More new buses join the fleet

Trade between Malta and China has increased by 18 per cent in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year, Chinese ambassador Liu Zhengxiu said yesterday.

He hoped the recently opened Chinese Centre, in Valletta would continue to enhance trade between the two countries.

Between January and September last year the value of imports from China amounted to $98.32 million while exports to China amounted to $136.56 million in value.

Mr Zhengxiu was speaking during the launch of 46 new King Long buses, manufactured by China's King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd and imported by Commercial Vehicles Imports Ltd.

Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea said the 46 new buses bring the total number of new buses that have been replaced or are replacing old buses to 112. Public transport is served by a fleet of 508 route buses.

Mr Galea added that simply replacing the buses was not enough to upgrade the bus transport service. Other important changes needed to be carried out with the cooperation of all those concerned.

Speaking to bus drivers attending the launching, Mr Galea said it was only a few bus drivers who were discourteous with passengers but these were giving a bad reputation to the rest of their colleagues.

He urged bus drivers to ensure that the passengers using public transport got a better service.

He said that changes being discussed with the bus owners' association included the introduction of new routes, including ones linking places of interest to tourist resorts.

Mr Galea said he hoped that talks over the introduction of a night bus service would be concluded by the end of this year.

A total of 23 million passengers use public transport each year. Use of the service is in decline. Buses operate some 4,000 trips to various destinations daily.