Just over a week ago, Transdev took over bus services in Norrtälje in the northern part of Sweden’s capital Stockholm, on behalf of SL, the regional transit authority. In total, 250 drivers ensure that around 450,000 public transit journeys can be made each month within Norrtälje and between Norrtälje and the Technical University.
Starting up a new bus contract is an extensive project and at the same time as the start-up, the old contract is being terminated, which means that there is a lot to coordinate.
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.
Mattias Galante, responsible for the Norrtälje start-up project at Transdev Sweden
In total, about 110 new Volvo 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 were 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.
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.
Mattias Galante
Transdev will operate the bus service in Norrtälje on behalf of SL until 2031.
More about Transdev’s activities in the Stockholm Region:
Transdev currently operates bus services in Märsta, Sigtuna, Upplands Väsby, Vallentuna and Norrtälje as well as Roslagsbanan commuter rail on behalf of SL. From November 2022, Transdev will also operate bus services in Täby, Vaxholm, Österåker, Danderyd and Norrtälje. Transdev’s subsidiary Blidösundsbolaget operates shuttle boat line 89 between Ekerö and Stockholm on behalf of SL and 21 of Waxholmsbolaget’s vessels in the archipelago service. Since 2021, Transdev operates night trains between Stockholm and Berlin via Copenhagen and Hamburg under the name Snälltåget