From this morning and until further notice, a small number of buses with more than 22 seats, which serve students through EMEL subcontractors, are withdrawn from serving students of public schools (high schools, middle schools and elementary schools) without affecting other activities of the same buses, since they do not have specific automatic engine fire extinguishing system.
According to her statement EML, the following routes will be specifically affected: Moutaiakka – Linopetra High School (D7), Polemidia – Polemidia High School (B3), Polemidia – Polemidia High School (B6), Nikos Evagorou (Palodia) – Agia Phyla High School (A11), Germasogeia – Germasogeia Primary School . A Technical, Souni, Hanatzia – Omodos High School, Kalavasos – L. Linopetras, A&B Technical, Silykou – Lemythos High School, Foini – Trimiklini Primary School, Limnati – Trimiklini Primary School, Pelendri – Ag. Phyla – A. Techniki, Silikou, Ag. Georgios – Omodos High School, Kalo Chorio – Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Techniki, Fasoula, Spitali – Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Techniki and Apsio, Gerasa – Gymnasium & Lyceum Ag. Phylas, Tsirio Gymnasium – A. Technical.
The announcement states that following the letter of the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, received on the afternoon of December 3, 2023, for immediate interruption of service, on regular and student routes, of those buses, with more than 22 passenger seats, that do not have an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment, with respect to the ministerial decision and pending clarifications, the service of students in a small number of schools will be affected from today Monday routes.
It is clarified that all EMEL buses that are used on regular urban and regional routes that fall under the announcement of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works (over 22 passenger seats), have modern and certified European standards automatic fire extinguishing systems in the engine compartment, in addition to the approved fire extinguishers inside the buses and all the sensors provided.
The reason for the temporary withdrawal from serving public school students is that they do not have an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment, a requirement that did not exist in European regulations before September 1, 2021, i.e. when the buses in question were registered, it added.
Besides, in a statement by the Cyprus Public Transport informs the public that its entire fleet is equipped with the latest safety technology and therefore this directive does not affect any of its buses. CPT will normally carry out all its routes in the provinces of Nicosia and Larnaca, it is added.
However, some buses, which belong to its fleet of subcontractors that run the school routes in Nicosia and Larnacado not have the fire extinguishing system in question and therefore will not be able to run certain school routes until further notice, it is finally clarified.
He issued an announcement late Sunday afternoon and Paphos Transport Organization (OSY.PA.) LIMITED stating that due to a decision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, all buses with more than 22 seats from today, Monday 04/12/2023, are immobilized and will not perform the Public Passenger Transport service, including school routes.
It is also added that, due to the very limited capacity of minibuses, most routes in the Pafos district, including school routes, will not be carried out.
The company will make new announcements today Monday about the routes that can be served per day until the installation of the systems, it is reported.
