The new CE-710 Vega Baja-Alicante interurban bus service has expanded connections from Orihuela to Alicante, the airport, the University of Alicante, Orihuela Costa and several municipalities across the region. The contract, which was launched by the Generalitat Valenciana on 1st June, incorporates new lines, increases frequencies and improves options for travelling by public transport.
Víctor Sigüenza, the Councillor for Transport at Orihuela Town Hall, explained that one of the main developments is the direct connection between Orihuela and Alicante, which features 17 daily return frequencies at a price of 5.95 euro per journey. Additionally, passengers can travel from Orihuela to the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport for 5.20 euro, with services available from six o’clock in the morning.
More connections with Alicante, Elche and Torrevieja
The new contract also reinforces the connection to the University of Alicante at a cost of 5.90 euro, a measure designed to facilitate travel for students and workers during the academic year. Furthermore, the service allows travel from Orihuela to the Torrevieja University Hospital for 3.10 euro.
Another prominent improvement affects the corridor between Orihuela and Orihuela Costa, where buses will run approximately every 35 minutes. Sigüenza pointed out that “it is a very important improvement for a municipality as extensive as ours and especially necessary during the summer months.”
The contract also increases connections with Elche and other municipalities in the Vega Baja area. On the Orihuela-Elche corridor, services will rise from just two frequencies to eleven daily services, making travel easier for work, education or health reasons.
Fourteen interurban lines for Vega Baja
According to the councillor, the implementation of this contract represents one of the largest expansions of public transport services recorded in the region in recent years. The new system includes fourteen interurban lines connecting Orihuela with Alicante, Elche, Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, San Miguel de Salinas, Almoradí and other municipalities in Vega Baja.
Sigüenza expressed his gratitude for the commitment shown by the Department of Environment, Infrastructure and Territory, and the General Director of Transport, Manuel Ríos, for the efforts made to improve mobility in the municipality.
The councillor also addressed initial disruptions recorded during the first few days of operation in the districts of La Campaneta and San Bartolomé. Sigüenza apologised to the affected users and explained that adjustments made to certain stops and frequencies caused temporary disruptions to the service.
According to his statement, the situation was normalised last Saturday, restoring the same stops and timetables that had been previously provided. Furthermore, he reminded passengers that the buses only stop at established points and times, recommending that users check the updated frequencies and routes beforehand.
Eight new taxi licences
The Councillor for Transport also reported that the procedure to grant eight new taxi licences continues to make progress. The evaluation committee has already held its first meeting and, if deadlines are met, the allocation of licences could be resolved during the month of July.
Additionally, Sigüenza recalled that since 1st June, VTC vehicles have been permitted to provide urban and interurban services across the entire municipality of Orihuela. This measure enables the use of platforms such as Uber or Cabify for travel within the municipality.
