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Although quietly, the mobility of the Lazio Region is facing an epochal change. Compared to the current model, extremely “Romecentric” and with fragmented management in the other cities of Lazio, Astral will increasingly assume the role of “regional agency for mobility”, fully taking on the functions carried out by the defunct AReMoL.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEW NETWORK MODEL
In compliance with the art. 4-bis of L 102/2009, which requires the tendering of at least 10% of public transport services, the Lazio Region has started in recent years a survey of the service levels to be guaranteed (DGR 912/2019), approving finally, a new regional public transport planning model (DGR 617/2020) based on 11 optimal territorial areas defined as “Network Units” (UdR for short).
THE COMPETITION FOR THE NEW ASSIGNMENT
On 13 January 2023, Astral, on the basis of a mandate from the Regional Administration, started the tender procedure for the assignment of the 11 RUs in as many lots (G01164): the objective is to pursue a rationalization of services, overcoming the the current fragmented assignment of individual municipalities to unify the management of regional transport both from an operational point of view (under the supervision of Astral) and from a tariff point of view (through the abolition of the ownership rights of individual managers).
The unified tariff system will be made up of both UdR proprietary tickets that can be spent in any territorial area, and the expansion of Metrebus season tickets (called “Metrebus Plus”).
The duration of the assignment will be 9 years starting from the date of actual start of the service with the Administration’s right to extend it up to a maximum of 50%, i.e. up to a further 4 and a half years. Below is the list of RUs and the expected production in kilometers when fully operational:
- Northern Tyrrhenian Sea – 3.64 million driver-km;
- Tiber Valleys – 2.67 million train-km;
- Valle del Sacco – 2.93 million driver-km;
- Castelli Romani – 2.58 million train-km;
- Aniene Valley – 1.61 million driver-km;
- Tuscia – 2.27 million train-km;
- Reatino – 1.25 million train-km;
- Terra di Lavoro – 2.25 million driver-km;
- Ciociaria – 4.21 million train-km;
- South Coast – 3.35 million driver-km;
- South Pontine – 3.85 million driver-km.
For a total of 30.61 million vehicle-km outsourced to private operators.
The contracts will have a “net cost” structure, therefore the contractors will be entitled to both a fee from the Region and a share of the proceeds from the Metrebus and UdR system in proportion to the production supplied.
The tender is currently being awarded.
THE RACE FOR NEW BUSES
At the same time, Astral proceeded with the publication of the tender (G01458) for the acquisition of 115 buses which will be provided free of charge to the new operators of the service. In detail, 93 buses measuring between 8 and 10.8 meters in length will be purchased, equipped with a disabled platform and powered by compressed methane (CNG) and 22 buses measuring between 7 and 8 meters in length, equipped with a disabled platform and powered by diesel.
The vehicles must serve for at least 14 years from being put on the road, according to the maintenance program of the specific specifications, for a production of 60 thousand km/year up to and including the 6th year of operation – therefore 50 thousand km/year until the end of their life technique – and a maximum circulation of 16 hours a day. All vehicles must benefit from the basic warranty of 24 months or a mileage of up to 120 thousand km.
The tender is currently being awarded.
THE ROLE OF COTRAL
With the takeover of the new operators, Cotral will cede part of the service provided, going from the current 75.5 million scheduled annual train-km to 67.95. The regional transport company will remain in charge of the main regional and interregional connections, which will be absorbed by the current private operators starting from 1 July 2024, while the municipal and intermunicipal lines of the small municipalities (the capital cities of Rome, Latina are therefore excluded , Rieti, Viterbo and Frosinone) will be managed by the new private operators of the UdR.
WHEN WILL THE NEW MODEL BE ACTIVE?
Based on the latest published documents, the UdR model is expected to come into force from 1 January 2025, but further postponements will be possible linked to the need to award all ongoing tenders.
