Biggest road passenger carriers start buying coaches again

Atlassib and Eurolines, the two biggest road passenger carriers, with cumulated turnover worth 75m euros last year, are set to renew their fleets by acquiring 20 coaches overall, in the wake of investments of as much as 5m euros.

"We want to buy 15 coaches in leasing by yearend from BRD Sogelease. The price of a coach stands at almost 215,000 euros," stated Ilie Carabulea, the wealthiest man of Sibiu, who controls Atlassib, with 66m-euro turnover last year, as well as Banca Carpatica.

The company operates a 225-coach fleet to destinations of Spain, Italy, Germany, England and others. Against 2008, coach prices are as much as 20% lower, according to market data.

Drago[ Anastasiu, who controls Eurolines road passenger carrier, also plans to invest in developing the company's fleet this year. "We want to buy 5 coaches to renew the fleet. We work with Alpha Leasing and Scania Credit Romania," said Anastasiu, who manages a 9.5m-euro business.

The two companies carried more passengers in the first two months of this year against a year ago.