Last chance for Velez-Malaga tram service

THE Mayor of Velez-Malaga has requested a meeting with the new councillor for Public Works and Housing regarding the suspension of the tram service.

Francisco Delgado has said that the service will be suspended temporarily on June 4 following the decision reached in April by the local council.

Delgado pointed out in his request that the Junta de Andalucia needs to keep the promises it made to Velez-Malaga.

The former president of the Junta, Manuel Chaves, promised in 2009 to help pay the deficit which the tram service from Velez-Malaga to Torre del Mar has run up.

In six years, the tram, which cost more than €42 million has run up a debt of more than €2.5 million.

Until now, the Junta de Andalucia has refused to help fund the service.

While it is suspended, a bus will cover the route which is currently covered by the tram, which will save the town hall some €1.7 million per year.

Delgado will request that the new councillor, Elena Cortes, promise to partially fund the ticket price for the service, which is the first of its kind in Andalucia, as this is the only way for it to be able to continue.

The technical fee for the tram is €1.82, of which the town hall currently pays €0.52 on each ticket to encourage people to use the service and so that users don’t pay the real cost of maintaining the service.

The second phase of the tram line was finished three years ago but never opened, as this would increase the price of tickets.

When the service, run by Alsa until 2030, is stopped, the three trams will not be serviced but they will have to be paid for.

The infrastructure used by the trams will also remain without service.