The buses forming the new public transport fleet cannot be more than 15 years old, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said this morning.

Addressing a news conference, the minister said the objectives of new system were economic, social and environmental.

Economic because it would be cheaper to use public transport than one’s own car, social because the buses would serve areas never served before, and environmental because the service would be cleaner.

The tender document for the new service is to be issued today. Five bidders have expressed an interest.

Manuel Delia, the head of the ministry’s secretariat said that 70 percent of the new fleet had to meet Euro 3 standards and the other 30 percent had to be Euro 4 compliant.

By the second year, the fleet has to be 50 percent in line with Euro 3 standards, the remainder with Euro 4.

By year four all buses had to be Euro 4 or better. This would mean less pollution through a reduction of hydro carbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in the air.

Only130 buses of the current fleet of 508 meet the required standards to be used on the new routes.

Mr Delia said that at least 70 percent of buses operating within Valletta, in Cottonera, on the Attard, Lija and Balzan route and in Victoria, Xaghra and Zebbug routes in Gozo had to be electric.

Bus sizes would vary according to routes but the biggest buses could not be longer than 12.5 metres and higher than 4.5 metres.

Double deckers and articulated buses, which comprised of two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint, would be permissible although these were between 16 and 18 metres.

Buses had to be parked off street, there had to be safety on board, a first aid box, CCTV and electronic displays of the destination both at the front and back of the buses.

They had to be right hand drive, well ventilated and air conditioned. Bus stops had to have electronic timetables with the estimated time of arrivals updated real time and the operator had to coordinate with other service providers such as Gozo Channel.

By the second year, an SMS information system would be in place enabling commuters to SMS the name of the bus stop and the route they wanted and receive the estimated time of arrival of the next bus. There had to be regular briefings on radio stations regarding delays and rerouting and there also had to be a call centre.

Buses had to be accessible to wheelchair users and drivers had to be fluent in Maltese and have a knowledge of basic English. They had to have a professional dress code, would not be able to smoke on duty or drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Doors had to be closed at all times and buses would only drive away when all passengers were seated.

Dr Gatt said that for the first time in Malta’s history there was going to be a contract for the operation of the bus service. Over the years, the Association of Public Transport had operated more like a trade union rather than an operator.

Malta, he said, had the largest ratio of cars on the road per square kilometre. This was costly and resulted in environmental problems.

He said that 370 buses from the currently fleet were Euro 0 and only a couple could be used as vintage.

An arrangement had been made with Wasteserv for the recycling of some of these buses and others would be passed on to Heritage Malta for display in a transport museum.

The government, the minister said, was to apply with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the upgrading of termini at Valletta, Victoria and Bugibba and for the extension of the Blata l-Bajda Park and Ride and for the creation of new park and ride system in Marsa and Luxol.

It would also apply for repair garages at Corradino and Xewkija.

The budget for this infrastructural work is €9 million.