Mobility, a pending issue in Cerdanyola del Vallès

Boosting public mobility in Cerdanyola was highlighted as one of the main priorities by speakers invited to the Cerdanyola Empresarial Dialogues. Promoted by Cerdanyola Empresarial, the event this year focused on mobility in the area. Attending the event were Carlos Cordón, Mayor of Cerdanyola del Vallès; Pere Puig, Chairman of the Urban Planning, Infrastructures and Transport Committee of the Sabadell Chamber of Commerce; and Jordi Castells, Operations Director of Moventis and General Manager of Sarbus and Casas.

Everyone agreed on the need for a joint effort from all strategic stakeholders in the sector to improve mobility. In this regard, Jordi Castells underlined the goal to ensure harmony between new and more traditional forms of travel and, more specifically, to promote mobility in Cerdanyola through on-demand transportation. “A real solution that has shown it can triple demand when bearing in mind that only 13% of inter-municipal journeys are currently made on public transport”, said Jordi Castells.

Furthermore, the public transport infrastructures deficit in Cerdanyola is another issue to be resolved with a view to promoting better mobility. The three speakers in the debate called for construction of the Fourth Belt to reduce congestion on such roads as the B-30.

 

Moventis TCC Pamplona, ‘Company of the Year 2022’

Moventis TCC Pamplona, a part of the Moventia group and a benchmark in sustainable mobility, has been recognised as ‘Company of the Year 2022’ by the specialist magazine Autobuses & Autocares, during its XXX ‘Companies of the Year Awards’.

More specifically, the company won this award in the ‘Urban Transport’ category in recognition of its service quality, the implementation of new technologies and its experience in public passenger transport in Pamplona and the surrounding region, where it has been operating since 2009. 

Moventis TCC Pamplona has a fleet of 160 buses fitted with all the latest technology, which includes a powerful and updated location (OSS), ticketing, WI-FI and real-time information system based on web and mobile apps with occupancy level prediction. 

Furthermore, the company was a European pioneer in the introduction of vehicles powered by alternative energy sources with a view to achieving neutral emissions in transport (the first pilot electric bus in Europe, the first 100% electric line in Spain, etc.).

This award recognises the effort by Moventis TCC Pamplona to achieve total integration with society in Pamplona and its region through commitments and agreements with various entities and social stakeholders over the last 12 years. 

All these factors helped the panel choose the company as a winner this year. The panel also appreciated the efforts by Moventis TCC Pamplona to achieve maximum satisfaction for users of this public transport service. 

According to Ramón Palau, General Manager of Moventis TCC Pamplona, “we are extremely excited to receive this award from the specialised magazine ‘Autobuses & Autocares’, which also recognises all the hard work done by every member of the team at TCC Pamplona”. He went on to add that “this award encourages us to keep working on the development of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions every day as part of our commitment to ensuring a safe and satisfactory travel experience to all our passengers while also looking after the environment”.

Sarfa recognised by Palamós Chamber of Commerce on its centenary

Moventis Sarfa is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021, having become an important symbol of public transport throughout Catalonia and especially in Gerona. This milestone did not pass unnoticed by some of the major organisations and authorities in Gerona, such as the Palamós Chamber of Commerce and Begur Local Council.

 

At the 14th Begur Economic Affairs Debate, promoted by the two entities and recently held at the Aiguablava Parador Hotel, Miquel Martí, Chairman of Moventia, received an award from the President of the Palamós Chamber of Commerce, Pol Fages, and the Mayor of Begur, Maite Selva, in recognition of the century-long track record behind Moventis Sarfa.

 

The Chairman of Moventia, Miquel Martí, said “we are very happy to have a century-old company like Moventis Sarfa in our group, one with a successful history that inspires us all to keep working so hard to offer the very best public mobility experience”. He went on to add that “this award recognises all those people who have made it possible for Moventis Sarfa to become the great company it is today. I can do no more than express my sincerest gratitude to all of them, and specifically to Enric Gimeno – General Manager of Sarfa – and everyone in his team who make it all possible, as well as to the Palamós Chamber of Commerce and Begur Local Council for inviting us to this event and giving us this award”.

 

The Chairman of Moventia and its Managing Director, Josep Maria Martí, with the General Manager of Sarfa, Enric Gimeno, attended the Begur Economic Affairs Debate organised by the Palamós Chamber of Commerce. This year, the event featured a highly renowned speaker – the economist and professor of economic affairs from Columbia University, Xavier Sala y Martín, who opened proceedings with a talk entitled “The Economy of the 20s”. The event also gathered other executives from local institutions and authorities.

 

Photo (from left to right): Josep Maria Martí, Managing Director of Moventia and Deputy Chairman of Moventis; Silvia Martí, Deputy Chairwoman for Corporate Affairs, Internal Communication and Institutional Relations of Moventia; Maite Selva, Mayor of Begur; Pol Fages, President of the Palamós Chamber of Commerce; Miquel Martí, Chairman of Moventia; and Enric Gimeno, General Manager of Sarfa

 

The gas refuelling station used by the TIB fleet in Calvià opens to the public

The Mobility and Housing Councillor, Josep Marí, together with the Mayor of Calvià, Alfonso Rodríguez, the Director-General for Mobility and Terrestrial Transportation, Jaume Mateu, and the Managing Director of the Mallorca Transport Consortium, Maarten Johannes van Bemmelen, officially opened the gas refuelling station used by the TIB fleet in Calvià (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) to the public earlier today.

The Managing Director of Moventia, Josep Maria Martí, and other representatives from the company managing the gas refuelling station, as well as the new intercity public transport concession for the western region since the start of the year, also attended the event.

Located at the TIB depot on the Son Bugadelles industrial estate, the gas refuelling station has been supplying compressed natural gas (CNG) to the 50-strong TIB bus fleet owned by Moventis since January. From today, it will also be open to the public for the CNG refuelling of private cars, trucks, coaches and vans.

The Mayor of Calvià expressed gratitude for the Council’s support and its sensitivity to public transport in Calvià. “By opening this gas refuelling station to the public”, he said, “we are taking another step towards reducing our environmental impact and highlighting the commitment from Moventis to making it easier for the public to use this infrastructure”.

The Managing Director of Moventia, Josep Maria Martí, said that, “from today, anyone with a gas-powered vehicle will be able to fill their tank at this refuelling station. This is a clear step forward in making it easier for drivers and in promoting the purchase of this type of vehicle, in short, in achieving more sustainable mobility”.

In turn, the Mobility and Housing Councillor said that “we are very happy to be able to bring this infrastructure to the entire population. We need to maintain progress on the energy transition, and this is another step in that process”.

The gas refuelling station offers a rapid refuelling service for compressed natural gas and has two supply lanes with NGV1 and NGV2 pumps. It is a self-service facility for which card payment is required. The public opening times are: Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00 and Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00.

Redexis, a company operating in the energy sector, was responsible for building the gas refuelling station and for laying the gas pipeline branches. The TIB fleet has other gas refuelling stations in Felanitx, Artà, Alcúdia and Inca. Those facilities are used to refuel buses and vehicles owned by the TIB operators. The companies are currently studying the possibility of offering the service to other groups.

CNG is a real alternative to oil-based fuels as it reduces CO2 emissions by 30% and NOx emissions by up to 75%. Furthermore, it eliminates exhaust pipe particulate emissions and practically all sulphur oxide emissions. Its use helps to improve environmental quality in cities and represents a commitment to an environmentally sustainable transport model. The demand for these vehicles continues to grow: according to data from the Gasnam association, the registration of new CNG vehicles rose by 167% in January and February of 2020 when compared with the same months in the previous year to a total of 1,635 new units on the road.

Julia Gilavert Participates in the International Mobility Congress

With the slogan “Drive into Innovation”, the first edition of the International Mobility Congress was held on 21st and 22nd September. Over the two days, 70 speakers discussed global success stories and debated the future of mobility. Nearly 800 professionals attended the event with 30% of them connected via streaming.

Julia Gilavert, Director of Moventis Illes, participated along with Mario Canet, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Antonio Cendrero, Arriva Spain, in the roundtable “Low-Emissions Buses. Enhanced Energy Efficiency and User Experience” during which the usage experience and advantages of the different energy models, including electric, hydrogen and gas, were debated. Julia underlined the virtues of #CompressedNaturalGas in comparison to other existing models. The three participants concluded that the future is uncertain and, in all likelihood, the three energy models will eventually live together.

Moventis Group’s Autocares Emilio Seco Invests 4 Million Euros in its All-New Hybrid Fleet

  • With this investment, the Moventis discretionary services company has renewed 65% of its fleet transforming 25 coaches to compressed natural gas with the ECO seal.
  • Autocares Emilio Seco is also starting this second half of the year having renewed its agreement with the Balearic Islands Regional Department of Education to provide school transport services. Likewise, it has signed new contracts as a school and handicapped mobility and transport operator on Majorca.
  • The company has unveiled its new more modern and dynamic corporate identity which was inspired by the concept of connectivity and reflects its 50 years of experience in the sector.

 

Barcelona, September 2021. Autocares Emilio Seco, the Moventis discretionary services company on Majorca, is starting off the second half of 2021 at full speed. The company has become an even stronger sector reference in sustainable mobility after investing 4 million euros into renovating and reconverting its fleet of coaches to make them sustainable.

This investment was used by Autocares Emilio Seco to add 25 compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid models with the ECO seal. The operation boosted the transformation of its fleet, which is currently comprised of 65% CNG models with the ECO seal, as well as a company action under its commitment to reduce its impact on the environment. This is also a priority goal for the Moventis group which includes Autocares Emilio Seco.

In fact, nearly 50% of the Moventis fleet of buses, coaches, tramways and bikes has been converted into electric, hybrid and natural gas or diesel models that comply with the Euro VI regulation, which is the most recent and restrictive when it comes to reducing contaminating emissions.

Trust in a Company with 50 Years of Experience in the Sector

Autocares Emilio Seco is fully consolidated as a reference in mobility and transport on the Balearic Islands and more specifically on Majorca. Its 50 years of success have earned it the trust of local users and entities who enjoy its services daily.

Thus, the company was able to renew its contract to provide the transport services it had been providing to the Balearic Islands Regional Department of Education. Specifically, it operates 60 routes moving 3,000 boys and girls every day and has done so for 4 years. Added to this are two additional adapted transport services which position Autocares Emilio Seco as the main school and PRM transport operator on the island of Majorca.

The company also recently signed a contract with the Town Hall of Calviá (Majorca) to operate discretionary transport services in that town. These services are for certain groups of residents in the municipality of Calviá such as the elderly, school cultural excursions as well as specific services for people with reduced mobility.

Finally, Autocares Emilio Seco also began school services in September for the Town of Calviá sailing school centres.

Miquel Martí Pierre, Managing Director of Moventis Discretionary Services, said, “A commitment to innovation, excellent service and the environment is in the Moventis DNA. It’s a commitment that moves us to work every single day with all of the group’s companies in order to turn it into a reality. In the case of Autocares Emilio Seco, it’s a step forward as the collective transport leader on Majorca.”

He also said, “The renewed and new contracts for Majorca back our good work and push us to continue working in this strategic line of technology and sustainability.”  

A New Corporate Identity as the Symbol of Evolution and Service Excellence

After 50 years, Autocares Emilio Seco now has an all-new more modern and dynamic corporate image with a new logo inspired by the concept of connectivity in conjunction with the idea that mobility connects us. It is also a reflection of the company’s evolution and professionalism in the services it offers customers.

Thus, all Autocares Emilio Seco vehicles and professionals will now sport this new corporate identity which represents the beginning of a new era for the company with its commitment to excellent services and the environment.

In the words of Emilio Seco, Manager of Autocares Emilio Seco, “We’re quite pleased to start this final leg of 2021 with these great new developments considering it’s been a really complicated year for us and the entire sector in general. At Emilio Seco, we have always been close to our customers with a desire to meet their mobility needs by developing innovative environmentally-friendly transport solutions.” He added, “We’re proud to see just how far we’ve got in the last half century and will continue working day after day to ensure our customers can enjoy the best in mobility.”

Moventis Stands Out as a Transport Operator for Various Entities

A number of service contracts have been signed recently deriving from public tenders awarded to Moventis group companies in Catalonia.

Thus, Moventis will operate school transport services for the district Consejo Comarcal del Vallès Occidental through its companies Izaro and Calella, handling the local primary and secondary school routes on a 5-year contract which once again positions the group in the region as the leader in collective transport just as it historically has been. Along the same lines, a contract has also been signed with the district Consejo Comarcal del Gironès, under which Izaro and SARFA will manage some transport services.

Also in the school transport business, the contract with the district Consejo Comarcal del Baix Llobregat has been renewed so that the same services it has been offering will continue in addition to others which Izaro will operate along with TCC.

In the field of sports, four of the major Catalan clubs: Girona Fútbol Club and C. E. Sabadell, Básquet Girona and Unió Esportiva Costa Brava, have placed their trust in the Moventis Group as Autocares Calella will handle the athletes’ travel throughout the championship.

What’s more, Moventis will continue accompanying the Symphonic Orchestra of El Vallès for all of its travel throughout the territory, thereby reaffirming the commitment to support culture as is evident after having been awarded the Entity Committed to Culture Seal from the Catalonia Culture Foundation in collaboration with the Universitat de Girona Chair of Social Responsibility.

Other public entities have continued trusting in Moventis transport services for their personnel travel such as the Photonic Science Institute (ICFO), which has extended its service contract for the next 5 years. On the other hand, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has also renewed its personnel transport service contract for another year. Both of these services are operated by Izaro.

Finally, the contract for the FGC Vallvidrera Cable Car replacement services was once again awarded to Izaro this summer.

It’s all no doubt thanks to the great work done by Moventia personnel.

CityBike Presents the New Stockholm Public Bicycle Service

CityBike Global chose VAIMOO as a strategic partner for the supply of electric bikes for this new public service in the Swedish capital which is expected to be one of the largest in Europe and the world.

CityBike Global, the leading micro-mobility company in Europe and Latin America, which belongs to Moventia Group, was awarded the public electric bike service in the city of Stockholm after signing an agreement with the city council to implement this new mode of transport throughout the city. The company is thus reinforcing its European presence and consolidating its international leadership in public shared bike services which are already being offered in cities like Helsinki, Paris and Lima.

For this new project, which is expected to be one of the largest in Europe and the world, CityBike Global chose VAIMOO as a strategic partner to supply the more than 5,100 smart electric bikes needed. Its experience supplying these types of models in other European biking mobility capital cities like Copenhagen, Rotterdam and in the United Kingdom, made it the best choice for City Bike Global for the provision of this service in Stockholm. In fact, the Stockholm e-bike is a version of the CES 2021 award-winning VAIMOO e-bike which has been specifically adapted to meet the city’s mobility needs.

The new e-bike sharing programme in the Swedish capital will equip the city with thousands of new efficient and sustainable vehicles considering this bike model’s recycled aluminium frame and fast large-capacity interchangeable battery. Available 24 hours a day all year long, the electric bikes will be connected to a flexible management system which can be integrated with those already existing to help decongest urban traffic. This flexible system can set up virtual stations where vehicles can be parked after each trip.

As stated by Jordi Cabañas, CEO of CityBike Global, “We’re proud to have been chosen by the city as a partner to operate this strategic service which will provide the citizens of Stockholm with an alternative active mobility choice. This new CityBike project reinforces our position as a European leader in public micro-mobility services.”

“This agreement takes VAIMOO electric bikes to another world biking capital,” said Matteo Pertosa, CEO and Founder of VAIMOO, adding, “The tie to CityBike Global in the Stockholm project is a source of great pride for me personally as well as for the entire VAIMOO team, which is continuously committed to designing and implementing public biking systems that can be easily integrated for alternative, sustainable and inclusive mobility.”

100 Years of Sarfa

Since 9th September, we’ve been celebrating another historical milestone for Moventia: 100 years of Moventis SARFA, one of the Moventia companies with the longest history. Thanks to all of our human resources, who work tirelessly day after day, SARFA has reached its one hundredth anniversary very strong as one of the most iconic institutions in El Empordà and a real symbol for public transport throughout Girona and Catalonia.

Congratulations to SARFA for a successful history that inspires us to keep on working to offer people the best mobility experience.

On the occasion of this great milestone, we’ve begun a series of actions to share the celebrations with our travelling community. These promotional actions will continue for the coming months and on a corporate level as well.

 

 

Moventis Cruise Bus resumes service with new compressed natural gas vehicles

Moventis is resuming its Cruise Bus service. This is a shuttle bus service connecting the Port of Barcelona with the Moll de Barcelona C next to the World Trade Center and is operated by Transports Ciutat Comtal (TCC) – a company owned by Moventis.
Following suspension of this service due to the pandemic, the Cruise Bus service is now resuming as the first cruise passengers start returning to Barcelona. Furthermore, the service will now use some new compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in reflection of the Moventis commitment to sustainable mobility.
The Cruise Bus service specifically connects the cruise ship terminals at Muelle Adosado and Portal de la Pau with the start of the Ramblas de Barcelona and other transport services that connect with the city centre. The journey takes five minutes and is the best option for both passing cruise passengers who wish to visit Barcelona and passengers either starting or ending their cruise in Barcelona.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cruisebus.barcelona