The new public road passenger transport network in Madeira and Porto Santo, SIGA, started operations today as part of Region Day, with free trips on all routes (1st of July).
According to information provided by the Regional Government of Madeira, this new network will be operated by three concessionaires: Companhia de Busônibus da Madeira (CAM), Siga Rodoeste and Horários do Funchal (HF).
A renewed fleet, with a total of 127 new “more modern and ecological” buses, CAM – 59, 68 – SIGA Rodoeste and HF – 9, will travel the two islands with a new image – except for Horários do Funchal who will maintain their standard image but bear the company logo.
The buses will have different models according to the type of service to be provided.
The management of the fleet is the responsibility of each of the companies that make up the new network and most of the new buses are already in the region and operational.
The transport service for passengers with reduced mobility will also be available, which can be requested through a pre-booking on the siga.madeira.gov.pt website and, in the future, on the SIGA App.
The transition will happen gradually, with the Regional Government admitting that some of the older buses will continue to circulate for a while longer.
The network allows travel on all the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, extending the sale of transport tickets, progressively, to all municipalities of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
“In other words, with the entry into operation, as of July 1st, of the new road passenger transport concessions in Madeira and Porto Santo, the gradual transition period to the new GIRO integrated ticketing system begins, which will allow its use in all transport in the SIGA network.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
