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Transportation
O.A.S.A.
History
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It is highly unlikely that there are Athenians who have never used the Urban Buses of O.A.S.A. (Athens Urban Transport Organization) {Ο.Α.Σ.Α. (Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών Αθηνών)} for moving around the city.
Nowadays one can buy tickets almost anywhere. However, in 1979, one could only buy it from the conductor, paying from 2.50 (€0.01c) to 6 drachmas (€0.02c). If our memory serves us right, the fare for the legendary line Ano Nea Smirni-Egeou-Galatsi {Άνω Νέα Σμύρνη-Αιγαίου-Γαλάτσι} (which was several miles long and served by the "moustache" type buses, that is to say with an engine which protruded from the front part), was only 2 drachmas (€0.01c) up to a certain point. When the bus picked up the passengers from this point and once the doors were closed, the conductor would shout "no more two drachma coins" {terma ta difrangka ~ τέρμα τα δίφραγκα}, a phrase which became idiomatic in colloquial Greek and is used when one wants to make clear that something is no longer available.
In 1983, Travel Cards were launched and the monthly coupon was sold for 700 drachmas (€2.05c). In 2001, the coupon was sold for 6,000 drachmas (€17.61c), that is to say an increase of 757% [Price Rounding And Overcharging], in 19 years!!! In 2002, the coupon was sold for €17.50c, despite the fact that 6,000 drachmas equal €17.61c.
A note from the authors of this page: It is worthy of reminding that during the substitution of the drachma with the euro, the rounding in the price of O.A.S.A.'s Travel Card monthly coupon, was one of the few state roundings, if not the only, which benefited the consumer. |
By the way, we would like to inform you that many years ago, the buses had private owners and specifically two joint ventures, known as E.K.T.E.L. (United Association of Bus Operators) {Ε.Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ. (Ενωμένα Κοινά Ταμεία Εισπράξεων Λεφωφορείων)} and A.S.P.A. (Athens Area Urban Transport) {Α.Σ.Π.Α. (Αστικές Συγκοινωνίες Περιοχής Αθηνών)}. At some point in history K.T.E.L. (Association of Bus Operators) {Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ. (Κοινά Ταμεία Εισπράξεων Λεωφορείων)} makes its appearance.
A little while after the Military Government collapsed in 1974, the ownership of the buses is transferred to the State under E.A.S. (Urban Transport Organization) {Ε.Α.Σ. (Επιχείρηση Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών)}, and then they are returned to private owners under S.EP. (Transport Organization) {Σ.ΕΠ. (Συγκοινωνιακές ΕΠιχειρήσεις)}. Now they are owned by the state once again under O.A.S.A. (Athens Urban Transport Organization) (Ο.Α.Σ.Α. (Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών Αθηνών)} and E.THE.L. (Thermal Buses Corporation) {Ε.ΘΕ.Λ. (Εταιρεία ΘΕρμικών Λεωφορείων)}.
05-16-2002