Overview
- Provincial officials confirmed Wednesday that Transdev faces at least €1.5 million in fines plus €100,000 each quarter the failures persist, while Keolis owes €100,000 per quarter with a total penalty of up to €1.5 million still being set.
- The province will not pay for trips that were not operated, which will cut subsidy outlays by several million euros and move those savings into its public transport reserve fund.
- Ticket prices will not rise as a result of the penalties, and the province is exploring using fine revenue for riders through extra service, a free travel period or discounts, likely after the summer in consultation with passenger groups.
- Service has deteriorated since the December switch to a new timetable and electric buses, with about one in six Transdev buses failing and a trimmed schedule planned for May to match what it can reliably run.
- Transdev and Keolis cite shortfalls at charging sites, higher maintenance needs and staff shortages as root causes, while a transport scholar warns big fines could slow fixes even as the province notes the operators’ annual turnover of about €130 million and €80 million.