Athens and Thessaloniki will receive 250 new electric buses

The upgrade of urban transport in Athens and Thessaloniki with the acquisition of 250 electricity-powered buses was on the agenda of a meeting held by Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christina Alexopoulou with Chinese manufacturers Yutong on Tuesday.

Alexopoulou, responsible for transport, said that the meeting focused on the delivery timetable, which aims to put the buses to use in the first half of 2024 and to raise the total such buses in both cities to 1,300 by the end of the second government term.

In statements after the meeting, she said that the buses would also include anti-pollution technology while upgrading transport with them was a priority for both the ministry and the prime minister himself.

The meeting included General Secretary for Transport Yiannis Xifaras, Yutong CEO for Europe Jack Li, Account Manager for Europe Frances Fan, and the managers of Kopelouzos Group's business development, Michalis Konstantinou and Panos Moschandreou.

The priorities of the ministry include the following: Athens and Thessaloniki transport; infrastructure works; upgrading the Greek railway system; boosting air transport services; implementing a key group of irrigation works; implementing building infrastructural projects; incorporating the security of bridges, tunnels, and dams; road safety; and electric-powered vehicles.

Toll prices

Meanwhile, top ministry officials are still negotiating with concessionaires of major highways in Greece on the toll price raises. Ministry sources said, "The government's aim is an agreement with companies to share the cost, to keep price rises to the minimum possible for citizens."

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