The Government approves the purchase of new buses to reinforce the service given the foreseeable increase in demand.
From 1 January the entire TIB network will be free for users with an Intermodal Card. In this way, the free travel on the rail network, in force since September, will be extended for the whole of next year and free travel on the bus network will be added, which in recent months has offered discounts of up to 70% on all journeys.
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This was announced on Wednesday by President Francina Armengol, accompanied by the councillor for Mobility and Housing, Josep Marí, at a press conference to present the new free intercity bus service on the islands.
“I think this is a crucial step forward for many families because this winter will be complicated for many people,” said President Francina Armengol, referring to the fuel price crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. “I encourage people who don’t have the Intermodal Card to get it and the general public to use public transport. With three days left, we have already carried 1 million more passengers than in 2019, the record year so far. Citizens, when you give them possibilities, respond very well”, concluded Francina Armengol.
This new measure is added to all the improvements that the Government has been implementing in public transport this year. For example, the increase in public transport frequencies, in the case of the train, offering more frequencies at peak times, and in the case of the bus, extending frequencies and bringing forward the start of the summer timetables to the beginning of April. Another measure was to offer free 5-euro top-ups on the new Intermodal Cards until the travel discounts came into effect in September.
All these measures have resulted in an increase in demand in 2022: 33.54% more users have travelled this year than in 2019. Also this 2022, 94,966 new Intermodal Cards were issued, representing 158.71% more new cards compared to the same period in 2019.
The TIB is preparing to be able to adapt the offer to the possible increase in demand as a result of free public transport. In this regard, the last Consell de Govern approved a budget increase so that the Transport Consortium of Mallorca can authorise the purchase of 10 new vehicles.
On the other hand, so that the bus service can be adjusted to the demand at all times and can be planned and managed in the best possible way, it is necessary to know the number of people travelling on each bus. For this reason, it is important that the user continues to validate the card when getting on and off the vehicle. Thus, even though the service is free, the user must have credit available on his or her card. If the card is not validated when getting off the bus, a penalty of €0.30 will be charged.
The free travel with the Intermodal Card is also extended to the Palma EMT network.
Those who do not yet have the Intermodal Card can get it at the TIB user service offices in Palma, Inca, Manacor and Alcúdia and at the OACs in Marratxí, Llucmajor, Santa Ponça and Magaluf. You can also apply for it through the municipal offices of most of the town halls.
We remind you that the free fare only applies to journeys made with the Intermodal Card. Therefore, the bank card, single ticket and QR ticket fares remain unchanged.
More information on tib.org.