Emphasis on cost effectiveness

Austin Gatt has said that bus fares will have to go up. No surprise there; the payouts to transport operators and the new services, costly studies and all, will cost big money. But will we necessarily get a better service?

In some parts of the UK, which pioneered privatised transport, the service is much worse than it was prior to privatisation despite being extremely expensive. For instance the "First Bus" service in the City of Bristol is known to locals as "Worst Bus", which it is.

Privatisation is not tantamount to improvement. Cost effectiveness is.

In Malta, public transport commuters come mostly from the lowest income-group, namely workers, some students and pensioners. How much can they bear? It is not going to be easy to get the buses working to full capacity in order to maximise revenue. People will not readily undergo a lifestyle shift. This will leave the taxpayer to pick up the tab and he cannot be expected to pay for waste.

Regarding payouts to transport operators, a worrying trend has been set. Distant drums sound in Gozo. When it comes to reforming the almost non-existent system there, some of the losers will be the car rental and tour operating companies.

As pubic transport is virtually non-existent on that island, these have had it good for years.

Are we going to compensate them too?