Bus depc to start life as television centre
Page 32
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
With typical Austrian equanimity the public transport undertaking of Innsbruck (population: 118,000) is facing the forthcoming Winter Olympics with supreme confidence In its ability to cope with the thousands of extra visitors, participants and officials who are expected in the• town for the duration of the games, February 4-15, 1976.
So long as there is sufficient snow for the various events to take place in the selected locations all is expected to run smoothly. The undertaking's fleet of around 70 buses—there is also some tram operation and a single trolleybus route which is being retained until after the Olympics—is being reinforced by some 20 MAN buses and coaches which are being loaned by the German manufacturer. Many of these vehicles will be used to shuttle teams between the Olympic Village and the various competition sites. Extra buses for the public will be provided for most of the events and in particular to Axanrts and Seefeld with first services leaving Innsbruk four hours before the start of the day's programme. If weather conditions bring about sudden changes the operating centre will have adequate reserves to cope with revised routeing and passenger flows.
Ironically the "IVB" undertaking will have to handle the heavy extra demand from its old depot premises and workshops at Bergisel al! hough a magnificently equipped new bus and tram works and administrative hq are now nearing completion on a nearby site. With considerable sagacity the city fathers have allocated the new premises for use as a press and TV centre during the games thus saving the high cost which the provision of such facilities usually adds to the host city's expenses. The new works, designed by a Ger man firm of consultants, will assume its proper role later in the spring.
Below; Innsbruck's new bus and .tram depot nears completion. But before serving the public as a transport centre, it will first be used as a press and TV centre for the Winter Olympics — a smart money-saving move by the city fathers.