A new carrier has launched on route No. 32 in Lutsk with six buses, including the VDL Citea MLE-88, which meets the Euro-6 environmental standard. The update is expected to improve the intervals of service, which passengers in Lutsk have frequently complained about. This was reported by the publication Konkurent.
Six buses from the new carrier have entered route No. 32 in Lutsk
The new carrier, FOP Fedyk, started operations on September 7. On the first day, six buses were serving route No. 32, which allowed for reduced intervals that had been prevalent under the previous carrier.
The fleet includes not only the familiar VDL Ambassador but also the VDL Citea MLE-88 from 2014, which complies with Euro-6 environmental standards.
«It's great that this is the first bus for the carrier equipped with an electronic board instead of using traditional signs,» — said car enthusiast Andriy Khomyts.
However, the design of the VDL Citea MLE-88 has features that may create inconveniences during peak hours. The bus has only one door, and its length and interior layout may slow down passenger boarding and alighting.
The fleet's update comes amid other changes in the urban transport system. Specifically, updated schedules for trolleybuses have been in effect since the beginning of summer, which can be checked through online tracking services.
Buses on route No. 32 in Lutsk will operate until late evening
Another significant change has been the extended operating hours of the route. On the first day, the last bus arrived at the final stop in the village of Lypyny around 10:00 PM.
For passengers, this means the ability to use public transport later in the evening. The lack of buses during morning and evening hours, long intervals, and schedule failures were among the main complaints from Lutsk residents to the carriers in the summer.
«Let's wish the carrier good luck in servicing this completely new route for them and hope it meets local expectations regarding the quality of transportation, especially concerning the intervals and stability of nighttime services,» — stated the message from the community Public Transport of Lutsk.
The actual quality of the new carrier's operations can be assessed after a longer period of use. For passengers, key indicators will include schedule stability, intervals between buses, and the availability of evening routes.
It is worth noting that earlier, due to road closures in Lutsk, routes for public transport, including buses and trolleybuses, were changed.