Malta's new buses handed over to Arriva
New buses to be used by Arriva in Malta when it takes over public transport on July 3 were today handed over to the company during a ceremony at the port of Xiamen in China.
The 172 King Long buses will now be shipped to Malta, adding to the two already being used for route testing and driver training.
Arriva managing director Keith Bastow and Transport Minister Austin Gatt attended the event, held by the Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd (King Long), the manufacturer of the buses.
When Arriva won the 10-year contract to operate public transport services in Malta and Gozo, it committed to replace a large part of the island’s ageing bus fleet to improve passenger comfort and reduce the environmental impact of transport in Malta.
In January, Arriva announced the signing of the contract for the supply new buses by King Long.
Mr Bastow said at the ceremony that when considering bus suppliers for the Malta contract, it thought of King Long, which in recent years had developed as a bus manufacturer, earning a good reputation for quality, design and customer service within the international bus industry.
King Long will be supplying Arriva with 49 new nine-metre buses and 125 new 12-metre buses.
When Arriva starts operations, 66 per cent of the fleet in Malta will be King Long buses.
The 12-metre buses will mostly operate on man-line services to and from Valletta. The nine-metre buses will be used on feeder services throughout the islands, exploiting their smaller size but still high relative capacity to penetrate the urban centres of towns and villages.
All buses are diesel low-floor providing easy access, and will feature Euro V engines, air conditioning, comfortable seating with adequate legroom, and real time passenger information displays including next scheduled stop announcements.
Dr Gatt said that the ceremony marked a strategic milestone towards the revitalisation and transformation of Malta’s public transport service.
He said he had no doubt that the quality and performance to be offered by the buses was one of the major cornerstones which was expected to lead to a significant increase in patronage over the coming years.
The buses will leave China on Monday and are due in Malta at the beginning of May.
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Schembri Ray
Apr 4th 2011, 22:48
New buses needs new roads for efficiency
S. Hinz
Apr 4th 2011, 18:54
I could cry when I see these buses. For me the old buses are a (big) part of Malta. When arriving in Malta it's always a highlight to see (and hear) one of these beautiful buses. I'm so happy that we have been in Malta last month, so we enjoyed to be passengers for the last time. For the Maltese people it's good to get more comfort, we know that, but we'll miss the yellow-orange buses at our next stay. When I was the first time in Malta as a child with my parents the buses were green and I fell in love with them...
Herman Meilak
Apr 4th 2011, 22:47
I will never understand how a human being can fall in love with a Maltese bus. A Maltese bus driver maybe? But that's even more difficult to understand!
Vinnie Boyde
Apr 4th 2011, 17:09
Let's hope the buses last longer than some toys from the same region especially around certain terrains on the island. It's all about cost-cutting and cheap service eh Arriva!!!! I wonder how much of your overhead resources were paid by EU??
Pete Debono
Apr 4th 2011, 17:05
These buses better have more leg room!
I'm 6 foot 2 and It is extremely uncomfortable travelling on the king longs that we have now!
M. Tabone
Apr 4th 2011, 16:14
Ghalhekk qatt ma nimxu il-quddiem hawn Malta, ghax hlief ingergru, immaqdru u neqirdu ma naghmlux! Qas nafu x'igifieri tapreżża, jekk ahna daqshekk bravi ghax ma nqumux minn wara dak il-computer u naghtu semna biex naraw lil pajjizna miexi il-quddiem. Jekk m'ahniex ha nigbdu habel wiehed qatt mhu ha naslu. :((
Brian Camilleri
Apr 4th 2011, 14:44
QUOTE - "air conditioning, comfortable seating with adequate legroom, and real time passenger information displays including next scheduled stop announcements." *laughing I wish I could put a bet, for how long these are going to be used. 1 week, 1 month the most...
A Cassar
Apr 4th 2011, 13:58
I live in China, and I use the public buses every day, at the bus stops they have a screen where it tells you how many more minutes you have to wait for the bus... its just great!! The screen shows the bus number, the name of the destination and the time left for the bus to arrive at that bus station. I hope the ones that are going to Malta will have the same system.
Martin Büttner
Apr 4th 2011, 10:50
What a shame. 172 buses from China. There are plenty of European bus manufacturers offering also excellent quality and reliable buses. I am sure that there are also several European bus manufacturers absolutely compatible with King Long, just take the Polish Solaris or VanHool from Belgium for example. It doesn't have to be a Neoplan, Cobus, Mercedes, Volvo, etc...... but in any way it shouldn't be King Longs!
The European economy should be strengthened with such infrastructure projects, and not the Chinese!
Mark Mamo
Apr 4th 2011, 10:12
New buses with the same old drivers! Are they going to be thought how to wear a tie, not to swear at people and ripping off tourists? Sorry swearing is allowed as long as they have all the icons and pictures of all the saints! by the way what is going to happen to all the cages with canary birds or budgies in the drivers compartment?
J Gatt
Apr 4th 2011, 10:20
do you think that Arriva would let drivers put icons and anaries in their buses?? If you hear a bus driver swearing or see him smoking it is your duty to report him to Arriva!!
Ivan Farrugia
Apr 3rd 2011, 22:21
Are the new buses gonna have the same ticket purchase system? I am asking cause I was ashamed lately seeing a tourist couple being asked double the price for the tickets. I live In Romania and here you buy the ticket from a booth and you punch it on the bus. The rider never comes in contact with the driver, actually the driver is completely seperated from the passengers.
James Schembri
Apr 3rd 2011, 17:48
It's okay cause these buses will be replaced after 10 years at the most.
duncan cassar
Apr 3rd 2011, 16:33
nispera li tajbin al hofor dawn il buses ax ma hawnx triq sew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! specjalment lejn is south
M Cauchi
Apr 3rd 2011, 11:15
AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! These buses have no rear exits?! Are you kidding me?! Typical illogical, impractical Maltese way of thinking. DO you know how hard it is to get off when all the buses are packed?! Think for once in a while! :((( Amazing, amazing...Malta never ceases to amaze me, in the wrong way.
E. Azzopardi
Apr 3rd 2011, 01:43
New buses, old (same) drivers. Will it work? I hope so, because if after all this, there will not be the improvement we have been bombarded with, then God help us.
James De Giorgio
Apr 3rd 2011, 00:08
I am truly excited at the prospect of a new bus service on the island! I say let's wait and see and try to be positive on this one. We cannot deny that veritable change is happening in this sector and new buses can only be an improvement. My only worry is the drivers, however all-in-all I believe we have cause for optimisim. Well done government on this one so far.
Isola Danti
Apr 2nd 2011, 22:18
I truly cannot understand why all the negative and sarcastic comments about the reform, unless, of course, the commenter is not a regular commuter like me, or has some personal interest in prolonging the existing service. Let's face it, we, the commuters, have nothing to lose, any reform will bound to be better than the one we have had for so long that is way below the average standard in any developed countries and many developing countries. Just look at those dirty shabby noisy buses that covered with dust, windows that cannot close or open, seat covers worn with patchworks and stains, bells that won't ring, trails of black smoke behind... Not to mention some bus drivers blatant disrespect to passengers and rules, which has been notorious. Now, at last, we see hope. I welcome the reform wholeheartedly. I don't believe Maltese people have such low self esteem to think that we deserve the bad service indefinitely - if that's the case, Malta has no hope.
Leno Vella
Apr 2nd 2011, 21:33
Let Arriva, Arriva Malta lewel, than we comment, now it is too late for critisim.
Joe Grech
Apr 2nd 2011, 20:30
Looks like these buses have narrow seating - similar to the uncomfortable seats that are found in the Chinese built buses presently being used. If so it will be a great inconvenience for passengers. Arriva management - could you dispel doubts please?
Alfred Cassar
Apr 2nd 2011, 22:19
Xi tromba ghandek sur Grech biex qed tara s-seats dojoq minn fuq dan ir-ritratt!
C Magri
Apr 3rd 2011, 01:03
I presume you think the ancient bone shakers we have currently are the height of comfort then, do you?
j brincat
Apr 2nd 2011, 18:04
With all the PR they make it appear as if it is the event of the millennium.
Well the proof of the pudding is always in the eating!
(JB)
Steve Zammit
Apr 2nd 2011, 17:06
Kulhadd igerger u imaqdar bhas-soltu! Kemm ahna poplu li qatt m'ahna kuntenti b'xejn! Kif tistghu tikkritikaw jekk ghadkhom laqas irkibtu fix-xarabanki godda?
Mark Galea
Apr 2nd 2011, 17:51
Ghax issa xbajna nisimghu b'weghdi li dejjem taru mar-rih.....GHALHEKK!!!
Andrew Cumbo
Apr 2nd 2011, 18:40
Mr. Steve Zammit,
Hope our service will not be like the opinion reviews in this link.
www.reviewcentre.com/reviews68070.html
Steve Zammit
Apr 2nd 2011, 22:59
@ Andrew Cumbo
I hope so too! May I inform you that many are always ready to complain and see the negative side of everything, and few are those that are ready to give praise or be positive. So those reviews do not worry me at all. I am not going to stay grumbling, moaning and commenting just yet...but on 3rd July, after I would have tried the new service I will comment and give my opinion :-) Certainly, bad as some say they are, near our current bus system, they surely must be much better ! Isn't that already an improvement?
@Mark Galea
Din il-weghda taret mar-rih? Anzi fuq il-kuntrarju mid-dehra kollox jidher li miexi sew u mal-hin. Kif trid tara kollox iswed u tgerger fix-xejn? Issa meta jaslu u int stess tipprova s-servizz il-gdid, erga ejja hawnhekk u ikkumenta! Mela qabel...
Joe Borg
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:58
I'm happy for the environment, The prices for the tickets can hardly remain the same?
M Tabone
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:48
Unless the ticket fare will be reduced, I think that fewer people will use this service!!
F.Farrugia
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:33
Prosit sur Agius. Jien xi xahrejn ilu meta issemmiet kem ser ikunu kbar il karozzi kont gbit l-attenzjoni biex ikunu kbar kemm ikunu kbar, l-importanti hu li jkollhom zewg entraturi anke ghall kass ta` emergenza. Mela jkolli nghid li ghall dik li hi sigurta l-karozzi l-antiki li kellna u li nbnew f`Malta kienu ahjar min dawn ghall fini ta` sigurta. KEMM KONNA AHJAR META KONNHA GHAR
Saviour Sam Agius
Apr 2nd 2011, 23:51
Għas-sigurtà mhix problema għax nimmaġina li bħal kull karozza tal-linja tal-lum il-ġurnata, it-twieqi magħmula minn ħġieġ apposta li tista' tkissru faċilment u toħroġ mit-tieqa. Però, żewġ entraturi jew tlieta huma neċessarji biex in-nies tirkeb u tinżel malajr biex il-karozza ma ddumx wieqfa fuq l-istejġ u ma jinħeliex ħin żejjed. Trid tqis li ħafna mill-passiġġieri se jkollhom biljett diġà allura kemm jaqbdu u jpoġġu.
A. Brincat
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:22
Thank you Arriva for leaving me stranded in the extreme UK freezing weather (-4 degrees) at Slough bus station for two hours (twice a week on average for three months) when your drivers didn't care to show up even if the busses were schedules every hour!!!
Since there is only one provider in Malta I vow I will never ever use public transport in Malta again.
And thank you GonziPN for choosing this company!!!
Peter Korsten
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:51
Why, you think they would leave you out in the freezing cold in Malta? Yeah, that makes sense.
A. Brincat
Apr 2nd 2011, 17:35
Mr. Korsten
LOL. Good one. Actually I think they will. No actually they won't. That is because I will use a car and not their services. My wife will not use it either. This is because after the agreement with the government lapses, prices will go up by a lot more.
It is all about management my friend. It is all about prices and profits. They go about making a huge marketing campaign and image building but I was treated like a stray dog in the UK.
Who knows, I might be proven wrong in the long run. However I am only speaking from experience. Remember it is the same company at the very top!!!
C Cassar
Apr 2nd 2011, 18:45
Actually, it's not the same company at the top anymore. Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) have purchased Arriva.
A. Brincat
Apr 2nd 2011, 20:35
Mr Cassar,
Deutsche Bahn is not the German Railways. If you are referring to the German operations of the railways this has been sold to a consortium of Ferrovie dello stato (Italy). Even better!!!
By the way Arriva in the UK is still in the same state. Takeover or not. I wouldn't risk trying that service in the UK again without having a backup plan this time.
It looks like you haven't travelled much either.
Peter Korsten
Apr 3rd 2011, 23:28
"Deutsche Bahn is not the German Railways. If you are referring to the German operations of the railways this has been sold to a consortium of Ferrovie dello stato (Italy). Even better!!!"
Eh? What kind of nonsense is that? Deutsche Bahn is yes indeed, the German Railways. They've been buying everything, including the freight operations of the former state railways of the Netherlands and Denmark, plus of local operators in Switzerland and Italy. Now, they've also bought freight operations in the UK.
There is no way on this planet that FS would be in any financial shape to buy any part of DBAG.
joe abela
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:05
kollha kemm intom li ktibtu hawn taht tuza tal-linja?ghax tidhru passiggieri frekwenti
diga ippruvajtu il-karozzi li gejjin biex tafu li mhux ser tkunu komdi?
A.Pavia
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:00
Ghalhekk ma nistawx nafdaw it-trasport f'idejn il-Malti, ghax wisq poplu pessimist. Irringrazzjaw l'alla li mux ha tirkbu f tal-linja bl-ixkupi u l-bramel nkallati taht is seat!
Andrew Paris
Apr 2nd 2011, 15:26
So much for supporting Europe's economies and buying from China.
Brian Camilleri
Apr 4th 2011, 15:02
Heq cheapest on the market ux.
Sandro Magri
Apr 2nd 2011, 15:01
ARRIVA!!
Nispera li xi darba tasal la nkunu fuq l-istage!!
Naqra xettiku jien ,nahseb kien ikun ahjar kieku varjaw il-Qisien tax-xarabankijiet mhux kull lokalita l-istess!!!!
Saviour Sam Agius
Apr 2nd 2011, 14:50
This can't be an april's fool joke too can it? Why do they only have one door next to the driver? Why don't they have at least 3 to let passengers board and get off quicker? We're not gonna have to buy tickets from the driver anymore and it'll be the job of the inspectors to check whether passengers have a ticket or not.
This is crazy. What if one's at the very back of the bus and needs to get off when it's completely full? I can't believe this.
A.Camilleri
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:03
How is the driver going to see if a passenger got off from a back door safely?
in the olden the days in the uk the double decker buses used to have a back door but he had a conducter that stayed at the back and let the driver know that its safe to drive on.
i just hope that the new drivers are as good and polite as those in the uk.
Peter Korsten
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:52
More doors = less seating capacity. Sounds pretty simple to me.
Saviour Sam Agius
Apr 2nd 2011, 23:56
Doors should be on the side not at the back. The driver can see the doors through the mirrors. Here buses have 3 doors each and the bus won't go unless all three are closed properly.
Korsten: I think buses should have more standing capacity, at least the feeders. Gone are the days of catching one bus all the way. People will be changing buses at the various termini. Seat-less areas also allow for passengers with wheelchairs to come on board as well as bicycles in off-peak hours.
Brian Camilleri
Apr 4th 2011, 14:59
QUOTE - "How is the driver going to see if a passenger got off from a back door safely?"
Doh.... hello!!! Cameras maybe? 2011 !
C.Sammut
Apr 2nd 2011, 14:50
Blue!!!??? :))
G Borg
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:03
Ux Blue Blue - dak il kulur turquoise jahasra.
Albert Bezzina
Apr 2nd 2011, 19:04
They could have added a shade of red so that maybe we will not have the musical window colours (as in chairs) as happened at Auberge de Castille :-)
Fabian Borg
Apr 2nd 2011, 23:25
Sentejn ohra jkunu hodor (jew lime) tghid ! ! ! ;-)
anthony pace gouder
Apr 3rd 2011, 02:56
@G Borg Ezattament il-kulur huwa 'ULTRAMARINE'. Diskritt bhala kulur li jaghti sens ta' paci u trankwillita . Il-kulur tas-sema fil-bnazzi u tal-bahar tassew kalm vicin ix-xtajta. Ghallhekk 'ultra' - marine !
Dan huwa generalment il-kulur uzat fl-isptarijiet, specialment fl-uniformijiet ta' n-Nurses / Paramedics.
Kif kien habbar il-Ministru A Gatt, dan huwa il-kulur ufficcjali tal-kummpannija Arriva.
anthony pace gouder
Apr 3rd 2011, 03:23
Skuzawni , ghandi zball . il-kulur m'huwiex 'Ultramarine' kif ghadni kif ktibt, li huwa kulur pjuttost skur. Il kulur huwa ezzattament 'AQUAMARINE'. l-attributi huma dawk kif ktibt qabel.
C Cassar
Apr 2nd 2011, 14:20
Arriva should have sourced the buses from another EU country. That's what they do in the UK and the other countries they operate in. Support should be given to EU manufacturers plus the quality would have been much, much better.
Kleaven Maniscalco
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:28
They got King Long because the Maltese Partner for Arriva is Tumas and Tumas is the agent for King Long here in Malta. Surely they did not get King Long because of their superior quality credentials.
M Bugeja
Apr 2nd 2011, 14:00
Sadly enough, leg room is a problem on the King Long buses we have at the moment, at least for me, and I'm not a particularly tall person at around 173cm. Hope they can fix it, there's nothing more uncomfortable than having to sit bolt upright for extended periods of time, with legs at hitherto inconceivable angles in order to fit. Also, I'm sure I'm not the only enemy of those well-placed bolts at the rear of the bus, which are placed just so, and dig in one's head.
One should consider that the average European is a bit larger than the average Chinaman. I find that current King Long seats are just a bit too narrow to fit comfortably in, and I'm sure many larger individuals will agree they have to sit at an angle/hunch their shoulders in.
Being equipped with all sorts of luxuries is one thing. How many bus drivers will refuse to put on AC so as to save on diesel? How many will allow their buses to fall to disrepair, instead of patching them up at the first signs of wear and tear?
Here's to hoping all goes well!
c parnis
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:00
Sur Bugeja il karozzi mhux se jkunu ta xufiera privati imma tal kumpanijja ghalekk ma nistax nifhem kif qed tghd li id drivers ma xixghulux l ac biex jiffrankaw id diesel u jhalli il karozzi fi zdingar
epace
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:27
Luckily it's not the drivers any more who pay the diesel or maintain the buses, so hopefully no A/C to save consumption and procrastinated maintanance should be a thing of the past
D. Xerri
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:55
Bigger and Bigger Buses ! What Malta really needs is smaller buses not bigger ones to continue the indefinite congestion everywhere ! We never EVER seem to learn !!
Peter Korsten
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:55
I drive to work every morning in heavily congested traffic, and I'd say that 98% of the vehicles aren't buses. To claim that smaller buses (which means, fewer passengers and presumably, more people in cars) would lead to less congestion requires some very creative thinking indeed. 'Creative' as in 'creative bookkeeping', that is.
Phil Press
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:47
More leg room, maybe but less on the roads??. Am waiting to see how they are going to, keep to the proposed, strict time-tables.
Joseph W Zarb
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:35
What I cannot understand is, why did Arriva choose a chinese bus King Long for Malta? London Transport (undoubtedly the best transport Company in the World) choose Mercedes and Volvo buses when it was decided to update the London Bus Transport system. No Chinese buses in London since they simply won't do for the best ransport system in the World
j.attard
Apr 2nd 2011, 15:14
Exactly my thoughts Joseph.. but you know why ?.. Tumas group .. who is the maltese partnership company of arriva malta is a King long supplier ! thats the reason why
R Salilba
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:33
what about the rest of the uk?
Joseph Stafrace
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:03
Mr Bastow said at the ceremony that when considering bus suppliers for the Malta contract, it thought of King Long. Really; is it a coincidence that Tumas Group who have a stake in Arriva Malta happen to be the local agent for King Long!
R Salilba
Apr 2nd 2011, 16:34
so?
Ray Gatt
Apr 4th 2011, 12:40
and what's wrong with that Mr. Maltese gemgem.
MARIO SALNITRO
Apr 2nd 2011, 12:58
SHOULD HAVE SHIPPED THE DRIVERS FROM CHINA ALSO !!!!
Matthew Ellul
Apr 2nd 2011, 12:57
Nispera li jinfethu t twieqi!!!!!
Frederick Gauci
Apr 3rd 2011, 00:50
Sur Matthew, jew ghadek ma rajt u smajt xejn fuq ix-xarabanks i-godda jew qed tghix f'dinja ohra , jiddispjacini qed inwiegbek hekk. Dawn ghandhom A/C u ha jkun mixghul hekk kif tistartja ix-xarabank, allura mandek ghalfejn ikollok twieqi jinfethu, u jekk rajthom missek indunajt li ma fihomx twieqi. Thanks
Kenneth Galea
Apr 2nd 2011, 12:38
More leg room, oh brilliant. I am not a six footer but still I find that there is hardly any leg room on our old fashioned buses. If anything I hope Arriva will cleanse the transport service of rude and arrogant Maltese drivers, they think they are above the law and that they own the Maltese roads. Your time has come now you arrogant Maltese drivers. I think Arriva should also employ a number of foreigners who of course are entitled to seek employment in Malta.This will slowly get rid of the mentality of our outdated Maltese drivers.
C Galea
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:20
Maybe you should read this article
http://musingsfrommedway.blogspot.com/2010/07/arriva-bus-service-is-appalling.html
Takes some chewing !
Franco Farrugia
Apr 2nd 2011, 13:51
Time ... the best teacher.
Eric Gahn
Apr 2nd 2011, 14:36
Kien il-Malti li dejjem ha hsieb Malta u meta kien hemm min qal li l-Malti wahdu ma hu kapaci jasal imkien u jaghmel xejn gie ppruvat hazin ghal darba, tnejn u tlieta. Pero jmissek tipridka l-edukazjoni.
Darby Allen
Apr 2nd 2011, 18:14
The driver with whom I was unfortunate to ride when returning to San Pawl il-Bahar from Cirkewwa in the 450 at around 5pm on 29th March made 4 calls on his mobile, received two, and smoked two cigarettes. Do you think that Arriva will put a stop to this?
(If anyone is interested I have photographic evidence of the driver's offences, and the registration number of the bus.)
Albert Bezzina
Apr 2nd 2011, 19:25
The "rude and arrogant Maltese drivers" will be replaced by rude and arrogant bus company backed by rude and arrogant (declared by a magistrate no less) Transport Malta and supported by rude and arrogant wardens to ensure a life of misery for motorists restricting the use (removal of parking spaces, introduction of resident parking schemes, exclusion zones, unreasonable speed limits, parking meters ect) of their vehicle until, exasperated, we start getting on the buses ensuring a good profit for the company. Using public transport should be encouraged but this is done by winning over clients and not treating motorist like scum. Over €250 million are taken from motorists every year (registration tax, annual circulation fee, taxes on fuel, VAT on other vehicle related services like insurance) all we get in return are shoddy roads and a new Parliament building! Not being a cruel person, if the latter was the size of a proctoscope I'd offer it to the tenants.
The pollution card played against the motor car has worn thin. Pollution is predominantly the result of heavy vehicles and all older vehicles, a product of restrictive import policies on road vehicles over the past 40 years.
d paris
Apr 3rd 2011, 20:56
Tipical maltese patriotisim or are you a forigner???????????????????????????????