TRANSPORT INFORMATION IN SARAGOSSA

I have been denouncing in some of my past blogs the status of the information the different companies are offering to the users of public transport.

On the one hand, we have TUZSA, which offers up-to-date information of the different routes served by them. The website is ok, a bit old fashioned, and with very limited information: Timetables are rather difficult to follow, as they only show a few early services and the late ones, and throughtout the day, services are only given a frequency, rather than a definite timetable. Maps are really very poor. Routes are marked over an old map and the presentation is lacks quality. Tourist Routes are constantly changing. Now it offers all the services available, with a map and timetables. However, pictures of the first double decker bus introduced in this service (a blue hired bus) appear, when the council and the company have actually made an effort to purchase 4 buses, a picture of any of those would make it more attractive. The history page is even worse. A few dates with low quality pictures and very little information. I am sure it could be improved. Even when it comes to company data, the information is outdated and far from being accurate.

And this company is the best. The other companies, (also shown on the sidebar) run a few rural services and none of them have a map that shows the route. Only a few have timetable, and one of them, Agreda Automovil, doesn't bother to publish anything at all. That is what I call service.

However, when it comes to printed material, Agreda is quite good, as it has all the timetables available from the ticket office. The rest, fail.

In busstops, information is available for TUZSA buses, and some Agreda, Cortés/Alosa, SamarBuil and Automóviles Zaragoza stops, but the rural services lack this information outside Zaragoza. In most cases, there isn't a shelter for passengers to protect from the rare rain, but the burning sun.

Talks are now on the way to create the metropolitan consortium, but again, politicians are not defending the users, but their own political benefit, specially now that council and local government elections are round the corner.

It is important that with the opening of the new Central Bus Station (now some 9 different stations are in operation) this situation will be improved. 5 different Interchanging Stations are also planned, and there are many doubts whether they will enhance the poor service offered now, or on the contrary, will make passenger chose to travel into the city by car.