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Saturday, July 31, 2010, 13:30

Arriva chosen as preferred bidder for new bus service

"Malta and Gozo will have one of the youngest, most modern and most environmentally friendly public transport fleets in Europe" - ministry

An Arriva bus at a bus station in Liverpool.

An Arriva bus at a bus station in Liverpool.

Transport Malta has invited Arriva (Malta) Consortium for talks after it was selected as the preferred bidder to run the bus service.

The competitive process, which started on July 14 last year, was based on technical parameters as well as financial bids.

The points awarded by the Evaluation Committee at the conclusion of the tender evaluation process were:

Maximum

Arriva (Malta)

Transdev Plus

Technical

185

122.51

177.37

Financial

315

250.00

20.00

Total

500

372.51

197.37

Arriva (Malta) did not appeal when the technical scores were published and Transdev Plus did not appeal the final adjudication, the Transport Ministry said.

Arriva (Malta) Consortium is made up of Arriva International Ltd (holding a 66.66% share) and Tumas Group (33.3%).

At the bidding stage, Arriva (Malta) Consortium notified that Malta Land Transport plc (a company owned by a number of the operators of the current public transport service) holds an option to purchase a maximum of 10% of the shares in the new company.

Arriva is one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe, employing more than 42,000 people and delivering more than one billion passenger journeys across 12 European countries every year. It is quoted on the London Stock Exchange that in 2009 registered revenues of GBP 3,147.8 million.

€47m INVESTMENT INCLUDES 230 BRAND NEW BUSES

"Arriva brings to Malta, expertise and professional management, as well as €47 million investment in a sector where it is sorely needed," the ministry said.

"Arriva has by far exceeded the minimum expectations set out in the tender published by Transport Malta, which required as a minimum, buses that were not older than 15 years and a minimum Euro III standard with air conditioning and accessibility for persons with disability," the ministrry added.

The fleet being provided by Arriva will:

· cost €35 million at the start-up of the new service;

  • include 230 brand new Euro V buses;
  • include an additional 86 buses all with Euro V engines that are between 2 and 7 years old;
  • ensure improved accessibility and comfort: the entire bus fleet will be wheel-chair accessible and air conditioned in addition to the improved safety standards of contemporary bus design that only a fraction of today’s bus fleet is equipped with;
  • the new vehicles will include 13 electric-hybrid vehicles that will be used to provide services in historically and environmentally sensitive areas including Valletta, Cottonera, Attard and its surrounding villages, Victoria and a number of routes in the Gozitan countryside;
  • be air-conditioned and equipped with on-vehicle destination and ‘next stop’ electronic displays;
  • be washed every day to retain the highest standard of cleanliness but specialised equipment will be used to re-cycle 95% of the water;
  • be strictly maintained and undergo daily technical checks in accordance with international engineering standards.

This will mean that Malta and Gozo will have one of the youngest, most modern and most environmentally friendly public transport fleets in Europe.

AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

The ministry said that an independent report it had commissioned found that when compared with the current bus fleet, a bus operation running with a Euro V engine standard was expected to lead to a 48% reduction in hydrocarbons, a 94% reduction in particulate matter, a 70% reduction in oxides of nitrogen and a 55% reduction in carbon monoxide.

The study, which compared the typical performance of engines of the existing bus fleet with a Euro V engine fleet working on the same basis, did not take into account the improvements to air quality that could be reasonably expected as more people switched to the buses.

"The fleet improvement combined with various other environmental initiatives that Arriva (Malta) undertook to implement, such as fitting eco-driving technology to vehicles, tyre inflation monitoring and turning engines off between journeys, will go a long way in supporting Malta’s effort to improve air quality, particularly in urban areas," the ministry said.

TARGET TO INCREASE BUS PASSENGERS BY 54%

It added that Arriva undertook in its submission to make their Malta project a model of sustainable development.

Its target is to increase bus passengers by 54% over current levels of use by the end of the 10 year contract term while reducing the carbon footprint of Malta’s bus operation by 15% in 2017 over 2011 numbers.

"The reduction from the carbon footprint of today’s bus operation is almost inestimable given that the average age of the bus fleet before the changeover to the new system is of over 30 years which will be going down to less than two years overnight when the new service starts," the ministry said,

Arriva also undertook to provide all the services on the extensive network required by the government in the tender process as well as night services connecting various destinations around Malta on a 24-hour basis on weekends all year round and all week during the summer months.

The bidder also undertook to employ around 1,100 people in Malta’s public transport operation, more than double existing numbers, creating new jobs for hundreds of people never before connected with the transport industry.

"It also undertook to set up a new specialised training centre bringing the level of training in the transport sector in Malta, in terms of driving, operating systems and most importantly customer services, from its current abysmal levels to international standards. This will be combined with a secondment programme for experts from other jurisdictions served by Arriva to train local service providers," the ministry added.

Arriva will introduce contact-less smart cards and several new ticket vending machines. It will also operate through agents across Malta and Gozo to ensure easy access to the services for tourists and locals alike. In addition it will provide extensive passenger information, with information panels on each stop, route information on all buses, publications, on line information and a call centre.

Passenger information will also be provided on around a 100 electronic bus stop displays that will be coordinated with vehicle tracking technology that will inform bus passengers in real time on bus arrival times.

Arriva Malta also said it would support, with maintenance facilities and volunteer labour, a heritage bus museum for retired traditional buses if one was to become established.

"Transport Malta now has the task to secure the best possible deal in its negotiations with Arriva to ensure that public funds are spent in the most cautious and responsible manner in exchange for the highest standard of service the Maltese public and their visitors are right to expect," the ministry said.

'A STEP CLOSER TO THE REFORM MALTA HAS BEEN HOPING FOR' - GATT

Minister Austin Gatt said that Malta was now a step closer to the reform the country had been hoping for.

"It is wrong to assume that we can bring about this massive change without investment, both public and private. We do believe however that the rewards the country will reap will go beyond the monetary. Cleaner air, reduced congestion, increased accessibility and improved mobility will be a social, economic and cultural reform that will go far beyond the narrow but highly visible difference made by a new bus fleet on our roads.

“The reform is far from completed. Quite apart from the fact that Transport Malta still needs to complete negotiations with the preferred bidder on the best possible terms for commuters and the public purse – and that will not be an easy ride – the reform will be a failure if all it does is switch old buses with new ones. The success can only be measured over several years, as we get over the inevitable hitches of the first few months and start convincing more people to make the ‘modal shift’, travelling less often by car and more often by bus. We have a long way to go yet.”

The new bus service is expected to be rolled out six months after a successful conclusion of the negotiations that are expected to commence in earnest in the coming days.

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p.ellul

Aug 2nd 2010, 14:13

x'naqra ta kummenti dawk, veru jaghmlulek kuragg ee,

nahseb ghad jigi zmien li nghidu kemm konna ahjar meta konna ghar:))

Matt Bonanno

Aug 2nd 2010, 15:18

This is a quote from another review site:

"The Arriva drivers in Leicester also seem to include a fair number of people who are either completely insane or...no, they must be completely insane. On a journey back home last week the driver nearly crashed into a van, then reversed 100 yards back down a main A-road, and then drove for about 10 seconds whilst reaching for something at his feet. It was slightly worrying, to put it mildly."

I wonder if we'll actually end up missing our good old grumpy lot...

M.Cachia

Aug 2nd 2010, 11:59

I second everything you said about arriva.

S King

Aug 2nd 2010, 22:20

Hear hear, from Kent! You pay extremely low bus fares at the moment, just wait until Arriva put all the fares up. Near where I live, it costs £2.80 (Eu3.28) to travel 3 miles (single trip - not a return). Disgusting! And that is all along the same straight road - it doesn't go into any estates or town centres!

I hope they run things differently in Malta, but unfortunately my experiences do not give me much confidence.

joe gatt

Aug 2nd 2010, 15:39

Hopefully it will be an efficient, comfortable service. It has to be cost effective too, if not, what would be the point, one will have no option again, but to use own transport.
May I suggest you do not sell your car just yet.

Joseph Micallef

Aug 2nd 2010, 12:49

Who said so?

J Fenech

Aug 2nd 2010, 09:45

because originally the vehicles were built on lorry chassis, and sometimes even complete with the front cab(the nose-type bodies). simple.

Pamela Muscat

Aug 4th 2010, 17:39

Not sad when u think that disabled people cannot get onto the old buses and have to wait for hours on end to get onto an accessible bus to get to their destination...bus service should be accesssible to everyone at all times! Disabled and elderly people will have a better quality of life with a fully accessible fleet.

colin wilcox

Jul 31st 2010, 21:55

G Pace
sorry but gonzi as said they have to keep all the drivers on for ten years

Alan Rex Barrett

Aug 1st 2010, 15:41

I never thought so many people would be so happy about a German company getting a foothold on Maltese soil.Arriva are days away from becoming owned by the German state railway company, DEUTSCHE BAHN,in a £1.58billion deal.For a small island you have far too many cars,i am a bus driver in the UK,AND WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO DRIVE ON YOUR OVERCROWDED ROADS.How so many non-bus drivers can "pull to peices" the people who are already driving the buses is beyond me,do me a favour have a go,see how long you could last it out.

Leo Micallef

Aug 1st 2010, 11:30

Nahseb li int qed tfajjar bl- addocc u tibla kollox, kieku l-awtoritajiet hadu il-passi li qed tghid int allura l-affarijiet trangaw u mhux baqghu kif kienu u bqajna sena wara l-ohra dejjem nisimghu bl- istess problemi. Ma tistax toffri servizz tajjeb jekk il-haddiema li jghatu is servizz u ikollhom kuntatt dirett mal klijenti ma ikollomx livell ta edukazzjoni tajjeb. Jekk ix-xufiera mhux ser jinbidlu, is servizz ser jibqa l-istess, kull ma ser jinbidel il karozzi.

Charles Grima

Aug 1st 2010, 12:06

Kull ma hemm nofs-tuzzana? Kemm fiha tuzzana ghalik? 50? 100? Mal hazin DEJJEM DEJJEM DEJJEM jehel it-tajjeb!

Ghax ma kontux kapaci tnehhuhom in-nofs tuzzana tieghek?

Tistghu tigu ghalijja d-dar, ghax maghkom ma nirkibx!!!

S.Ciantar

Aug 1st 2010, 16:26

Hafna nies jinqalaw biex jghajjru tibzax u jitfghu fl-istess keffa lil kulhadd. Mil-ilsna tan-nies vera johrog kliem sabih ghax xufiera tal-linja u tal-white taxis. Jien ma nafx kif dawn nies isejjhu lilhom nfushom Nsara ghax safejn naf jien Alla ma qalx biex nghajjru u noffendu lin-nies li ma naqblux maghhom, nwaggaw lill-membri tal-familja taghhom u jiehdu gost bid-deni li jigi fuq dawn xufiera. hawn min b'dawn il-mizuri ha jbati hafna kemm xufiera tal-linja u kemm ta taxis, imma pubbliku nisrani ma jimpurtahx mil-familji ta dawn in-nies. Nixtieq nkun naf jien kemm qed jahseb li gejjin turisti f'Malta biex tal-linja ha jibdew jahdmu 24hrs kuljum fis-sajf u fix-xitwa 24hrs fil-weekend; Ta taxis ha jzid l-permessi qal l-ministru kif ha jaqalaw l-ghajxien taghhom dawn n-nies meta ha jizdiedu u ha jkun hemm tal-linja ukoll issa.Very well done biex toqtol xebba familji bil -guh dir-riforma!!!

C Cassar

Jul 31st 2010, 20:39

Even though they are killing many Maltese children with their toxic emissions?

Chris Grillo

Aug 1st 2010, 12:03

Really? Why, pray, is that madam?

They were green before that, and multi-coloured even earlier.

The only constant were the leprechauns behind the wheel !!!

Ms p m Graham

Aug 2nd 2010, 09:13

This investment is huge (from public and private sectors) and what would it have cost to get a good professional overhaul management team in there, to train the drivers who required it, listen to customers, and route buses and timetables accordingly (and on time) and bring the buses up to date. Yes, even the old ones.

The emissions have never been dealt with correctly. Too much pussy footing around.

L Bonnici

Jul 31st 2010, 23:37

Well if there are any Maltese bus drivers who want to try their luck abroad, then there's their opportunity! We should stop thinking of "protecting" jobs in Malta because we're afraid of competition. Let's face it ... how many bus drivers will want to work in Malta ... conditions + pay abroad is always much much better! Perhaps having foreign bus drivers wouldn't be such a bad idea ... especially if they're on busy tourist routes!!!

Red Forman

Aug 1st 2010, 16:17

That is where government subsidies come in. They must be applied since buses are there especially for the use of the lower-income earner. Plus, i wouldn't mind paying a higher price for bus service if it was punctual, clean and efficient.

Paul Ripard

Jul 31st 2010, 21:16

You couldn`t have put it better Anthony !

Paul Camilleri

Jul 31st 2010, 17:14

Mr Massa, its is not the bus drivers, BUT the BUS OWNERS...... You should have read the article properly...! We all should thank these Investors for taking such a difficult task of taking over this sector.... Ariiva & Tumas group are the major shareholders.... Bus OWNERS have local experience which I'm sure will be of great assistance to these investors... One last thing, as the saying in maltese goes, Ta li thallas tiehu...!

Joseph Micallef

Jul 31st 2010, 17:43

MIN qallek li hadu it-tender ix-xufiera! Tumas Group u Arriva International ma nahsibx li huma ix-xufiera!

Joseph Micallef

Jul 31st 2010, 17:49

Quoting the article: "Malta Land Transport plc (a company owned by a number of the operators of the current public transport service) holds an option to purchase a maximum of 10% of the shares in the new company." - They have an OPTION to puchase does not mean that they OWN it!

Randall Taylor

Jul 31st 2010, 17:04

I agree with Mr. Abela. However, there are a few good drivers on staff. I believe with proper training in customer care our new bus service well be an example for others to follow.

CZARB

Jul 31st 2010, 18:02

The bus drivers have been given a 10 yr job guarantee, while Arriva is partly owned by the bus owners. Dont worry though the bus fees will get 'reformed'

Joseph Micallef

Jul 31st 2010, 20:04

Where did you get it that the Bus owners partly own Arriva? Arriva is an international company!

Joseph Micallef

Jul 31st 2010, 17:47

READ PROPERLY: "Malta Land Transport plc (a company owned by a number of the operators of the current public transport service) holds an option to purchase a maximum of 10% of the shares in the new company." - HOLDS AN OPTION TO PURCHASE it says. Sometimes I think I am reading a different article from some of the commentators here!

Paul Vella

Jul 31st 2010, 23:31

If I'm not mistaken most of the bus drivers who operate the current buses will remain with us with us (bad manners and all)under a different employer and with quite a good number of second hand London Buses. Some of the drivers were bus owners who were paid thousands of euros worth of taxpayers' money as compensation for relinquishing their licenses. But they will retain their jobs under the proposed arrangement....A costly change and everything will remain as it was except for increased bus fares and new routes so that the Hon Gatt can boast of a reform of some sort. As the song by Bruce Springsteen goes ..'It's just a brilliant disguise'

R.Gauci

Jul 31st 2010, 16:19

If you are happy to be paid 35 euros as a bus driver go for it !!

A. Zahra

Jul 31st 2010, 16:20

Go one better. Imagine Muscat, farrugia and Abela having a go at it. That would be so very tragic.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jul 31st 2010, 16:36

I don't know about Sant and Micallef but Wistin Abela taz- Zejtun built an airline with much less fuss.

M Catania

Aug 1st 2010, 11:23

Issa X'ghandhom x'jaqsmu Alfred Sant,Jason Micallef, Joseph Muscat u il-bqija ma dan l-artiklu? Tafu li diga il-gvern ta gonzipn diga ghamel qassata kbira bir riforma tat-transport pubbliku ghax ta il-miljuni ta ewro lis-sidien prezenti, weghda ta qabel l-elezzjoni, flus li ovvjament gejjin mit taxxi taghna il-maltin? Rigal sabieh tas sidien talli dejjem ittrattaw lill-maltin ta zibel bl-arroganza, l-imbarazza ta karozzi u it-tniggiz ta l-arja bit tahlit tal pitrolju mad-diesel. U tafu li il-gvern tal-pn kellu jiehu kwazi ghoxrin sena biex fl-ahhar iwettaq il-weghda tar-riforma fit transport pubbliku?

R.Gauci

Jul 31st 2010, 16:22

If you are happy to be paid 35 euros a day as a bus driver go for it !!

R.Gauci

Jul 31st 2010, 16:23

Very wise comment !!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jul 31st 2010, 16:32

Of what use is the cup of gold if the wine be sour?

A. Zahra

Jul 31st 2010, 16:18

This comment is very typical of certain persons. So very negative on anything the government does. Why not wait and give them a chance.

Joseph Micallef

Jul 31st 2010, 17:42

This is not the consortium involving the drivers! It is made up of Tumas group and Arriva International. Read before you blurt out!

jjzammit

Jul 31st 2010, 14:04

il pollution tigi meta il buses minflok jimlewom bid diesel, jimlewom bil pitrolju,nispera li ghem xi xufira jigu reformed ukoll.ftit edukazjoni lil uhud mix xufira tkun tajba ghal Malta.

C Fenech

Jul 31st 2010, 14:48

As far as I know, the Arriva consortium includes the CURRENT DRIVERS.

A. Agius

Jul 31st 2010, 14:51

Furthermore bearing in mind the continued growth of new stretches of building areas & new village roads, bus public transport should inversely be stretched to reach these peripheral areas to entice new passengers who are reluctant to utilise the present public transport on account of having to walk over 15mins (rain or shine) to reach the nearest bus stop from their residence many times to be left stranded as some undisciplined driver capriciously skipped the proper route. Fingers crossed and hoping for the public transport renaiscance .

David Jones

Jul 31st 2010, 18:23

Don't get too excited about Arriva.
They took over our local sevices and i'm afraid they are not very impressive.
Hope their reputation does not apply to Malta

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