Cyprus has summoned a foreign expert to investigate a series of bus fires dating back to 2020, following a recent incident in Paphos involving a vehicle designated for school transport.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades ordered the investigation after the latest fire raised concerns about passenger safety, particularly regarding student transportation.
The affected bus had passed its MOT test but may have been decommissioned for years before returning to service.
“The whole issue troubled me, which is why I gave instructions to the Road Transport Department to call in a foreign expert to examine all cases where buses caught fire from 2020 onwards,” Vafeades said.
Expert to examine all bus fires since 2020
The specialist will determine whether each fire incident had unique characteristics or shared common factors, enabling authorities to form a comprehensive picture and establish further safety inspection procedures.
The Paphos bus met the requirements of school transport contracts, though these allow vehicles up to 20 years old for student services. By comparison, regular urban transport companies must procure new buses, with age limits typically set at five years.
School bus age limits relaxed under contracts
The state assigned school transport services to urban transport contractors when signing contracts around 2022, but modified certain provisions that applied to regular city transport services.
While in regular urban transport within cities, bus age must not exceed five years, in school services, they must not be older than 20 years.
Paphos operator fined for contract violations
The Paphos Urban Transport Organisation (OSYPA) faces financial penalties not for using an older bus for student transport but for failing to procure new vehicles as required under its public contract.
When the contract was signed, the company was obliged to acquire new buses within one year for contract requirements. It failed to comply, resulting in contractual penalties being imposed, Vafeades said.
The minister indicated the company appears to be making efforts to purchase new buses and is close to reaching an agreement.
Public sector sources suggest OSYPA has concluded a deal with a Chinese company to procure approximately 50 buses by 2026, securing necessary financing for the purchase.
The affected Paphos bus belonged to another company that leased it to OSYPA. It had passed a private MOT, underwent visual inspection by public supervisors, and awaited regular inspection by a state workshop.
Authorities are examining whether the same bus was used for both school transport and regular urban services. If confirmed, the company will face additional penalties. GPS systems on buses enable officials to track routes and verify usage patterns.
Fines are deducted from state subsidies that transport companies receive, the minister confirmed.
