 | |
| Parent | RATP Dev |
|---|---|
| Founded | 9 October 1996 |
| Headquarters | Borgo San Lorenzo |
| Service area | Regione Toscana |
| Service type | Public transportation |
| Chief executive | Gianni Bechelli |
| Operational Manager | Jean-Luc Laugaa |
| Website | www |
Autolinee Toscane S.p.A. (also known asat) is a private Italian-French company, wholly owned byRATP Dev, active in the localpublic transport sector. It manages several urban and suburban bus lines inTuscany for a total of 1.7 million kilometres travelled annually.
It is part of a temporary association of companiesColBus[1] together withMAS+, the latter owned byF.lli Alterini,S.A.M. andF.lli Magherini, and holds 33% of the companyLi-nea,[2] also owned byATAF Gestioni andCooperativa Autotrasporti Pratesi.
TheRegione Toscana projected in 2010 the reform of the local public transport by road, to guarantee economic and social sustainability to the sector for the coming eleven years, with apublic tender, to appoint a sole agent to manage the localpublic transport in Tuscany.The Region andONE Scarl,[3] the consortium born on 21 December 2017 formed by twelve public transport operators (ATAF&Li-nea, Autolinee Chianti Valdarno, Autolinee Mugello Valdisieve, BluBus,CAP Autolinee,Consorzio Pisano Trasporti,CTT Nord, Etruria Mobilità, PiùBus, Siena Mobilità,Tiemme Toscana Mobilità, Vaibus), signed an agreement on 29 December 2017 to fulfil the transitional period pending the opinion of theEuropean Court of Justice and theCouncil of State for the assignment of the public transport services to a single company occurred with a public tender.[4]Following several appeals, the takeover of local operators has been postponed various times until 1 November 2021 when Autolinee Toscane became the single operator in the Region.[5]
Autolinee Toscane operate the following transporting assets as of 1 November 2021:[6][7][8]
| Provinces | Local Routes | Regional Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Arezzo | 30 | 52 |
| Firenze | 90 | 98 |
| Grosseto | 22 | 2 |
| Livorno | 57 | 27 |
| Lucca | 18 | 85 |
| Massa-Carrara | 28 | 48 |
| Pisa | 34 | 49 |
| Pistoia | 34 | 28 |
| Prato | 9 | 10 |
| Siena | 118 | 67 |
| Regional | - | 9 |
Autolinee Toscane fleet is really varied as it derives from the merger of twenty-two transport companies with different needs by territory and routes. AT is planning to renew the fleet acquiring 2,095 buses over a period of ten years.
As the average age of the vehicles is higher, about half has more than 15 years of activity,[10] AT decided to purchase immediately new buses in 2022 making an investment of 40 million euros to buy 223 new local and regional buses.As of August 2022 has been purchased the following models.[11]
TheMercedes-Benz Conecto have been purchased and put into service in the main cities on those lines with significant flow of passengers. The new local model is 12 m (39.4 ft) long, equipped withEuro 6 engine and can carry 108 passengers (26 seated). The livery is completely white and the blue "at" logo is applied on the front, back and both sides of the bus.[12]
FourMerceds-Benz Intouro 12 m (39.4 ft) long, with a capacity of 50 seats and 25 standing, entered in service on the regional fast routes connectingFlorence withSiena,Montespertoli andBorgo San Lorenzo. The bus livery is completely blue and the white "at" logo is applied on the back, front and both sides.[13]
Six minibusSprinter City, adapted byIndcar Mobi, were acquired in order to service the small cities or the hilly routes of the region.
ThreeVolkswagen Crafter minibuses were delivered on 25 May 2022 to operate in the historic center ofMontepulciano. The minibuses have a length of 7 m (23.0 ft), a width of 2 m (6.6 ft) and can carry 25 passengers. They are slightly smaller by the standards required for the category, just to be suitable to transit within the historic center of Montepulciano, with its narrow streets, particular slopes and access gates through medieval doors. The Crafters have been modified byCarind International ofCampello sul Clitunno, a company specialized in changing transport vehicles according to the required needs.[14]
TheIveco Crossway, in the 10 m (32.8 ft) and 12 m (39.4 ft) meters configuration and equipped withEuro 6 engines, have been acquired to increase and renew the obsolete former regional fleet operating through theProvinces of the Tuscany. The bus has a 49 passengers layout and appropriate space for one wheelchair and two folding seat.
AT acquired the 18 metres (59.1 ft) meter-longIveco Streetway with a capacity of 142 passengers (49 seated) fit for high density routes. The vehicle is equipped with Euro 6 step E engine with CNG fuelling.[17]
AT ordered 13Iveco E-Way electric powered buses to be operated in Prato. Four vehicles have been delivered and operating, the remaining nine will be hand over by 2026. The E-Way is 10.7 metres (35.1 ft) meter-long and a capacity for 84 passengers (20 seated). The electric engine has a power of 294 kwh.[18]
AT acquiredIveco Daily, modified byIndcar Mobi, 8.5 metres (27.9 ft) long suitable to be operated on the hilly routes of theGarfagnana and that in the provinces of Prato, Pistoia, Siena, Grosseto, Firenze and Pisa. Five 8 metres (26.2 ft) buses were acquired to be operated in the narrow streets of city centre ofLucca. All the buses are equipped withEuro 6 engines.[19]
AT launched a tender for acquiring 250 new buses in three years time andOtokar resulted the winner of the purchase tender. The first batch provides for the delivery of 150Kent buses 10.8 metres (35.4 ft) long equipped with6.7L ISB Cummins Euro 6 engine and a capacity of 94 passengers.[20]
The second batch regards the delivery of 100Vectio buses 9.26 metres (30.4 ft) long equipped with 6.7L ISB Cummins Euro 6 engine and a capacity of 59 passengers.
Two electric busesEltron M3, manufactured byRampini SpA, were acquired for the local transport inArezzo. The Eltron is 8 metres (26.2 ft) long and has a capacity of 45 passemgers, the electric engine has 281kW power allowing an autonomy of 250 km; the batteries are recharged overnight.[21]
One singleAnadolu Isuzu Novociti Life was acquired to operate regional routes departing from Siena. The model is 8.5 metres (27.9 ft) meter-long and a capacity of 60 passengers (21 seated) and one wheelchair. The bus is powered by an Euro 6FPT NEF4 diesel engine.[22]
The fares are distinguished by a system of colours according to the routes reported at the bus stop:
Autolinee Toscane has adopted two single local fares in the entireRegion:Urbano Capoluogo issued in the Capital of Provinces andUrbano Maggiore in the others main centres both for a 70 minutes (90 in Florence) validness. Amulti-trip tickets carnet with ten tickets is on sale.
Various unlimitedpasses are available as needed, after an online registration, according to the type and the period (monthly, quarterly or annual). No card is released and the control is carried out exhibiting theTessera sanitaria.[23]
Autolinee Toscane has released the Elba Pass that allows to discover theElba travelling on the public transports. The card has a validity for one, three or six days and permit to go around unlimited on all buses.[24]
Autolinee Toscane has started the installation of 1,013 display at bus stops throughout the Region. The newsmart bus stop, produced by the Swedish companyAxentia, is the latest generation in the electronic displays that will ensure a gradual evolution of the technologies applied to the stops of the local public transport network. The bus stop displays has a compact design, don't require power cable or antenna and the maintenance is reduced to the replacement of the battery every five years. The project has been brought forward compared to the program and is carried out in parallel with the installation of the newestAVM systems on the entire fleet that will provide the information of the passages in real time.[25]
Autolinee Toscane has developed its own app calledat bus to manage by smartphone the moving by public transport within the territory of Tuscany. The app allows to buy tickets and passes, to plan and facilitate the choice of the routes, the stops and to check the timetable.
Contactless payment is available to purchase tickets aboard, without charge, usingcards or smartphones which make part ofAmerican Express,Mastercard andVisa brands. On the local lines “tap” every time onboard, a green screen appear when is checked in. On the regional and fast lines must be “tap” before getting off too. The service is available on the whole network.[26]
