Calpe Town Council has opened the deadline for the submission of bids for the concession of the tourist train operation service, a new eight-year contract that will seek to reward proposals that are committed to sustainability and the services of a Smart Tourist Destination.
In this sense, in accordance with the Technical Specifications, the highest score will be awarded to bids that include a low-emission vehicle in both the main locomotive and the auxiliary vehicle. The highest score will go to electric vehicles, followed by hybrids, then biodiesel and finally petrol or diesel.
Also introduced as an improvement in the provision of the contract are the 'Smart Tourist Destination´ services that companies can present. The implementation of technology that allows the train to be geolocated in real time so that the user can find out the waiting time and whether the train is full or not, among other advantages, will be valued. Proposals that include an interconnection platform with the Tourism Department to provide automated information on tickets sold by category, day, etc. will also receive points.
Other improvements introduced by the tender and which will score points for those who include them are a reduction in the price of trips for users, a shorter period for the availability of a replacement vehicle, an increase in the number of seats set at a minimum of 48, as well as the proposal to increase the annual fee collected by the City Council from an annual minimum of 28,000 euros.
The tourist train is one of the most valued attractions by the tourists who come to the municipality, according to the satisfaction studies of the tourist demand elaborated by the Calp Town Council, "that's why we have special interest in promoting this contract to continue offering the service in the municipality", has pointed out the councillor of International Promotion, Marco Bittner.
The itinerary that the train will follow is a circular route from the stop at Avenida Rosa de los Vientos (in front of the Hotel Roca Esmeralda), in La Fossa, passing through the main avenues of the municipality such as Avenida Ejércitos Españoles, Plaza Colón, Avenida Gabriel Miró and the old town to return to the starting point. It will have stops at Plaza Colón (next to the TouristInfo stand), Avenida de Valencia (next to the Plaza Mayor car park entrance) and Avenida del Puerto (in front of Restaurante Baydal) with a duration of approximately 3 minutes.
The deadline for submission of bids is 16 October at 10 am.