The head of the municipal company “Klaipėdos paslaugos,” which operates the water bus route, Vaidas Ramanauskas, stated at the Klaipėda City Council’s Urban Development and Strategic Planning Committee meeting that, based on last year’s experience, this year’s water bus schedule has been optimized to reduce losses.
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While in previous years the water buses operated from May, this year there will be a break after this weekend, and regular trips will start on June 13. The season will last until September 30 – two weeks shorter than last year.
According to V. Ramanauskas, this year two early morning trips have also been canceled, and the water buses will not operate on Mondays. All this should help reduce the service’s losses.
The starting stop of the route has also changed. Now passengers will board near the Castle Bridge, so the route to Tauralaukis has been extended. The bus will also stop at the Old Town stop near the sailing ship “Meridianas.” Swimming prices remain the same as last year – 5 euros. Tickets have 50 and 80 percent discounts, as in public transport. Therefore, travel costs 1 euro for children and seniors.
According to the head of “Klaipėdos paslaugos,” it is clear that the water buses have become more of an entertainment than a means of regular communication.
Alina Mikalauskė, acting director of the public institution “Klaipėdos keleivinis transportas,” which administers the public transport system of the port city, forecasts in the submitted report that the water bus service will be unprofitable this year and will require about 8 thousand euros of additional funds.
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Last year, losses exceeded 10 thousand euros. However, this amount does not include passenger discounts, which are additionally compensated from the municipal budget.
Council member Leonas Mokūnas was essentially interested in the prospects of the water bus service. A. Mikalauskė stated that this year a decision was made to provide the service on the basis of an internal transaction, and separate decisions should be made for the next year.
According to V. Ramanauskas, the goal is to achieve that the service is no longer unprofitable.
Statistics show that the popularity of the water bus is decreasing. If nearly 9 thousand passengers were transported in 2023, then about 8.2 thousand in 2024, and last year – just over 6.5 thousand passengers.
Interestingly, “Klaipėdos paslaugos” has invested 160 thousand euros in the company “Popa LT,” which manufactures electric water buses, and owns 40 percent of its shares. V. Ramanauskas said that the shares are planned to be sold, but this should be done during a rise, not a downturn.
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