Arriva gears up for new bus service

Arriva have stepped up a gear to prepare customers for the new services and fares the company will be providing.

Arriva takes over the bus service in Malta and Gozo on July 3.

The company has now embarked on an information drive since it will be working on completely new routes and times. Roadshows are  being held in towns and villages.

Arriva Malta managing director Keith Bastow said that although there may be similarities the current routes, Malta will have a completely different network with three main bus stations – in Valletta, Bugibba and Victoria. The system will have 27 interchanges, which are bus stops serving more than one route.

The company is sending all households a comprehensive guide of the new services, including bus routes, their frequency and a network map showing all the routes. 

A website with timetables and route maps, www.arriva.com.mt will be launched tomorrow. A customer care call centre will be available seven days a week from 7 am. to 9 p.m. pm 21222 000

Mr Bastow said that the Valletta main line routes will be numbered under 100 and those linking other towns and villages above.

New services include four airport express routes, night buses between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday all year round in some areas with extra days and additional routes in summer.

The day service will be offered between 5.30 a.m.-11 p.m. and there will be summer and winter timetables with peak and off-peak hours.

In a first for Malta, timetables will be published in line with internationally recognised standards. These will be available at bus stops and on the website and they will be easy to use.

The system will have a wide range of tickets, including the Arriva Saver Card for frequent users.

Holders of Maltese ID cards will benefit from discounted travel – a two-hour ticket will cost €1.30, a day ticket €1.50, and a seven day ticket €6.50.

A 30-day saver ticket is €26 and a 90-day saver is €72.

Gozitans can purchase a 30-day Gozo ticket for €10. Moreover, if they have a ticket for Malta they can use it for free travel in Gozo.

There are also child fares, KartaAnzjan rates and student discounts.

A penalty fare of €10 for people found not having the correct travel ticket may be incurred.

The fare structure is frozen for three years.

Mr Bastow said that despite all achievements, all would fail if the public did not take on their part of the deal and start to plan their future travel needs with the aid of the facilities being made available.