Kiel Drops Its Tempo And Buys Back Its Buses

摘要

In a move to guarantee jobs, the north German city of Kiel has paid over ￡1 million to return loss-making municipal operator KVG to complete public ownership. It has also withdrawn its unique left-hand-drive Optare Tempo. The city has bought back 49% of KVG from the NBB consortium that includes Hamburg Hochbahn-owned Benex and Kiel independent operator Vineta. NBB was set up six years ago to purchase the KVG share for a token €12,450 (currently ￡11,400). City councillors say the re-acquisition will avoid the need for Kiel to offer its bus network for European tender. KVG feared it would lose the contract and that a substantial number of its 558 staff would be redundant. As part of the deal, employees have agreed a wage freeze in return for job guarantees until 2020.