The Romanian Consumers' Protection Agency, known as ANPC, made a decision on Thursday, March 20, to halt the operation of 23 trams because of various violations found during inspections. The problems included poor cleanliness within the vehicles, compromised bellows which might endanger passengers, ripped seats, and shattered windows.
As part of the inspections, the depots in Dudești, Giurgiului, Alexandria, Militari, Colentina, and Victoria in Bucharest were examined.
During the inspections, several issues were noted: water seepage within the trams; deteriorated or fractured seals that might jeopardize the vehicles' seal integrity; dirty radiators which could impact interior air quality; shattered windows posing risks to road safety; as well as floors not up to standard due to cigarette remnants and tossed waste materials.
Moreover, an examination was conducted at the municipal transit authority in Constanta, known as CT Bus, uncovering multiple issues such as soiled seating areas and inadequately maintained boarding and alighting zones for disabled travelers. The inspectors noted that the bus cleansing process appeared only cursory.
In response, Bucharest’s mayor Nicusor Dan stated RFI The issues arise from insufficient funding. “If additional funds were provided for replacing the seat upholstery, we might be able to address these concerns. However, halting operations isn’t an option—perfect transportation conditions would require using only the 100 modern trams acquired post-1989 Revolution and discontinuing the remaining 300 trams in our fleet.”
He said, "Obviously, it's not standard to see trams from the '70s and '80s operating in Bucharest. However, until we secure the necessary funding to replace them and receive European financial support, our priority must be maintaining public transport services."
Dan, who is an independent presidential candidate challenging the ruling party's nominee, has frequently asserted that the budget for the Bucharest General City Hall has been reduced significantly over the past few years by the government.
radu@romania-insider.com
(Photo source: LCVA | Dreamstime.com )
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