Bus-train link proves to be popular with commuters

THE new combined train and bus service is proving to be popular and the number of users has tripled since it was introduced.
The scheme was introduced by the Balearic ministry of public works, housing and transport, in an effort to increase the number of train passengers.
Mini buses provide a shuttle service to and from the railway station and the nearest villages.
Before the system was introduced, only 3'914 people from Alaro and Consell used the train in the first quarter of 2001. But when the system was introduced after the summer, figures for the last quarter of last year had risen to 18'468 passengers. The second bus-train link was introduced between Sencelles, Biniali, Ses Alqueries and Santa Eugenia with the station at Santa Maria, and Costitx-Sencelles with the Inca station. Once again,the number of passengers tripled to 10.530. The same ticket is valid for the bus and train, and there are tickets for five, ten or 20 trips, monthly tickets and also school tickets.
The train service between Inca and Sa Pobla will be resumed from 6am today. It was suspended yesterday (passengers were transported by bus) because of work at the Empalme station. The transport ministry also announced that from tomorrow, the bus service between Palma and Llucmajor will include two stops at Son Llatzer hospital Mondays to Fridays. The bus will leave Llucmajor at 9.15am and Palma at 12.15pm.
The ministry also said that from tomorrow, there will be a bus between the two towns every two hours, the first departure from Palma is 6.15am and from Llucmajor at 7.15am.