Minister tells bus owners to go for low-floor buses

Transport Minister Censu Galea yesterday warned bus owners to buy new low-floor buses or risk losing their entitlement to a government subsidy to help them make the changeover.

Mr Galea said the cut off date for bus owners to make the change would probably be the end of June.

The 147 registered bus owners have signed an agreement with the government which entitles each owner to a subsidy of Lm32,000 whether they purchase their bus in Malta or abroad.

The new bus costs about Lm45,000.

The low-floor buses are a great improvement on old buses, being more spacious and comfortable.

They are also easier to board. Senior citizens and people with disability often encounter difficulty boarding an old bus because of the high steps.

Mr Galea said his ministry had obtained the views of the National Commission People with Disability to be able to incorporate certain features to make buses more accessible.

Mr Galea was speaking at the Scarnif workshop in Luqa where the first low-floor bus made in Malta was handed over to its owner, Salvu Vella.

One of Scarnif`s directors, Frans Attard, said it took the firm 18 months to complete the bus. Scarnif is an anagram of the name Francis.

Scarnif has been building coaches and minibuses for the past 20 years.

"It took us so long because this was a prototype. The body is mainly made of metal. Other materials include fibreglass and aluminium.

"It would take one person about 900 hours to complete a bus. The chassis is imported and the bus is equipped with a Volvo automatic 210 hp diesel engine," Mr Attard said.

Mr Attard said the cost of the new Malta bus was more or less the same as the imported ones with the difference being that buyers could see it being built and after sales service was immediate.

Mr Galea said the new buses would hopefully encourage more people to use public transport, reducing the number of private cars on the roads.

"Owners who take advantage of the subsidy must hand over their old bus to the government. The ministry will take stock of their condition and see what use can be made of them.

"Several of them will be restored to be displayed in a future transport museum," Mr Galea said.

So far, there are seven low- floor buses on the road while 20 others have been ordered from overseas suppliers.

Mr Attard said his order book for buses was quite full but he declined to give the number of buses on order.