The PA spokesman in Vélez-Málaga, Marcelino Méndez, has described the closure of the tram service as a ‘dismal failure’ and is calling for it to be reinstated, saying that from June to August the city has lost €77,000 as a result of the closure.
The PA has already taken the matter to the TSJA (Supreme Court of Andalucia), requesting that the tram service be restored to its original state.
Méndez argues that the replacement bus service is inadequate and it now takes 40 minutes to get from Vélez-Málaga to Torre del Mar, buses are often late and passengers have to travel in discomfort.
The tram system cost around €45 million and between 2006 and its closure in June 2012, passenger numbers had declined by 50% and, as a result, the Council had built up debts to the concessionaire of over €2 million.
Based upon the figures for 2011 (debt incurred for the year €1,057,229), had the tram system still been operational, the loss/debt incurred between June and August would have been in the region of €250,000, at the very least.
On the face of it, a loss of €77,000 would seem preferable to a debt of €250,000. However, given that many Councils accept income but do not pay debts, one can see the argument that they have made a loss of just €77,000.