Overhaul part of reorganisation plan by Rome's bus company

ATAC continues to reorganise its service, changing another batch of bus routes on 22 September, for the fourth time over the last six months.

The changes affect routes mainly in the Monte Mario, Balduina, Camilluccia, Cassia, Trionfale and Flaminia districts, and follow the reordering of bus lines elsewhere in the city in May, June and July.

The latest changes involve the suspension, extension or amalgamation of about 40 bus routes. The company says the reorganisation is designed to avoid duplicate bus schedules, to reassign buses to routes where they are needed more and to coordinate them better with the city's train and metro network.

The move comes under the Salva Roma plan, part of which aims to reduce the capital's input of public funds into the cash-strapped transport company which has a budget deficit of €1.6 billion.

ATAC has faced numerous scandals in recent years, from widespread nepotism to ticket fraud, and its 12,000 employees frequently stage strikes in search of better work terms. Earlier this year Rome mayor Iganzio Marino revealed that an average of 1,400 of the company's workers call in sick every day.

For the bus changes see the Muoversi a Roma website.