Bus service hampered by lack of spare parts

THE METRO BUS transit system’s woes continue with a lack of not only buses and drivers, but also spare parts.

The system is run by the Mi Bus company under contract to the government. Drivers, mechanics and maintenance personnel who asked that their names not be used, told La Prensa that the shortage of spare parts is one of the constant problems within the company, and that affects the service.
An example of this failure is that for about a month a container of spare parts has sat with the National Customs Authority waiting for the Transit Authority (ATTT) to provide the necessary paperwork to allow their duty free clearance.
Meanwhile, in the various Mi Bus depots around the city there are no mirrors, engine belts, brake pads, and other parts.
Added to this says La Prensa is the fact that some drivers are engaged in sabotaging buses to express their dissatisfaction with after the resignation or dismissal of colleagues who had staged an abortive strike for more pay.
The general manager of Mi Bus, Miguel Cardona, said that: "No bus hits the streets if it is not perfect and that maintenance is permanent."
The Company’s Director of Maintenance Jaime Cuadra, said that each bus is serviced every 45 days, but technicians point out that during this period unless there is a big flaw the bus is not touched.
The president of the Panama’s Society of Engineers and Architects Rodrigo Sanchez, said supervision is required in this situation, since it has been almost a month and a half since the entire system was handled by Mi Bus and still no improvement in the service provided to users.
The ATTT maintains that its inspections have found that the number of buses in service is normal, but if there is any anomaly due to maintenance, they proceed to investigate.
Newsroom Readers have commented that the driving standards of some Metro buses already seem to be slipping. With buses exceeding the speed limit. Traveling in tandem, and not using signal lights, habits they believe engrained by years of sirring at the wheel of a diablo rojo.
Others, wishing to complain to the transit authority, have found the identification number of the offending bus covered by an advertisement.
Other concerns for those attempting to use the buses is that they all appear to carry the name Albrook or. when another name appears, there is not time to read it as the bus rushes past the stop. “Numbered routes as used in other cities” would help solve the problem says one reader, “ and when they get around to putting up timetables, would make them easier to follow”.