Alberto Martín and Josep R. Tauste are, respectively, president and secretary of ACEMA, an association that mainly brings together workers and former workers of the metro or buses of the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport, as well as enthusiasts. In this interview granted to our blog, they highlight the work of our company, Grupo Castrosua, in favor of the development of the bodywork industry in our country
Alberto Martín and Josep R. Tauste are, respectively, president and secretary of ACEMA
1.- What objectives does ACEMA pursue and who makes up the association?
A. Alberto Martín, president of ACEMA: The initial objective of the entity was to bring together all those people who had a hobby of collecting, philately, or photography, among other things, and who were workers or retirees of TMB Metro or Buses. Hence the name of the entity. For some years now, this scope has been extended to other disciplines that study matters related to transport, and currently, the association is made up of people who work or have worked in the company and non-workers who are enthusiasts of the world of transport (especially in Barcelona).
2.- What are the main milestones achieved since the Association was established in 2000?
A. Josep R. Tauste, secretary of ACEMA: We could talk about many things that have been done in the entity over these 15 years. To summarize all the work and our small history, we decided to create the blog www.acema15anys.blogspot.com.es. Through this tool, we aim to remember all the work that the members have contributed both to our entity and to TMB. The truth is that we owe a lot to all these people, who have managed to keep some historical vehicles of the TMB Foundation in running order.
Another reference activity for our entity was the celebration of the centenary of the bus in Barcelona, which took place exactly 10 years ago, in 2006 in Barceloneta. From ACEMA, we helped with the photographic exhibition and the management of TMB vehicles, which was reflected in both their custody and their transfers between different centers. Precisely, at that event, the newest bus exhibited by TMB was a Castrosua Versus GNC.
3.- What awareness initiatives will be launched in the coming months?
A. Alberto Martín, president of ACEMA: Having liquidity or sponsors for some initiatives is very difficult. In Barcelona, we continue to have the annual Classic Bus Rally that connects the Condal city with Caldes de Montbuí. This year it is celebrated on the weekend of May 28th and 29th. From entities close to TMB, including ACEMA, we help to publicize this event that takes place in the city. Numerous volunteers participate in the development of this initiative.
In addition, last December we launched our new website (http://www.acemabcn.org), with which we aim to exhibit part of the association’s documentary collection. As an objective for this year 2016, we are working to continue expanding the website and, in addition, we want to add an interactive database to the portal that covers Barcelona’s rolling stock. If our expectations are met, we do not rule out expanding this material to other operators or cities.
4.- How can interested individuals become members of ACEMA?
A. Josep R. Tauste, secretary of ACEMA: Very easily from our website. The portal we launched last Christmas offers the possibility to become a member of our entity by clicking on the “association” section. Once there, in the “become a member” option, a simple form is filled out, which is subsequently processed as registration.
5.- Do you consider that the policies for promoting public transport in Spain are adequate? Can organizations like yours complement the work of different governments in valuing it?
A. Alberto Martín, president of ACEMA: The promotion of public transport in Spain is an activity with a history initiated by international environmental organizations. Over time, entities dedicated to this issue have also been created at the national level. As a result of the dissemination of the effects of climate change and pollution in cities, governments have promoted campaigns to encourage the use of public transport. ACEMA’s line of work is complementary to this institutional promotion and allows us to explain the evolution of public transport.
6.- What is your opinion of the development achieved by the bodywork industry, in general, and by Grupo Castrosua, in particular, in recent times?
A. Josep R. Tauste, secretary of ACEMA: A very good opinion, honestly. Innovation and knowing how to adapt to new customer needs are basic issues for any business. Potential bodywork industry companies in northern Spain, like yours, have gone from dressing a chassis from one brand to fully developing an electric bus.
Castrosua has been present for years both in the bodywork industry and for enthusiasts. You have been a benchmark in development in many aspects in Spain. You were the first bodywork manufacturer in the country to build a low-floor bus and the first company to mass-produce CNG vehicles. Furthermore, you were the first company to develop the first Spanish hybrid bus and now you have a partnership with CAF to produce the Veris electric bus. In addition to this, you have undertaken a significant order for Lithuania and will now carry out an operation of greater scale than the previous one in Iran. In short, we are looking at a very good bodywork industry in this country.
From here we want to thank Acema for their work and availability. It has been a pleasure for us to meet them.
