1928 bus still in service in Gozo
A bus dating back to 1928 is still in service in Gozo, Transport Minister Austin Gatt disclosed in Parliament tonight.
He said during the debate on the Malta Transport Authority that the authority needed to be reformed, with the client being put at the centre of its activities. Red tape needed to be cut, processes had to be such as to remove discretionary decisions and service had to be faster, such as in the case of car registrations and the issue of number plates, which should not take more than two days. The authority needed stronger middle management and proper project management for its capital projects.
When he spoke on public transport, Dr Gatt said new thinking was needed. He argued that some routes in Malta could possibly be operated by a tram service, while in Gozo, public transport had to be reformed.
While further study was needed, the possibility existed of introducing eco-buses in Gozo. Perhaps the government would have to initially involve itself in this service. Change was not easy or cheap, but it was necessary. The oldest bus in Malta was actually in Gozo. It was built in 1928, it was still working, and its owner wished to keep it that way.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
Updated: Shot migrant in critical...
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Yana Mintoff: Family speaking to...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Richard Stedall
Jun 25th 2008, 23:16
I have been carrying out research into the old buses on behalf of Buses Worldwide. I have examined the official documentation of all the traditional Maltese-built buses still in use on Gozo and I would like to know which bus Dr Gatt thinks dates back to 1928. The oldest I know of is "Dolly", the chassis of which dates back to late 1933 / early 1934 (built by Reo), although it has been rebuilt completely several times over the years, and the body only dates from 1962.
Richard Stedall
Chairman and Managing Editor - Buses Worldwide
http://www.busesworldwide.org
Roger Cauchi Inglott
Jun 25th 2008, 23:13
The owner merits a brand new one, and his bus a museum of its own. God bless him!! Tourists are so delighted to ride an antique for the day and surprised to pay a pittence for it, whereas locals long for more comfort.... As a matter of fact few locals use the public transport in Gozo not because the buses are old; sometimes they have 53 seater coaches, the reason is they all have cars since taking a bus to travel from one village to another would take a couple of hours including waiting. The island is very badly linked with very infrequent departures.
The realistic population of Gozo (excluding Maltese who have a villeggatura and register their ID in Gozo) is 24,000, similar to the population of a large town in Malta. They are spread out however over a larger surface area and very few would need the service anyway, so it's a difficult situation.
It's a shame that an 80 year old bus with its proud owner should be used as an example for a problem that is hardly relevant to the said vehicle.
Mark Anthony Portelli
Jun 25th 2008, 23:12
We should have a maltese Bus Museum - as an attraction center - with some visual documentary...Get funds from the EU!!
Turiddu Buonaniente
Jun 25th 2008, 21:25
It would be nice to see a photo of the bus from 1928. It's a historic piece of machinery.