Matthew Xuereb
New bus system 'in place next year'
All roads will no longer lead to Valletta.
The new public transport system, which is intended to place the commuter at its centre, will be up and running next year, Transport Minister Austin Gatt promised yesterday as he unveiled the new routes of the proposed system.
All roads will no longer lead to the grubby Valletta bus terminus as several nodes will be set up in different localities, while the number of buses in use will actually be drastically reduced.
Dr Gatt explained that the final aim of the reform was to benefit the commuters and the country. The aim was to lessen the use of private cars, increase patronage and reduce pollution.
This, he said, was "a radical reform that the country had long been waiting for and which would change people's lifestyle and improve the economy".
The tender document with details of the government's plans will be presented tomorrow to the five consortia which have expressed interest in taking over the service. Originally there were eight but three did not qualify to the next stage of the process.
Manuel Delia, the ministry's head of secretariat, explained that while the current network covered 25 million kilometres a year, the new network would cover 43.2 million in winter and 46.7 million in summer.
But there will be no need for more buses to cover this extended network, only more drivers. At present, Maltese buses on average are used only for 12 per cent of the time they are available (usually because most drivers own their bus). The reformed system aims at increasing the use by up to as much as 85 per cent, through the shared use of buses by multiple drivers on different shifts.
Moreover, park and ride facilities will be introduced at Floriana, Luxol and Marsa to complement the new public transport system which will run between 5.30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
As for the night service, the government is expecting the bidders to make their offers, with the one offering the most comprehensive one getting extra points in the adjudication process.
Mr Delia said there would be a modern fleet with low-emission buses of different sizes. A service to peripheral destinations and express services would also be introduced, linking places which are not at present serviced.
Apart from Valletta there would be hubs in other areas including Buġibba, Birkirkara, Mosta, Mater Dei, Luxol, Marsa, Paola, Rabat and the airport. The network would have four tiers - main, cross, feeder and express lines.
The reform, Mr Delia said, wanted to introduce punctuality, reliability, smooth interconnectivity and timetables at every bus stop.
Dr Gatt said the main aim behind the reform was to increase patronage by improving the level of service. The plan was to conduct another survey after a year to see if the new system was working.
Questioned about the viability of the new services, Dr Gatt said that according to calculations made by the ministry, the routes were sustainable.
Replying to another question about discussions underway with present bus owners who, in line with the government's promise, are going to be compensated for being made jobless, Dr Gatt confirmed that "cordial" meetings were still being held.
Dr Gatt will today announce the government's planned pricing structure.
Road to efficiency
• Multiple hubs
• New destinations
• Kilometres covered will nearly double
• Fewer buses but more drivers
• More park and ride facilities
• Day bus service between 5.30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Express and night services
• Low emissions
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Daniel D'anastasi
Oct 17th 2009, 13:54
I will be willing to pay a little extra for a more reliable and comfortable service. bus schedules must be respected, info line or internet to check bus schedules/delays, adequate bus shelters everywhere, tickets availability prior to boarding, air conditioners (functional) on each bus at least from May till October (and a quality assurance service rep to ensure that drivers abide).A link from Paola Square to Airport to tal-qroqq and then Mosta is missing
Herbert Caruana
Oct 17th 2009, 07:01
Airconditioned buses - a MUST!!!
Judy Vassallo
Oct 17th 2009, 04:48
it would be nice to have a bus system that goes all places and not just Valletta. Honest and helpful bus drivers woud be good for the tourists. Proper dress code would be nice instead of great big hulks in singlets. Bus drivers that charge you the correct price would be good also instead of ripping of the tourists. It all sounds good but it will be believed when it starts.
DANIEL D'ANASTASI
Oct 17th 2009, 01:00
Will there be enough bus shelters in place? today commuters of Luqa have no bus shelters even though applications have been pending for more than 3 years.Rain or shine i will continue using my car... until things really change. why does a commuter in st.julian's with all the commodities pay the same fare as a commuter in Luqa who has no bus shelter?
David Martinelli
Oct 16th 2009, 13:14
Finally ... a bus system which will incorporate many things !! The first being multiple hubs and new destinations which doesn't entail having to go to Valletta to change buses. The second being a new modernised fleet which will be clean and the extension of bus times past 21:00 hours.
Try catching any bus well after 21:00 p.m. in Valletta and realize that you are out of luck unless you live in Sliema, San Giljan, or Paceville. Night services should continue to operate until 03:00 a.m. as the current timetable states.
In addition to the timetable, each route schedules should have a printed copy of its route network as well as frequency of travel times made available at all the transfer points (hubs) or on the buses itself.
Finally, the new Consortia which will be hired should advise all of it's drivers to abide by a "Dress Code," because the sight of an Unproperly dressed driver sends the wrong message to tourists. Get rid of all the "ARROGANT " drivers as they do greater harm to tourism, than good !!
Anthony Neil Pace
Oct 16th 2009, 12:32
I wonder why I'm finding this so difficult to believe? - Oh Yes... Since everybody is so scared of another Bus strike, I think that this "Reform" Will never happen.
Everytime I'm at the Bus Terminus at Valletta, I always hear the bus drivers talking Balsphemy of the Reform. so.... Don't expect any changes.
Nigel Lawrence
Oct 16th 2009, 11:47
New bus system 'n place next year---
I'm sure you'll excuse me when I say "sorry, I don't believe it".
T Mifsud
Oct 16th 2009, 10:49
Why is there no mention to get rid of the ARROGANT drivers and drivers who do not follow rules and others who actually harm tourism? This should have been one of the pinnacles of the reform.
No matter how advanced or state of the art the system is, if you have drivers treating tourists, students and elderly like animals then the system is a failure already even before it departs the paper plan!
David Stephen Ganado
Oct 16th 2009, 10:43
"Mr Delia said there would be a modern fleet with low-emission buses of different sizes."
So why did the tender document specify vehicles could be up to 15 years old??? Would a 15 year old bus have the low-emissions expected?? I doubt!!
C Debono
Oct 16th 2009, 10:24
Excellent! we really need this. I just hope that the bus fare to be charged will also be taken into consideration. If the bus fare will be too expensive then may people will still prefer making use of a car.
C. Farrugia
Oct 16th 2009, 10:16
I will believe it.....when I see it!!! As goes for every presumptuous de-facto declaration about this and that on this island!!