Half of Buses in Novokuznetsk Fail to Operate in Extreme Cold
During the 50-degree-below-zero frosts in Novokuznetsk, half of the buses operated by «PeterAuto» were unable to leave the depot. On Thursday, 22 January, city head Denis Ilyin promised to «fine the company to the full extent.»
The work of «PeterAuto» has dissatisfied city residents for several years now.
According to regional authorities, the number of complaints about public transport has quadrupled, reaching 600 calls per day.
The company«s managers promise to improve the situation.
On the coldest days, the maximum number of buses not put into service was 94.
«That»s basically half the fleet. The carrier prepared for the cold only in words,« Ilyin stated. According to him, people waited at bus stops for up to an hour and many suffered frostbite.
Transport vehicles failed to start due to frozen fuel and brake systems and steering mechanism breakdowns. Furthermore, 45 violation reports were immediately filed due to non-functioning heaters.
The new head of the Novokuznetsk branch has promised to restructure the repair shop. In the coming days, he promises to put up to 92% of vehicles on the routes, and from next week to bring the frequency of trips into line with the schedule.
The previous director of the carrier is facing criminal prosecution. He dispatched overworked drivers on routes.
The company «PeterAuto» has served Novokuznetsk since 2020. The organization won tenders, signing contracts until 2030. Their remuneration amounted to over 20 billion rubles (approximately $200 million at current rates).
