New public transport routes to be introduced

Six new public transport routes are expected to start operating in the coming days, drastically reducing the journey time and avoiding the Valletta terminus altogether.

The introduction excludes a number of other existing routes, which will either be amalgamated or extended in an attempt to cater for commuters' changing needs as localities expand and develop.

Government sources said when contacted that these introductions were a culmination of negotiations between the Malta Transport Authority, the Public Transport Association and the Ministry for Urban Development and Roads over the reform of the public transport sector.

The negotiations, which have been going on for around a year but took a fresh impetus after the recent Cabinet reshuffle, have now achieved tangible progress.

The core issues under discussion were government subsidies to the sector, introduction of new routes, revision of fares, and the introduction of systems such as automatic vehicle location (AVL).

The system, once introduced, will allow commuters waiting at bus stops to know where the bus is and how long it would take to arrive.

The sources said that once the new agreement was signed, it would replace the last one signed in 1998, which had included the bus-ticketing machines and uniforms, among others.

All the parties concerned have agreed to introduce, with immediate effect, certain measures that will be included in the final agreement.

In fact in the coming days, the Malta Transport Authority and the Public Transport Association will launch the set of new routes, including circular and amalgamated routes as well as other routes aimed at tourists. The details are expected to be announced later this week.

The sources explained that the aims of the route reforms were intended, among others, to attract more patronage to the cash-strapped public transport, alleviate the congestion at the Valletta terminus and cut journey times of high density routes by avoiding Valletta altogether.

On certain routes, patrons will be even travelling cheaper than if they were to travel to Valletta and have to catch a second bus to their final destination.

A revamp of the service to St Luke's Hospital terminus is also being introduced. All the buses destined for St Luke's Hospital will start running from the different localities every 30 minutes during certain periods of the day.