The Compania de Transport Public (CTP) Iași (English: Iași Public Transport Company) is the major transit operator responsible for public transportation in Iași, Romania. Until September 2016, CTP was known as the Autonomous Public Transport Operator of Iași (Romanian: Regia Autonomă de Transport Public (RATP) Iași).[3]
History
Established on 19 March 1898, CTP Iași operates an extensive network using metre gauge trams (electric trams began operating in 1900) and buses. Trolleybuses were used on a number of routes starting in 1985, but all trolleybus routes (within a system length of 31.3 km (19.4 mi), as of 2003) were converted to bus operation by 2006.
The Iași city is partly built on hills, and the tram network reaches, on certain portions, large slopes. The steepest grade on the entire tram system is 8.8 percent,[4] on the line between Târgu Cucu and the intersection with Tudor Vladimirescu Blvd. (Cinci Drumuri-Pădurii) towards the Tatărași neighbourhood, one of the steepest gradients on adhesion railways in Europe.
Routes
As of 2019, CTP Iași operates 9 regular tram routes on 140 km (87 mi), and 24 regular bus routes on 449 km (279 mi) throughout Iași.[1] In 2014, the CTP carried 50,358,000 passengers, an average of 140,000 passengers per day.[2]
In January 2023, CTP began to offer transport services for the Iași Metropolitan Public Transport Association (Asociația Metropolitană de Transport Public Iași (AMTPI)), in the metropolitan area of the city.[5]
Scheduled correlated with flight arrivals and departures
52
Alexandru cel Bun–Zimbru–Copou
13.013.0 km (8.1 mi)
54
Târgu Cucu–Sărărie–C.A.Rosetti
Operated with minibuses
Fares
The CTP fare system, jointly with the Iași Metropolitan Public Transport Association (AMTPI) fare system, accept tickets, transit passes and card payments (either direct or through a smartphone application). As of December 2023, the adult cash fares are RON3.50 (€0.71) for 120 minutes inside the urban zone, or RON8.00 (€1.61) for 180 minutes inside the urban and metropolitan zones. Adult passes are available for 30-day all routes at RON110,00 (€22.20) inside the urban zone, or RON300 (€60.55) for both zones. More options are available, including different types of discounts.[6][7]
Ticket vending machines are also available at some stations. In 2018, the payment options were modernized and paying through an app was made possible - by using a third-party application and scanning QR codes that are available in multiple points in the vehicles and on the side of ticket kiosks in most stations. After a few months, most vehicles have been equipped to also support contactless card payments.
Rolling stock
Historically, tram cars from different companies have been acquired. The current fleet operates with 126 trams.[8]
Current vehicles
A replica of an AEG-type tram from 1900, built in 1998 for the tram system's centennialPesa Swing tram passing Piața Unirii (Union Square)Bozankaya tram on route 3
1 prototype (new); 24 trams acquired from Oradea Transport Local and CTP Cluj-Napoca, and modernised by Nicolina Works Iași; 1 stored, awaiting preservation.
