Transport Minister Austin Gatt insisted this evening that the new bus fares schedule conformed to EU rules.
He made his comment in Parliament, hours after a spokesman for the EU Transport Commissioner was quoted as saying that the Commission would look into the new fares structure. He also said that EU rules did not allow discrimination on the basis of nationality.
Dr Gatt denied that the issue was nationality and said the only qualification was residence.
He said that ordinary residents of Malta would pay fares which were equivalent, and in some cases, cheaper than at present. Fares for non-residents would be only €12 for seven days, which was very competitive when compared to other tourist destinations.
"The term residents does not mean Maltese people but all those who live in Malta, including Maltese and foreigners, the only qualification is residence," Dr Gatt said. "Non residents also means Maltese who do not ordinarily live in Malta."
He said that the reason for this distinction was simple. The residents of Malta paid tax here and that funded the subsidy for lower fares for pensioners and students.
This, he said, was a fair system and a logical one. People who paid taxes to subsidise the bus service should enjoy a lower fare.
Dr Gatt said all legal advice given to the government showed that the scheme conformed to EU regulations.
Earlier in his address, Dr Gatt said that the government would be saving €3.5 million in subsidies per year for the next 10 years since the subsidy for new operator Arriva has been reduced to €4.6 million.
This, Dr Gatt said, was also the first time that Gozo would have a proper bus service.
Malta would also have modern, air conditioned low-floor buses which would drastically reduce the level of particulate matter in the air.
The new bus service would also operate on an improved network with a number of new termini and interchanges, he said. The new network would be 65% bigger than the present one. All routes would operate between 5.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. with additional night services to St Julians.
There would also be more information at bus stops and each bus would be equipped with a GPS locator to ensure that buses ran on time. The contract with Arriva even established a maximum waiting time, failing which, Arriva would be fined.
The new service, he said, would also mean better discipline from the bus drivers.
He said the proof of the pudding would be in the eating. There would inevitably be teething problems, but he was confident that the people would ultimately get the service they deserved.
PARK AND RIDE FARES
The minister said it was not socially fair for people not to expect to be charged for using the Park and Ride. The Floriana Park and Ride on its own cost taxpayers €650,000 and he was sure that money could be more deservedly used elsewhere.
It was not true that people would have to pay €2.50 to use the Floriana park and Ride. This Park and Ride had to be competitive with other parking lots, he said.
Furthermore, one could pay €10 for seven days, which meant €2 for five days. If people shared their transport, as they were being encouraged to do, costs were very low.
However the costs for those who opted for the luxury of using their own car was also low.
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101109/local/higher-bus-fares-for-tourists-another-blow-to-industry-mhra