New timetables ”one step forward, two steps back”

The upcoming changes to the coach timetables can be likened to taking one step forward and two steps back, says Per Martin Gregersen, mayor of Eystur municipality.

These changes include the introduction of Route 401, an express coach service between Tórshavn and Klaksvík, which will be running through the new subsea tunnel once in the morning and once in the afternoon on weekdays, stopping in Leirvík, Gøtudalur and Runavík.

Due to reports of traffic complications since the opening of the subsea tunnel, all other trips between Tórshavn and Klaksvík will revert to the old route 400 timetable, going through the old Streymoy-Eysturoy bridge near Oyrarbakki as it did before the opening of the subsea tunnel.

This trip takes about 30 minutes longer than going through the subsea tunnel.

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“In a country willing to spend DKK 2 billion on a new subsea tunnel, it seems very strange that this new route is not being put to optimal use to serve the 10,000 people who live north of Gøta,” says the mayor.

“Surely they [public transport company Strandfaraskip Landsins] can come up with a better solution because not everyone has 8am to 4pm working days.”

He adds that this is particularly harsh on those who have sold their car in anticipation of a quick route 400 commute through the new tunnel.

The timetable changes, scheduled to take effect on 1 April, have been put out for public consultation with tomorrow as the consultation deadline.

Hilmar Eliasen, CEO of Strandfaraskip Landsins, says that a working group will come up with recommendations after reviewing the consultation feedback.

"This is one of our biggest routes, and of course we will do everything we can to make our passengers happy," he says.

Read the Faroese version of this article here

Translated by prosa.fo

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