There is need for public consultation on transport

With the acceptance, albeit grudgingly by some, that all public transport should be liberalised, I would like to appeal to the government to seek and listen to the various ideas and suggestions from the public.

One touted idea is the re-introduction of trams. In Rome and London, trams have been removed as these were considered to cause more traffic jams and, thus, add to the confusion on the streets. Trams are also held to cause damage to old buildings. Trams have been replaced by an underground train system that would cost millions of euros to build and run but minimises traffic and offers a "reliable" and fast mode of transport. Modern trams use electricity, which in Malta must be generated by fossilised fuels, thus moving the pollution from the streets onward to the power stations.

The loss between generation and actual movement of the tram cars is not considered to be very economical. The debate on trams has been ongoing for many decades, in fact since they were first introduced in Wales more than two centuries ago.

Any new system of public transport must be flexible and capable of being redesigned as and when required. It is an unfortunate fact that the more efficient the system the more it is liable to financial loss. Many of the ideas stated by the minister seem to be good, at least on paper. Thus, I beseech the minister in particular and the Administration in general to invite comments and suggestions. Many of these would be useless and even confuse the issue but there will be a few good ideas worthy of being considered.