Large war threatens bus companies

Written by at 09/03 2010, 01:57 - 0 comments

Three groups of companies which distribute public support for Estonian highway routes are doing lobbyist work in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to put up commercial lines long-held by former operators up for competition.

Currently, a bus firm which historically set up and has been running its own route has priority for this same circuit. Competitors however see behind the seemingly-noble wish of Atko Group, Go Bus and Hansabuss along with its daughter company Mulgi Reisid a desire to make the entire Estonian public transport system into a large state hand-out pump which would expand from its current regional routes to those everywhere. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Roads and Railways Department director Ain Tatter said that preparation for a new public transportation law is currently underway and there remain four versions on the table in terms of commercial routing: to continue in previous fashion, to make the system somewhat more free than before, to allow the market for long-distance routes to be completely fee or to bring route permits into competition.

 

Postimees, 08.03.2010

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