AD calls for modern, cleaner buses

Josef Grech (albion@di-ve.com)

Sep 1st 2008, 20:37

Mr. Micallef, some five years ago, I made part of a group of drivers which was sent to Portsmouth for a course in customer care among other things. During one of the lectures we learnt that the person in front of us delivering the lecture was in fact deaf! We could not tell that unless he told us so. During that lecture, we spoke about people with special needs, and how in turn we are all PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. My special needs are to be loved and appreciated. I guess that these are the most common special needs. I look forward for the day when my duties and my job are appreciated. For such reasons, I am prepared to go a long way to find someone with my reasoning, thus I invite you for a discussion.

Josef Grech (albion@di-ve.com)

Sep 1st 2008, 20:37

As for the cost of entering the sector as an operator, please note that the only way is to buy a vehicle which carries its permit along. Who is to blame for such thing? Do you think I enjoy an environment where it’s not me as an operator that is recognized by the Authorities but it’s the bus! So, what should we do now? Do you think that the solution is for the Ministry to take off the permits from us and thus destroying our father’s investment which we carried forward through the years?

Josef Grech (albion@di-ve.com)

Sep 1st 2008, 20:36

With reference to the Maltese drivers in Coventry, I was the one at that time altogether with a colleague of mine responsible of sending them over, so may I say that this topic is something I know quite well. What you are not aware of is the kind of service we provide on the Island. Your idea about public transport in Malta is totally erratic, and you really need to discuss things over with someone like me in order to get the real picture behind it! I acknowledge that there are lot of problems with the service we provide, and wish that the Authorities altogether with the Association, commit themselves to address such problems by improving working conditions for our drivers as they should be our main asset. By doing so, we would force away those in the sector who would not want to change their attitude towards our customers and hopefully attract more people that would portray a better image to Public Transport.

Josef Grech (albion@di-ve.com)

Sep 1st 2008, 20:36

Mr. Micallef, you don’t want to pay for the bus!! Ok then, tell me how are we supposed to fund replacing our old rolling stock if our commuters don’t pay? So, you want to pay for the service provided, but don’t want any of the fare you pay to be allocated to improving the service. So you just want things to remain as they are!
Here again, too many drivers working on a day in day out basis! Do you think you know all about our operation? Not even our buses are working to such schedule nowadays! A problem we are facing is that our buses are being kept on the road for too long, with all the extra work that is cramped on the roster. As our fleet is so old, inevitably it needs more servicing. Please, do read the report compiled by the Ministry. It says that shifts must be introduced in order to have drivers working less hours. That’s something positive to introduce driver hours regulation, but it means we would need more drivers and consequently more wages, thus as I already said, liberalisation will pass through every ones pockets!

Daniel Cannons

Sep 1st 2008, 07:21

I agree with Mr Grech, How is it possible to keep the fares low and spend all the money on new buses? where is this money going to come from? the trees? It's like asking taxi drivers to keep the same fare if the price of petrol doubles.

J. Bonnici

Sep 1st 2008, 00:42

I guess everyone is good at talking but doesn't really face reality.

Going back to the main topic of this article; upgrading buses to new ones might be a step towards what one would call a modern service. Still, does anyone know how much these new buses consume when it comes to fuel? They consume far more then a 'normal' bus, and one can multiply that if the a/c had to be on. Goes without saying that in order to have current buses using a different fuel as suggested, we're looking at a new expense on each and every bus in the fleet, even the so called 'new ones'. The full suggestion is just to spend thousands more on the current buses, doesn't mention anything about how to improve the service itself or anything on how to attract people from using their own car and use public transport. Private cars too have their own part (larger part) in emissions problem.

Although off topic, commenting about drivers with a smile comment; Maltese roads are what they are - everyone fighting to overtake any type of vehicle; don't blame everything on bus drivers!

Charles Micallef

Aug 31st 2008, 19:48

I want to pay for the service, but do not expect to pay for the bus, I stick to my opinion in respect of the quality of service provided. We have too many buses that are used use every other day, and therefore we have too many drivers working on a day in / day out basis, Is this not where the expense overall is associated with. I am awarewhat the cost of the permit changes hand for, hence I, with many others can summise why the present owners are not interested in liberisation / privatisation of the system! I suggest that The Times next Opinion poll wil give the public the right to voice their opinion.

Daniel Cannons - I disagree with your fixation that cheap fares are the only option, although I do agree that at certain times that the fares should be subsidised. What is wrong with Polish Drivers? Do they work hard and provide a service? If you go to Wales or Coventry there a substantial number of Maltese Drivers who were recruited some years since and do a fine job, have you got a problem with Nationalities, or are we here comparing a service?,

Josef Grech

Aug 31st 2008, 19:06

Mr. Micallef, so you still got the wrong impression about whom and what for is being subsidised when it comes to Public Transport! You admit it is cheap but then again you don’t want any of what you pay in taxes to be allocated to improve the service by importing new vehicles. So as an operator, what am I supposed to do to replace my ageing vehicles and reach European standards if the fares are kept so low? By the way, may I correct you with regard to the cost of new vehicles. A newly imported vehicle from Europe can cost anything from €170,000 to €200,000. For more eco-friendly ones i.e. that use electricity or other technologies expect to pay something around 50 to 75 percent more. You see there is a cost for everything! Unfortunately, in my opinion as an Association we always aimed low, so that’s what we get!

Daniel Cannons

Aug 31st 2008, 19:04

@Charles Micallef
In the UK you occasionally get a smile, but half of the drivers are now polish and do not understand what you are saying as well as the lack of services in rural areas of the UK is the biggest problem!. Anyway this is not about UK it is about here, The most important thing is Malta is that public transport remains cheap - otherwise people will not use it and the traffic will become even worse!!. We have to make use of what we have and cannot expect a perfect world overnight.

C Cassar

Aug 31st 2008, 18:36

Charles Micallef: I don't want to be pedantic but privatisation is usually taken to mean selling a government-owned undertaking to the private sector. It's not the same as liberalisation. This is why I took you as implying that the service is government-owned.

Charles Micallef

Aug 31st 2008, 18:24

Daniel Cannon, I look forward to the day, when we can ride on our buses, are greeted with a courteous smile and not a frown, ride on a bus where the bus driver does not spend half the journey with his mobile phone stuck to his ear, a cigarette in his mouth while steering the bus with the other hand, a bus that stops on 'bus stops' and does not block the road while passengers are dis / embarking. I would like to ride in a decent clean bus, drive behind a bus that does not emite constant fumes, I have yet to meet a bus driver who gives the right of way when they should and not use the size of his bus to intimidate other drivers. I think I had better stop here as I am only allowed 200 words, On the other hand if we pay peanuts for fares than we get monkey service. Is this the service you get in UK, Please do not tell me I lived there for 22yrs.

Charles Micallef

Aug 31st 2008, 17:34

Gentleman, please allow me to reply.
J.Borg -apology accepted, although you defended AD's statement noted above.
R.Mosely - We need more than just new drivers and uniforms, the system needs a complete overhaul, as otherwise we will still be talking of improving the system in 20 years from now.
M. Seycel - New buses cost Lm60k and the tax payers pay Lm45k out of that.
R. Cassar- please read AD's statement thoroughly first , then comment.
Josef Grech - I totally agree that the bus fares are dirt cheap, but so is most of the service provided, however you have to go a long way to find anyone with your reasoning!
C. Cassar - please read what I stated properly and then send us your comments. I never even slighly intimated that the service is Govt. owned. Most buses are owner - operated and are only used every other day. Hence we have too many buses of the wrong capacity / size.

Daniel Cannons

Aug 31st 2008, 15:19

No no no no! DO NOT privatise the bus system in Malta otherwise we will have the same problem that the UK has, non-profit making bus routes will be stopped and fares will go up. Besides this, the new buses are more uncomfortable to ride than the older ones as they have much smaller windows, because they are designed to have the air conditioning on, which is NEVER switched on, therefore there is much less air. Yes these buses are easier to access but are usually so full you cannot get a wheelchair on it. Maltese buses are part of the history and culture of this island. The older buses are much more comfortable to be on when you are standing up as well as you can easily reach the roof to hold onto. For €0.47 we should be grateful for what we get. There are more serious problems that need to be resolved first, such as running later buses for people who work late.

John Azzopardi

Aug 31st 2008, 15:17

@Charles Micallef. Absolutely spot on! No more taxpayers subsidies for inefficient bus service. Privatization is a must. No hybrid ownership. A private company must own the fleet, alternatively government should own the buses and drivers would be employees.

Michael Briguglio

Aug 31st 2008, 14:20

@Malcolm Seychell :

Greens have always put public transport at the forefront of their proposals for economic, social and ecological reasons.

Yes, the renewal of the bus fleet, is very costly, even for private investors. But this can take place in stages. Certain buses, however, should be taken off the road immediately!

Total privatisation / liberalisation will not solve certain problems as various routes are loss making and require subsidies - this has been shown by economic studies. Whatever format public transport takes, the State will still play a key role, if the social aspect of such transport is taken into consideration.

The EU permits both nationalisation and liberalisation in public transport. It doesn't permit the current situation of private monopoly. A middle-of-the-road option would be to let the market operate in profitable routes and have a public service in non-profitable routes. In both cases, State regulation is very important.

Tenders for provision of services should be specfic regarding routes, dress code, ventilation, capping of prices (e.g, so as not to impinge on cost of living, whereby increases would only be permitted in line with pre-established criteria such as cost of living adjustment, etc...)

C Cassar

Aug 31st 2008, 14:19

Mr Micallef, the bus service is not government-owned. It is already in private hands. But it has ended up in a mess regardless. I do not think the reform of public transport in Malta will be either quick or simple, but if we care about the air our children breathe then something has to be done to control the emissions produced by the current fleet. Government investment will have to play an important role in the renewal of the bus fleet, just as it has in the past. No private investor is going to magically turn up and offer to replace them for us. That is common sense as I see it anyway.

Josef Grech

Aug 31st 2008, 14:15

The service provider must calculate all of his costs and inevitably consider the fact that one fine day he will have to replace some of his tools and even be ambitious to invest in others as time necessitates. Otherwise, if no such reasoning is done that would be the start of the end of any business organisation. So, why it is not the same when it comes to public transport? Can anybody really claim that during the last five years the cost of operating any business did not face any price increase? Which other service consumes as much fuel in relation to the generated income as public transport? These are all questions that need consideration, as it is not fruitful to close our eyes in front of measures that will affect our standards of living. If anyone thinks that liberalisation will not pass through his pocket, then I encourage you to have a good look at the document issued by the Ministry regarding their vision for Public Transport in Malta.

Josef Grech

Aug 31st 2008, 14:15

As regards common sense, I agree with Mr. Micallef, let’s use it! But, I totally disagree with him, through his way of understanding the real problems behind public transport on our Island.
The real problem here is that Authorities did not even bother to improve services as it was always their agenda to keep those in the sector back and never really injected any motivation for improvement along with the years. They took advantage of the fact that no professional person whatsoever invested in the sector, thus no ambitious requests to improve our situation were ever done. This they used as a tool to keep the cost of living as low as possible. It’s a farce how the Ministry still insists about Operators being subsidised to run their services. Even more, it is ridiculous how people like Mr. Micallef say “What! Investing more of our hard earned money in new buses for our famous bus drivers owners?” I ask all those who make such reasoning, when you ask for quotations for any other service, like a nice kitchen or bedroom set, do you expect to get a subsidy from the Government as well?

R Cassar

Aug 31st 2008, 13:59

Mr Micallef, AD has already called for a total reform of the system.. so 'giving away' money to current owners is not on the agenda..but Austin Gatt can give more answers as to when he is going to get cracking with the reform...some other comments are unbelievable. It seems that there are some who are not convinced that public transport needs reform (the comments would be different had Austin Gatt said the same thing). The 'money' excuse is just that: an excuse - the argument can be used for other 'projects' - e.g. Mater Dei - over budget by tens of millions; Gozo Mgarr Ferry Terminal - twice the initial price - more millions there... as for off-the-cuff tangential comments by some ultra-conservatives

Adrian Cachia

Aug 31st 2008, 13:00

@Malcolm Seychel

Please check how much one of the so called Modern Buses cost. The government if I am not wrong subsidised more than Lm60k for one of the so called buses. If you use public transport you will notice that these new buses have an AC which is kept off and probably are being fuelled by some kind of typical maltese bus fuel mixture....

As for the green policies you mentioned AD are so much ahead of the MLPN .......

Richard Moseley

Aug 31st 2008, 12:51

New buses yes, but more essentially new drivers with decent uniforms and civilised manners.

J. Borg

Aug 31st 2008, 12:45

Mr. Micallef, thought you were from the Camilleri clan - my apologies for that.
In the meantime, rest assured that I have no strings that are being or can be pulled, and it is good to note that we both express what we believe is best for our country.

M Vella

Aug 31st 2008, 12:41

Privatisation sounds funky and great. But can anyone who is putting forward Privatisation of buses explain how it works?

Can they tell the person who lives in Mgarr Malta and who commutes daily with Qormi how privatisation will offer him a service and at what price?

If privatisation is limited to the profitable routes, will not half of Malta will become unconnected?

Is this what the privatisation proponents are proposing?

More detail less rhetoric please.

(And there was I thinking that SuperAustin had solved the problem).

Charles Micallef

Aug 31st 2008, 12:07

Mr Borg, unlike you I have no political leanings whatsoever, I speak what I believe to be good for my country. I have no one, but no one, pulling my strings, politically or otherwise....incidentally can you please give me one example when I rubbished AD? or have you got the right person?

I re-affirm what I said, that first privatisation, than new buses, lets use common sense and not political clap trap?

Malcolm Seychell

Aug 31st 2008, 12:03

Like all green parties and extreme left wingers money seems to be no problem for these people when in opposition.

Of course we all want modern and cleaner buses but at what cost?

First public transport should be privitized, and only then efficiency can improve.

AD are saying alot of sweet talk lately.

Definetely Prof Cassola knows more the political game then Harry Vassallo.

Many might try to vote again for the Greens in the MEPs but i urge the public to read more about the reality of the greens policies(especially illegal immigration which is our top most problem)

Also have a look of what results the greens got in Italy when they were in power, and Prof Cassola was part of the government which means he was also a decision maker.

Maria Schembri

Aug 31st 2008, 11:54

This should not only concern buses, but also to large trucks, especially the rubbish trucks (scamels)!

By any chance, is the Emissions Control SMS thing still working? I've sent a couple of messages, but I did not receive the usual reply back.

J. Borg

Aug 31st 2008, 11:53

Mr. Micallef is always quick to rubbish anything from AD.....
guess his understanding of privatisation is a buy-out to the tune of 230,000 Euros from taxpayers' funds, unilaterally set by his benevolent Minister Gatt!
Whilst having wardens dishing out fines for the minuteness of littering, having our lungs engulfed in exhaust may be less of a priority.

Dave Alan Caruana

Aug 31st 2008, 11:47

the old buses are fine, when they come that is.
they actually make the roads look nicer ..

the problem is not in which buses are used, but how they are used.
The organisation of the whole system is nonsensical, and it is impossible
to use buses to get to work or go out, unless you happen to work in Valletta,
and even then the service is unreliable.

I think the old buses can still be used effectively as part of a new transport
system - it's true they might not be as comfortable as newer ones - but so long
as a bus can be caught, at the time required, in the right direction, I won't be
complaining.

Charles Micallef

Aug 31st 2008, 11:42

What ! investing more of our hard earned money in new buses for our famous bus drivers owners?, don't even think about, first privatisation then new buses......