery of its first consignment of used French buses this Saturday morning, marking a significant step in the Tunisian government’s efforts to revamp its public transport fleet.
According to Tunisia’s “Nesma” TV channel, the Minister of Transport, Rabei Al-Majidi, announced the arrival of the buses during his visit to the port of Halq El Wadi. This acquisition is part of the country’s preparations for the upcoming school season.
The minister elaborated that the first batch includes 122 buses of the “Iveco Irisbus” model, among which are 32 double-deckers. This procurement is part of a deal to purchase 300 used buses from the independent Paris Transport Agency, “RATP”. The second consignment, which comprises 100 buses, is expected to arrive at the end of October.
Regarding the financial details, Al-Majidi stated that the overall deal to purchase these used buses is valued at approximately 16 million dinars. To put this into context, the price of a new standard bus ranges between 400 and 450 thousand dinars, while a new double-decker is priced between 700 and 750 thousand dinars.
Notably, these buses are eco-friendly. They are equipped with particle filters in line with the European “Euro 5” standards and also come with an automated system, making them accessible for persons with disabilities, especially in the space dedicated for them.
It’s worth mentioning that the Tunisian transport company had previously procured similar buses in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017, some of which are still in use.
