Trying to get from point A to point B in Buenos Aires seems like an impossible task lately.

To take a bus you might have to stand in endless queues for up to an hour, depending on the time of the day and the line.

However, waiting for one might be unavoidable, as trains are often canceled due to technical issues and subway stations are often closed.

The situation has noticeably worsened in recent weeks, but it has been in decline for some years.

The problems with public transport not only affect the three million residents of Buenos Aires City, but also millions who work, study or have to do activities there but live in the cities surrounding it, an area known as the conurbano. These suburbs together with the capital city are known as the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area or AMBA.

It is estimated that 3.5 million people come in and out of Buenos Aires City every day, and 10 million people use buses in the AMBA.

Why is this public transport crisis happening? At the Herald we explain what’s going on.

This week, bus companies decided to reduce their service frequency by 30% due to the rise in fuel prices in March, following the war in the Middle East. Bus owners demanded a “palliative” solution from the government, in the form of increasing the subsidies they receive from the state for each ticket sold.

The protest led to unusually long lines at key transport centers, such as those outside train stations throughout the AMBA and the bus docks known as Metrobus, which run along the main avenues in Buenos Aires.

Passengers had to resort to pushing into buses in an attempt to get in and reach their homes or jobs, with many failing to do so due to the amount of people already in them.

On Thursday, authorities from the transport secretariat met with representatives from the companies, but they did not reach an agreement. They will meet again on Tuesday. 

In the meantime, the government sanctioned those bus lines that had reduced their service frequency.

Hola, @marcelopasciuto Dueño del 57, que integra DOTA. ¿Cómo viene la fila a Luján? ¿Hay falta chóferes, está cara........

© Buenos Aires Herald