Scheduled for 1 May 2014, the introduction of a brand-new bus fleet in Tangier has been postponed to the beginning of June. To this end, and in mutual agreement with the municipal council, the new Spanish operator Alsa commits to continuing the management of urban transport for another month with a temporary fleet of 70 vehicles. 'Given objective and technical considerations related to the preparation of the new fleet, the transport service continues to be provided by the temporary bus fleet. Which was resorted to during the transition phase, preceding the entry into force of the delegated urban transport management contract,' as specified in a press release issued by the Tangier urban commune council. It should be recalled that just after winning the latest call for tenders related to the management of this public service, the carrier Alsa was tasked with taking over during the transition period, from 10 November 2013 to 30 April 2014, replacing the outgoing Spanish company Autasa. The officials of both parties, namely the new delegated manager and the municipal council, say they are confident in the success of this new experience, even though the introduction of the new fleet did not take place on time. In the meantime, and thanks to the same temporary fleet of 70 buses, Alsa-Tangier has continued, since 1 May and for one month, to manage this public service. Let us emphasise that with a 10-year renewable contract binding it to the commune, the new delegated manager is going all out, thanks to an investment of more than 184 million dirhams, to offer a quality service that meets the expectations of the Tangier population. The significant share of the budget, 89%, is intended particularly for the purchase of buses. The Alsa company will, therefore, proceed from 1 June with the renewal of its entire bus fleet. This involves, in a first phase, putting into service some 110 new vehicles, allowing for the servicing of 26 urban lines and 17 other interurban ones. And according to the clauses of the specifications, the new Spanish carrier is committed, as it goes along, to strengthening this new bus fleet, with the aim of reaching some 140 buses within four years. It should be noted that the Tangier municipal council had already indicated, through another press release, that the price of tickets would not undergo any change during or after the transition period. They therefore remain the same as those previously charged at 3.5 DH. As for students and pupils, they also benefit from the same preferential rates set at 1.30 DH per ticket on the entire bus line network, or a monthly subscription at 100 DH.