Transdev begins operation of new zero-emission buses in northern Stockholm

Credit: Transdev

Transdev has announced that it has taken over bus services in Norrtälje, in the northern part of Sweden’s capital Stockholm, on behalf of the regional transit authority AB Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL). In total, 250 drivers ensure that around 450,000 public transit journeys can be made each month within the municipality and between Norrtälje and the Technical University.

“On the whole, the start-up has gone well, but there has been a bit of a break-in with new buses, new technology and some new temporary staff. Despite the initial problems with the signage on some buses, it feels great to be able to deliver a good public transport service with high accessibility from day one, with nice fresh buses for our passengers and employees,” said Mattias Galante, responsible for the Norrtälje start-up project at Transdev Sweden.

In total, about 110 new buses, including 25 double-deckers, will run on the express line between Norrtälje and the Technical University in Stockholm city. In addition, five new electric buses have been put into service. All buses run on fossil-free fuels, are accessible and offer good comfort for passengers with USB sockets at each seat and free WiFi. The buses also collect valuable data that can be processed to make traffic run more smoothly and to help buses arrive and depart on time.

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Mattias Galante further added: “A bus is no longer just a vehicle to transport passengers from one place to another. Through sensors, they now collect lots of data about how we drive, how many people are on the bus, whether there are traffic disruptions, whether we are on schedule and so on. Data that we deliver every second to our customer, SL, to improve real-time information for passengers but also to better adapt the timetable and supply to actual needs.”

Transdev will operate the bus service in Norrtälje on behalf of SL until 2031.