Express bus services prove popular bar return trips

The recently-introduced express bus services from Mosta and Zurrieq to Valletta have been very popular but the same cannot be said for the return services in the afternoons, so much so that they could be stopped, sources close to the transport industry said yesterday.

While the routes to Valletta are extremely popular, patronage of the return trips was low because people caught the first bus home and did not wait for the express route.

The sources said that while the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) will probably be stopping the afternoon services from Valletta because of low take up, it could, on the other hand, consider expanding the express routes by introducing them from other localities.

Route 153 from Mosta is operated every half hour from 6.50 to 9.20 a.m. Route 132 from Zurrieq also runs every half hour, between 6.55 and 9.25 a.m.

The afternoon routes from Valletta are operated every half hour between 4.40 and 7.10 p.m. for both routes.

Route 153 starts from the Mosta bus terminus and stops at Mosta Square and at Eucharistic Congress Street, in Mosta, and at Portes des Bombes and Sarrija in Floriana, ending at the Valletta terminus.

The Zurrieq service departs from the bus terminus and stops at Blue Grotto Avenue, Wilga Street, Luqa, Portes des Bombes and Sarrija in Floriana, ending at the Valletta terminus.

The express services, launched on May 2, run Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays. The fare is 20c.