Online journey planner aims to help commuters use buses

To help commuters become familiar with the new bus system, the new operator, Arriva, yesterday launched an online journey planner.

Commuters choose their point of departure, destination and desired time of travel and are given a list of route options complete with duration time.

The system, called My Journey, also tells travellers where to change the bus and provides a simple linear diagram of the trip, explained Arriva’s managing director Keith Bastow.

He said the online journey planner, accessible through the Arriva website, was one in a series of tools offered by the company to help people get used to the new public transport system that comes into force on July 3.

The company also distributed information booklets to all households, has online timetables and a call centre and plans to distribute leaflets aimed at helping the elderly understand the system.

Mr Bastow said all the 1,800 bus stops around the island were equipped with timetables of routes and times. The routes had been pre-determined by Transport Malta and could not be changed before six months elapsed, according to the contract. After the six months, Transport Malta will carry out a review of the system.

Transport Malta is also respons-ible for providing the infrastructure for Arriva to operate on. The head of secretariat at the Transport Ministry, Manuel Delia, said that, come July 3, the Valletta terminus, where works are still ongoing, would be ready. However, there will be some additional works still to be carried out that include the installation of food and beverage kiosks and perman-ent lighting, There will be seven kiosks but the only one to be up by July 3 will be Arriva’s that will provide information and ticketing services.

Mr Delia said the yellow buses would stop working on July 2 and, the following day, the new aquamarine Arriva buses would replace them. The old City Gate terminus, that had 50 departure points and about 100 idle buses at any one time, will be replaced by the new terminus with 15 departure points.

Commuters arrive in Valletta through Sarria Street and stop near the Phoenicia Hotel. Those leaving the capital will make their way to the area near St James Ditch where electronic boards will tell them what bay to wait on for a particular destin-ation.

Infrastructural works being carried out on over 23 sites around Malta and Gozo would also be completed, he said, admitting that the works had started a bit late mainly due to pending permits.

He said some problems there were likely to be and would have to be seen to in the initial stages. However, there was always the possibility to revise the routes and service for improvement.

The service would be accessible to all people including those with disabilities, he said. Transport Malta is collaborating with the Malta Society for the Blind to train guide dogs to adapt to the new terminus.