Update 6: Arriva employees use their cars to pick up stranded passengers on bus stops

Shelley Mizzi

Jul 11th 2011, 20:27

i must say that i admire whoever drives a bendy bus, the roads in malta are not designed for a bendy bus!!!! the route from st. paul's bay to bugibba is not the ideal route to take in the old yellow buses let alone a bendy bus!!!!!

Joe Fenech

Jul 6th 2011, 20:56

http://news.coachbroker.co.uk/londons-bendy-buses-heading-to-malta-181000/

Allan Gatt

Jul 5th 2011, 16:04

First time I saw dem bendy-buses I knew they'd be trouble. I said to my mate, Mick: "Mick, those bendy buses are gonna be trouble." And sure enough... Now look here, even the regular sized buses are too big for most of our roads! Do we even NEED those behemoths?? Bah, humbug...

John Spiteri

Jul 5th 2011, 14:20

Unproffessional and riduculous

Mr Peter Buttigieg

Jul 4th 2011, 22:11

Baptism of FIRE for Gozitans!
It simply took me 3 and 1/2hours to travel Valletta to Cirkewwa --from12.00 till 15.30pm!!!!
UNACCEPTABLE...
Queries:
Whoever planned the routes seems to have forgotten that there are people living in Gozo!
From past expereince there has always been some considerations for Gozitans to travel to work and back.Namely the red distinctive bus, better known as the "Post Bus" which travelled directly to Valletta at the shortest time possible from the ferry.
Then there was enforcement on last buses according to ferry services to transfer the ferry passengers just in time before the ferry leaves.
It never took more than 1 and 1/2 hours!

Gozitans want to go back homeand do not want to becarried around all Maltato arrive at Cirkewwa.
it seems that those planning the routes has not yet tested the routes by staying in the bus for the whole trip?
it seems that no gozitan was ever consulted on these planned "fantasy" routes with regards travelling to cirkewwa.
I will never ever consider riding an Arriva bus to gozo becuase it would be better to walk to desination.
To travel 20km in 3 and1/2 hour is the world record of unfriendly measure to alievate the Gozitans drawbacks of living on an island!
Dear managers and planners: within the EU the Gozitans plights are to addressed and not made worse.
And now it is time to send complaints to Brussels and not to local authorities for answers.
Seems we are heading for much worse conditions for the GOZITANS.
BRUSSELS has to nip this at the bud while showing that it is not only talk but WALK!
OH to be in GOZO! (region!!!) any MP around? none of them have been taken for a ride yet!

Francis Attard

Jul 4th 2011, 18:58

Nispera ma nigux f'pozizzjoni illi nghidu 'Kemm konna ahjar meta konna ghar' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Godfrey Pirotta

Jul 4th 2011, 16:56

I am happy to say that over the last two years more and more people - Maltese that is - have been saying thank you to the driver. Some years back I pointed out to students that I never hear them thank the driver either when embarking or disembarking. Their reply was one of incredulity - say thank you to the driver, they moaned. I explained to them that good manners go along way to soften relationships and make life easier for everyone. That because I am polite to them even when they are in a particularly bad mood -because of the excessive heat or their natural temperament, they always use some reserve in how they deal with me. I am happy to say because I am a regular bus user regular bus drivers -there used to be many that are only employed for a short period only - got used to me and would wait for me if they see me rushing to get the bus. Sometimes, they even refused the fare for the journey. If people want others to treat them better they must think of creating the environment for better relations themselves. Whether the drivers who will drive to and from are new drivers or old ones I will still continue to say thank you.

paula cipriott

Jul 4th 2011, 15:56

why should they not take their earrings off and hide their tattoos with long sleeves ? Ithink discipline is what SOME of these drivers need

Janice Ancilleri

Jul 4th 2011, 12:17

Sempliciment trip sal-Belt biex immorru x-xoghol jidher li wkoll ser ikun difficli ghax naslu tard. Jekk immorru bil-karozza privata wkoll ikun difficli biex tipparkja ghax ma ssib imkien. X'inhi s-soluzzjoni ta' dan kollu allura? Ma mmorrux ghax-xoghol?

Jekk dan il-chaos inqala' ghax certu drivers ma marrux ghax-xoghol, x'ser jigri jekk xi darba jew ohra xi drivers ikollhom bzonn jiehdu xi gurnata leave jew johorgu bis-sick? Ser jibda jinqala' dal-chaos kollu? Ghax f'dak il-kas ahjar bqajna bil-karozzi li ha jaqghu u ma jaqghux u naslu fejn irridu mmorru! Vera li mhux dejjem kienu jzommu l-hinijiet, imma b'xi mod jew iehor dejjem konna naslu sew.

Nisperaw li l-affarijiet jitrangaw ma jdumux.

Mr Mario Borg

Jul 4th 2011, 10:32

I agree with the removal of earrings and the no tattoo (showing) policy. After all the whole concept of uniforms is uniformity and that will ultimately translate into a consistent service to the consumer.

Andrew Agius

Jul 4th 2011, 08:10

I think it's wonderful that Arriva have employed women to drive their buses. This is a great step forward. It's a tad harsh asking the poor lady to remove her earrings though. i could understand it if a male driver was wearing earrings but that's not possible as this isn't the 1980s and surely men no longer wear earrings? unless we are now so enlightened that we have transvestites driving the buses too - If so doubly well done, what a wonderful tolerant company Arriva must be.

Martin Camilleri

Jul 4th 2011, 07:39

Tattoos & Earings: I am very perplexed in this country with certain 'ignorance and lack of liberty' probably coming from brainwashing of the past (tipo catholic church). Adding with the list of tattoos and earings, which personally I do not like them, but do not give them any significance if the person dealing with me is kind, polite and helpful, I add the following stupid rules in Malta ONLY. (kwazi bhal tad-divorzju)

Men cannot drive topless in their private cars wrt Summer when is so hot - so we have to turn the a/c and waste more fuel (= energy = environment)

Men at Gov. work places including MEPA cannot go with bermudas/shorts in Summer, so of course who is going to walk it with a trousers. Again, then the option is to take the car (= fuel = energy = environment). Adding to that, women can go to work with skirts, sandals and light clothes.

Why in this country, one of the hottest in Europe, one can't were such summer garments, which at the end, indirectly, it would save energy.

Ivan Zammit

Jul 4th 2011, 06:54

Many people are suggesting to fire the bus drivers and hire new ones. With that wage they did not even employ the amount needed. If they fire some or many of the drivers, then who is going to drive the busses. Oh yes we can always get foreigners. Issa hadnija vizzju tal barranin.

Staff using their own cars to pickup stranded passengers?? What if they are involved in an accident? Will the insurance cover? Who will pay.

Some people said that there is no plan B. If there is plan A, not even that seems to have been planned properly.

If Arriva was not ready yet, then they and the governmet should have postponed the launch. Jew l aqwa li nibdew imbaghad naraw x jigri?

Raphael Dingli

Jul 4th 2011, 03:22

It is clear to me that Austin Gatt should resign for this unmitigated disaster. If the men who did not turn up for work should be sacked than the man who promised this new life to Malta's public transport system has failed to deliver - than he should be sacked too.

Raphael Dingli

Jul 4th 2011, 03:16

anyone with half a brain would agree that the articulated buses ( bendy ones) are totally unsuitable for Malta

Ramon Falzon

Jul 4th 2011, 01:33

Practice makes perfect....
having a good reputation from Arriva world wide,it will get over maltese critics which i doubt they will ever stop complaining .
I'm sure things will be much much much better then the once we had! so give them some time !

Dominic Watson

Jul 4th 2011, 00:37

Let me tell you that Cirkewwa was not running fine. We waited 2 hours and ended up getting a taxi for €30.

Dominic Watson

Jul 4th 2011, 00:35

We waited in Msida for 2 hours before paying €30 for a taxi to the Gozo Ferry. Then we were left wiating for 3 hours at Dwerja in Gozo for buses that didn't turn up. Called customer service and they told us to make our own way... ok so let's walk from Dwerja to Mgarr. We were never offered any sort of backup transfer and we're lucky a taxi driver drove past...

James Camilleri

Jul 4th 2011, 00:26

I simply can't believe that 20 drivers caused all this chaos. The chaos was along each and every route. If it's true that the missing drivers caused all this mayhem does this mean that all the drivers employed are on duty each and every day? Doesn't the company have extra drivers for such emergencies? What if a driver or 2 ask for a day off or are out on sick leave that would mean the service would suffer? I think that people are more intelligent than some of the commentators below think. Bashing the missing drivers for the bad service offered today is just an excuse. As to people saying all this is teething trouble is just not on. What will I say to my employer if I arrive late or do not show up. "Sorry sir, Arriva is having teething trouble."? What we should all say is that having a smaller fleet and such a grandiose agenda as is being proposed is simply incomprehensible. And I agree with what one commentator said - mainly that the transition should have been done gradually, i.e. introducing the service little by little over the different localities so that by the time all localities would have undergone through the change, the “teething” troubles would have been ironed out. As how it happened with the transition from St. Luke’s Hospital to Mater Dei. Imagine what would have happened there if all had been done in one day? And who was to blame for the malfunctioning of ticketing machines etc? The drivers as well? This excuse of the missing drivers was just a ploy to redirect us from the real issues – bad planning; lack of planning; too much left
for far too late; too small a fleet etc etc. I do sincerely hope that things will settle down very quickly as we commuters (and I do not mean those for whom a bus trip is an adventure but a necessity) do not want any hype and fanfares or pomp as in opening ceremonies but a service which benefits us as the old service did with all its misgivings.

Marc Alan Spiteri

Jul 4th 2011, 00:21

Well, regarding the Sliema-area service which in the morning was a complete fail but seemed to gain a bit of momentum in the evening, let's hope that lessons are learnt from today's messup, and that tomorrow we will truly wake up to the new bus service!

Mr Peter Agius

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:54

Well done Arriva. You performed despite the setbacks and the saboteours.
A few rotten apples will damage the whole basket. Throw them away before its too late.
In a few weeks time the insults we had to endure from the previous bus drivers will be a thing of the past.

M Ellul

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:34

How can the absence of just 30 drivers disrupt the whole network???? What if drivers are sick? It doesn't take much for 30 or 40 out of hundreds of employees to be sick at any moment ..

Mr Malcolm Agius

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:10

A serious company like Arriva should issue a statement presenting the facts of what went wrong and why this has happened. The minister of transport has to call a meeting with the Arriva execs immediately!

That's how countries are run. No more parties and fireworks ... The facts have to be presented to the Maltese.

ruth vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:07

bus drivers were to be given 8hrs of work but instead they were given the 8hrs split over 12hrs. Some protested and so they were promised €35 as compensation - basically for those four hours where they're going to be napping or doing nothing between the actual working hours.

If my maths is correct, €35 divide by 4 makes it $8.75 for each hour during which they're NOT working.

30 bus drivers actually did NOT turn up for work despite the fact that they were to be given this money as compensation (ie: OVER AND ABOVE their usual pay.) Wow they should REALLY be fired and their jobs given to more worthy people!

Philip Hili

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:05

If I were a government employee and disobey my employer, I will be charged and disciplined.
If I were a private company employee and disobey my employer, I will be charged and disciplined in some instances the charge leads to termination of my job.

Are these 30 bullies going to get scott-free? They shoud be punished and if it is the case, their employment should be terminated.

James Camilleri

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:01

I simply can't believe that 20 drivers caused all this choas. The chaos was along each and every route.If it's true that the missing drivers caused all this mayhem does this mean that all the drivers employed work each and every day? Doesn't the company have extra drivers for such emergencies? What if a driver or 2 ask for a day off or are out on sick leave that would mean the service would suffer? I think that people are more intelligent than some of the commentators below think. Bashing the missing drivers for the bad service offered today is just an excuse. As to people saying all this is teething trouble is just not on. What will I say to my employer if I arrive late or do not show up. "Sorry sir, Arriva is having teething trouble."? What we should all say is that having a smaller fleet and such a grandiose agenda as is being proposed is simply incomprehensible. And I agree with what one commentator said - mainly that the transition should have been done gradually, i.e. introducing the service little by little over the different localities so that by the time all localities would have undergone through the change, the “teething” troubles would have been ironed out. I do sincerely hope that things will settle down very quickly as we commuters (and I do not mean those for whom a bus trip is an adventure but a necessity) do not want any hype and fanfares or pomp as in opening ceremonies but a service which benefits us as the old service did with all its misgivings.

Mr charles azzopardi

Jul 3rd 2011, 23:00

Does Austin Gatt have tattoos ? he is more arrogant than the bus drivers .
The tactic is always the same , first we get the media against the workers and then pass over them with the bulldozers ... reduced wages , no incentives , coercion , and the unions .. dood only for crash test dummies .. not for drivers ! ..

Charlie Grech

Jul 3rd 2011, 22:40

Didn't the Arriva management see the tattoos and earings during the interviews? So what if the driver has tattoos and earings, in my opinion it doesn't really matter just as long as he is a safe driver.

Mr Jo Camm

Jul 3rd 2011, 22:28

This afternoon we decided to go to Pretty Bay, Birzebbugia for some fresh air. While there, within an hour we saw about five Arriva buses, two of them were coming directly from the airport (X4). What we noticed was that some of them were moving very, very slowly. This reminded us when the buses were not yet one company and they used to drive slowly so that they will pick more passengers. In this way they will surely be late to arrive at their destinations.

A Dimech

Jul 3rd 2011, 22:15

In the UK Arriva is known for its inefficiency - welcome to Malta!

Ginevra Alvarado

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:52

I waited for the bus for 2hrs but I can undestand that this is the 1st day. I want to be positive and im sure the service will be good.

albert pace

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:51

Austin advised ud to now call him Speedy Gonzales but after today's total fiasco I feel we can easily call him '' El Fiasco or EL Lentissimo. The lack of planning and testing the system is a continuation of the government's failure in all sectors. Why Austin Chose a busy day in July and not in March as a tourist pointed out clearly highlights his lack of foresight.

Michael Bruce

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:39

Please DO NOT BLAME ARRIVA for the choice of which routes go where and how they get there - BLAME TRANSPORT MALTA as they made all of those decisons, Arriva is only their contracted service provider, the routes were chosen by Maltese public servants.

Please DO NOT BLAME ARRIVA for the actions of the rude drivers from the old yellow buses,blame your elected representatives because they made ARRIVA offer everyone a 10 years guaranteed employment as a term of their contract.

ARRIVA is not responsible for the decison to start this service so prematurely before they actually had enough trained drivers ready, it was Transport Malta.

Arriva anticipated that a substantial proportion of the old drivers would choose to join their new service but sadly under estimated the job market in Malta so in fact 3/4 of the old bus drivers, generally including the most hardworking bus industry professionals and almost everyone who actually owned a bus, declined Arrivas minimum wages and has either plans to start their own businesses with the pay-off or found much better paid jobs with more social working hours.
Those old bus drivers who have joined Arriva are nearly all just hired hands who were paid by the day and had no stake in the ownership of the buses and thus have no capital to start their own new career. These old bus drivers who have joined Arriva are mostly hard working with good ethics but it should come as no surprise to anyone in Malta that the few dozens of old drivers with tempers are the ones that could not find alternative employment so they have no choice except welfare if they didnt join Arriva.

Arriva´s Maltese partners could have made Arriva´s task less thankless by not planting these unexploded bombs of silly new routings and compelling employment of old bus drivers, 75% of whom knew from the start that they would never be so desparate as to have to take a job for such low wages.

However, the minibus Co-op will come to the rescue of everyone who needs a direct service but isnt adequately served by any Arriva routes.

Romina Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:34

Proset Arriva tal-buses nodfa u air-conditioned, u proset lid-drivers illi hadmu illum. J'Alla l'affarijiet ma jdumux ma jirrangaw, u ghandu jkolna servizz tajjeb hafna.

Haga ma nistax nifhem. Wara li ghamilna siegha u nofs nistennew il-bus Mgarr-Valletta, kif morna biex naqbdu il bus lura Valletta-Mgarr il-haddiema tal-arriva mhux talli qalulna biex nistennew izda qalulna illi buses ghal Mgarr mhux ser jahdmu illum minhabba il-problemi illi nqalaw. Issuggerixxewli biex nieqaf il-Mosta b'toddler ta sentejn f'xemx tikwi u nimxi ghal xi siegha mil-Mosta ghal Mgarr. Allura nuqqas ta tletin xufiera kellu jwassal ghal din l-arroganza kollha? Kien hemm hafna nies warajna jistaqsu ghal bus numru 23 ghal Golden Bay, jigifieri il-bus kienet ser timtela malajr zgur u mhux forsi, nahseb setaw jirrangawlna xi haga le? Possible 30 kellom iwasslu ghal dan l-estrem?

L-iktar li dejjaqna kienet l-arroganza ta min suppost kien qieghed jtina ghajnuna, qalli wkoll biex jekk hemm bzonn ma nibatx lit-tifel l-iskola din il-gimgha peress li niddependi fuq trasport pubbliku u f'kazijiet bhal dawn l-ewwel ma jitnaqsu buses mill-Mgarr. Ma nistax nifhem ir-raguni ta dan ghax l-Mgarr illum kiber u ir-route twassal ghal Golden Bay u b'hekk tkun busy bhal routes ohra. U kieku biss, ghalfejn din l-arroganza kollha ?

Mill-bqija proset lid-driver ghax kien pacenzjuz hafna biex jaghti spjegazjoni lin-nies u naf fic-cert li kien hemm iktar minn driver wiehed :) Nisperaw dejjem ghal ahjar! Ma nistawx infallu jew imorru tard ix-xoghol jew ma nwasslux it-tfal l-iskejjel sakemm l-Arriva tiddeciedi li taqbad il-problema min xaghra u ssolviha.

Grazzi.

Mr Joseph Aquilina

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:34

In this story the GWU is one of the biggest looser!! 20 drivers couldn't care less what the GWU negotiated with Arriva meaning that they are pretty useless since they do not represent all the drivers!! I am sure that the drivers that went to work did so not because of what the GWU negotiated but because they felt it was their duty. I myself find myself in situations where I do not enjoy my work, by I negotiate better conditions while still continue doing my work, and not stop working until I get what I want. Anyone who does that in the field I work would get fired on the sport and that is what should happen to those who opted not to work today!! That is justice!! If that does not happen then the message for the future is clear. Whenever you want something just don't work!!

Franco Ebejer

Jul 3rd 2011, 21:16

Wahda tajba ma nghamlux! Ilna sena nafu li gejjien l'Arriva hu ghad hawn kumpanniji qed jghamlulom i-xoghol fi sites, is-soltu...kollox ghal ahhar! Ma ninbidlu qatt!

Victor Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:59

The fact that Arriva is being so stringent with the uniform is a good sign, forget tattoos and earings for a minute, as soon as they allow one just one driver to sway from 100% they have had it and we would be back to string vests and open shirts and swimming trunks,The tie is there and should stay as with out it we would have drivers driving the car without even one button done up, yes we need discipline even they are not ready for it then they can allways drive readymixed concrete trucks, or work in a quarry,As for the GWU no Mr Zarb not all drivers turned up, the majority yes and those who did, did a fantastic job and day one should have sifted the good from the bad.Drivers keep it up do a good job, and don't let those who ruined the old system try to incite you,They do not have your interest at heart but only thiers.

Roy Schembri

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:56

Arriva have had sufficient time to prepare for today. Let us remember they are charging us taxpayers for providing the service and not providing it through an act of charity. They only have to organise bus services on a small island - put in prospective hardly the size of Midlothian! Are they so disorganised that they blame everything on a few drivers that didn't turn up? To run a proper bus service requires 'spare' drivers on the rota to help cover for absences. I'm sure Arriva being the professional company they say they are, will have costed that into the contract, so where were the spare drivers today?

As for Minister Gatt, the 'nationalist' man who chose to give the contract to a foreign company. Rather than bully Mr Tony Zarb and the drivers he ought to use his 'big stick' on Arriva. I trust the contract he signed with the German company imposes penalties for poor performance or in the case of today no performance at all.

With regard to the mix-up of routes, let us be clear it was this Government and Arriva who decided to change the routes, route numbers and services etc. They'd have been better to leave alone and work their new services based on the old routes. Through time with experience and monitoring they could then have applied any necessary changes.

Mr M Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:52

The delay is the result of the planned routes. Granted some drivers were missing but this was not the only reason.

It was clear from the very start that these routes will not work. Why all these long routes for an island like Malta ? Why include University and Mater Dei in most of the routes ? These are sure to cause delays.

Why do most routes seem like sightseeing trips wound the island ? One does not have to be very intelligent to realise that if a bus goes round the island by the time it reaches the middle of its destination it is bound to be full.

Arriva must change most of the routes now or we will have chaos on the roads

Charmaine Marmara'

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:32

so if a person has tattos and wants to use the arriva buses , is he allowed to go on the bus with short sleeves ? and do we have to take of our earings too ??

u halluna di ta tattoos kienet ada u tibqa mentalita tal h.... ....xandhom xjaqsmu it tatoos max xoghol ....imbilli tider it tattoo min ma jogbux ma jharisx ......

Stephen Koludrovic

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:14

There should be no reason why Arriva should have the park and drive site This parking site should have been given to the mini bus coop, that supplied the shuttle service to and from Valletta.

In all fairness if Arriva as a transport company is entitled to this site, then with the same logic,
AIR MALTA should be entitled to the revenue of the parking space at the Airport.

Mr Dave Smith

Jul 3rd 2011, 20:05

Does a full medical not reveal body art and piercing or were they not subjected before employment?
Or the calculation that BMI (Body mass index) = Weight ( Kgs)/ Height squared (M) without the string vest

Mr Albert Farrugia

Jul 3rd 2011, 19:42

Teething troubles? This was a disaster of the first order! None, repeat NONE, of the quality characteristics promised were actually delivered. (1) Time-table: collapsed completely, (2) Electronic information and destination system: collapsed completely, (3) Website: almost completely inacessible, (4) Ticketing system: collapsed completely, so much so that most routes were offered for free! After the hype, we the public expected much more. The fact that the buses have a/c does not, in itself, constitute the "complete and efficient" service we were promised. Arriva has to fly in experts, if possible this very night, to see what led to this disaster and rectify it. If not, we are going to see traffic chaos of biblical proportions come tomorrow. If Arriva does not get this right in a few days, gone are all the hopes that people will switch over to use the buses instead of their cars. This idea would be killed before its even born.

A Camilleri

Jul 3rd 2011, 19:29

picking passengers in a private car must be illegal unless its insured for passenger transport i should imagine.
hope in time all goes well with arriva.

Joseph Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 19:20

The GWU should NOT welcome the fact that the majority of the drivers showed up. On the contrary, it should deplore the fact the others DID NOT show up. What do they think they are??! Just because most of them were cordially moved over from the old, unethical public transport, does not mean that they can do whatever they want. Just fire them and get new ones, because once unemployed, they will realize what a proper, professional job looks like.

Mr John Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 19:13

all those that were predicting this (rather predictable) situation were called all sorts of names and titles...now you have the answers.

Mr Albert Dimech

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:52

The Arriva web-site is terribly slow, takes ages to load a page. Some routes featured on the site planner do not include all the stops present in the street.

Mario Grima

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:50

Arriva's baptism of fire went all completely wrong. A big name like Arriva should have got it right first time and if Plan A was not functioning as expected, Plan B, if it did exist, should have been implemented.

M. Bezzina

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:45

Ala mater dei gejja is sitwazzjoni!!!!!!!!

Joe Fenech

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:29

There are teachers, doctors, pilots and many other professionals with tattoos: who cares as long as they're polite, well-groomed and are doing their job.

D. Xerri

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:25

So its not yet 24hrs that Arriva are in service on an island barely one hour drive from north to south and they have all these difficulties - I would have expected half hour delays its possible on a first day BUT 3 HOURS ! Seems clearly Dr Austin Gatt that the training of entire months and the preparations done WERENT ENOUGH - Seems like a player training for a football match for entire months then once in the pitch he`s in difficulty running and breathing from one side of the pitch to the other struggling to grab balls given to him.
And today it was Sunday NOT A WORKING DAY with most people rushing for work not to mention school days where even loads of students use public transport - And NO Im not exagerating all this - The Only REASON is the Whole Thing wasnt planned properly with all the cons and pros no matter what everyone says - similar to what isnt properly planned as to other things on this small island - Were so used to it - Seems to me even normal and expected this is happenning with Arriva too CAUSE thats what we Maltese are used to in every single thing happenning on this island - We shouldnt even complain infact cause its another Made in Malta happens Only in Malta - Nothing New to us Maltese - Again WERE SO USED TO IT !
:~) iTS even sad and funny to see it happen at the same time - EVERYTIME ! EVERYTIME !

Ms Francesca Abela

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:21

Arriva seems to have forgotten about the southern routes today. Hope this becomes normal asap.
Regarding the complaints ' One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings' what exactly do these drivers expect?? They are employees of a company which has every right to expect certain standards from these people who are the public face of the Arriva Company in Malta. If they don't like their working conditions then they can leave! It is to be hoped that those old ex Malta Bus drivers who are stirring up troublwe on purpose will be given the boot and so hopefullt the service will settle in by next weekend. If worst comes to the worst Arriva should import some temporary Bus Drivers from abroad.

Mr Joe Brincat-LL.D

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:12

I have been hearing that Arriva is going to employ 900 people. My calculator tells me that 30 drivers represent 3.3 per cent. What will happen in future, if all the drivers are without earrings and tattoos, politely trained, but there is a bout of influenza ?

Did Arriva have Plan B ? Does it have Plan B for the days when drivers, on genuine grounds, cannot turn up for work ?

The absence might have been a factor, but I suspect that there was too much guesswork on the drawing board.

Chris Sammut

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:08

As a Maltese that lives in Uk I'll say one thing and maybe the British can back me up on this. We are lucky that nearly all the fleet in Malta is now new apart from the bendy buses which are second hand that use to be in London. In some parts of the UK we got buses that are ages old some that are 16years old. You can notice the age of the vehicle here by looking at the number plate and you'll know what year it was registered. Talking about Wales (UK) also not all the buses got all the digital information of when you are arriving at the destination and even the bus stop most of them are similar like the old Maltese ones apart from they are adaptable for a low floor buses. So com'on let's give a chance and for sure Malta is going to have a better service than before! Look to the future guys!

Joe Fenech

Jul 3rd 2011, 18:06

If Arriva didn't want tattoos, they should have hired people wearing ones! Good thing re asking drivers to take away earings.

J. Sultana

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:58

ARRIVA should stop treating the Maltese public like fools from day one. The delays have nothing to do with 30 drivers not reporting for work. 30 drivers out of 600 is not a huge percentage, and I dare say that during a period of high incidence of flu it would be the norm (apart the fact that factories are used to operate with higher amount of absences).

The real reason for these huge delays are the BAD DESIGN OF ROUTES and the way ARRIVA PLANNED THE BUSES UTILISATION.

First of all the routes themselves are absolutely too long. To be able to say that we are covering all Malta and allowing people to travel without going to Valletta, etc etc there are many many routes which needlessly go to too many places. And the longer the ruote, the more likely is the bus running on that route to accumulate delays. And since Arriva`s plan is to have the bus standing idle at the "terminus" for not more than 5 to 10 minutes, it is pretty obvious that the buses working these long routes will find it practically impossible to keep the schedule. A network which is based on interchanges usually is made up of many short routes and very few long routes so as to be sure that (a) buses are not full by barely half the ruote (b) avoid having people occupying capacity of the long route only for part of the trip and hence keep people needing to go the last part waiting on the bus stops (c) Avoid the trips accumulating to much delays due to traffic and passenger movement. The network designed by Transport Malta is exactly the opposite of this, with too many long routes and most of which passing through the highest congested areas plus a lot of duplication of routes on certain tracts. Why for example, do the much hyped about Airport express routes which were to revolutionize the transport network have to duplicate the route ? Why does the Airport-Bugibba route need to go to Paola and Marsa before proceeding north ? Paola and Marsa are served with another express ruote, so those wanting to go from Paola to Bugibba would take the Bugibba line from the airport after having got there with the one from Paola.

The way ARRIVA planned their logistics contributes for the rest. To use less buses and less drivers (hence less running cost) they designed their operation with very little "idle allowance" between trips, without considering the way our roads are designed, the way one can easily accumulate delays especially in certain areas (Hamrun, Birkirkara, Msida, Marsa, the single lane part of road from Paceville to Sliema to practically Pieta). So with just a 10 minute delay per Cirkewwa to Valletta trip for example, by the afternoon it wouldn`t be a surprise to be 30 minutes behind schedule.

And this is even more obvious when we remember that a 5 minute addition to the trips that had to pass from Bisazza street meant that Arriva needed to buy 10 more buses and employ 30 more drivers !! SUCH IS THE TIGHTNESS OF THE SCHEDULE - which means it is next to impossible to operate. A 5 minute delay on a Sliema route for which Arriva needed more buses on drivers is accumulated by just getting caught behind a horse drawn cab at the Neptunes pitch and have nowhere to overtake it until Fond Ghadir !

But of course it is easier to put the blame on the absent drivers rather than on the flaws of a badly designed route system and a company trying to operate with the bare minimum of expenses !!!

Charles Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:56

Quote ........Arriva said the problems stemmed from the fact that a number of drivers - about 30 - did not turn up for work this morning....................... Unqoute

Does anyone in the right mind think that this was not planned by the one's whose sole interests was to see the service fail at the offset..............so they looked good!

The fault lies with those who interviewed them and did not pick up that they were trouble makers in the first instance, after all they only had to follow their CV if one was requested, and not employ them on blindly.

Arriva...you have to look at you HR department to see why you were let down, the writing was clearly on the wall.

Mr C Busuttil

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:55

Arriva should have used common sense and compromise on those working hours that are not good not even for animals.
With regards to tattoos this kind of attitude you find it only in Malta,
xi erba tal-pepe jitkazaw ghax ghalihom hammalli dawk li ghandhom it-tpingija, s-soltu mdejqin bihom infushom li jahsbu li huma superjuri fuq kulhadd

I don't give a hoot if the driver says goodmorning or about his uniform what I care about is that he gets the job done and in the least time possible. Some of the old drivers happened to be jungle savages but let's be honest some of commuters are indeed tad-daqqiet ta' harta

Mr Rene Brincat

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:48

Arriva were not straight with the drivers regarding the rosters.

Imposing will not work but winning the drivers' understanding by proper and timely communication would have worked.

Wilfred Camilleri

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:48

Unbelievable how many nitt pickers there are in Malta! Some people have to complain about everything and some insists on dragging politics into everything. One has to expect glitches on a new bus service. However most of the delays were caused by a few malcontents who think they are in charge or that they can do as they please. As to the tattooed and pierced dudes, Arriva has the right to demand a dress code. Enough of bus drivers that look like hooligans.

Mr Joseph Calleja

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:44

Stop whining and give Arriva a chance to get going. This the first day, for crying out loud and everybody is ready to criticize, although there is also a lot of positive input. Constructive criticism is always welcome by any company but when it becomes destructive criticism, that is bad. By the way if visible tattoos are not allowed and earrings are not allowed why are these drivers objecting? Were these rules explained to these drivers before they signed on for the job, because if they were, then they should follow the company rules or wave goodbye. I have nothing against tattoos and or earrings as long as a driver is a safe and courteous driver. But then rules are rules and I am sure they were explained to every driver on the day of hire. For those who did not show up for work, I say give them one more chance and if they still don't show up give them all the old heave ho. Where is the GWU in all of this after all they represent the drivers.

Mr Dave Smith

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:37

Very kind jesture from Arriva using thier own cars, one has to assume that any passenger had full liabilty cover from the driver in the event of an incident?

Victor Pulis

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:28

An example of that was seen at Mater Dei Hospital, where a 'bendy' bus was stuck and did not have enough turning radius to perform a turn (see picture)

Teething problems are to be expected but Mater Dei has been there for more than a month and so have the bendy buses. Didn't anyone bother to try out the route? This is not a case of teething problems. More a case of stupid problem.

George ...

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:27

Proset tas servizz ARRIVA l-ewwel darba li irkiptom go Ghawdejx ghax bzajt li nitlef il vapur ta 7.00. min habb ail protesta li ghamlu il bierah. Kelli in halli il karozza tieghi Cirkewwa. Jien insaqsi .... mela dawn ma sarx xi ezami waqt interviews ? Sewwa tamel Arriva dixxiplina fuq dawk il bus drivers li qabel l-aqqas iniformi makellom sew jew kont tara minn tpingija u imsielet . Trid ikun hemm edukazjoni min zewg nahat tal bus drivers u passigieri ukoll. Il kelma THANK YOU hija ta kurag lil bus drivers qabel ma jinzlu min fuq il bus. Nispera nibqaw sejrin ghal ahjar. Proset ARRIVA

Mr Neil Dent

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:26

Tal-misthija. After years of working all hours and screwing the public, more so tourists, out of their not-so-small change, the Maltese bullijiet prevail once again. What - all of a sudden you guys grew some kind of morals? Hallina tridu?

Just had to pick up my daughter after 45mins in strong sunshine and sweltering heat (Msida - near the Bathline) with not even one bus passing by, on what is NORMALLY a route with buses every 2 minutes or so. Msida to St. Julian's, in her case to get to work. So we called Arriva - 'ghal xejn tistenna, ghax id-drivers ma'jiridux johorgu!' We were told by the support staff!

Arriva have ALREADY been done untold damage, even before they were able begin, by the thuggish minority. There is NOTHING wrong with a split shift, unless it interferes with your P/T job in the evening of course. Austin was Gatt right. Sack them. No shame, and NO sense of public duty whatsoever.

Shocking and shameful. Any of you who thought we were finally being dragged into the 21st century? Think again! Sack these layabouts immediately Arriva - you don't need them, and they will only cause further damage.

Mr Paul Caruana

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:23

I remember reading a few weeks ago that Arriva had stopped recruiting new staff in Malta. Evidently they need to reopen it for bus drivers, and fast!

Peter Xuereb

Jul 3rd 2011, 17:10

At the Tattoo question, it is understandable that a company might want to maintain standards but sacrificing efficiency of a service for something as insignificant as a tattoo is pretty unwise. The former is far more important than the latter of any company wants to earn a profit.

Furthermore why did they even underestimate the effort needed towards preparing for the first day? First impression is everything and if you wish your service to take over completely from an established service you had better work hard as to convince people that this is better, thus justifying the higher fares.

I hope that events will take a turn for the better for I really expected better. One shouldn't stick to the "X wasn't built/made in a day" because it is too an unreliable saying as usually a service is the most energetic in the first few months and problems start arising further down the road.

Mark Piscopo

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:55

Rigward l-Arriva il poplu ghandu ragun jistenna servizz ahjar wara li gvern ta kumpens ta 55 miljun mil kaxxa ta Malta lis sidien tal karozzi tal linja li kellna biex jnehhijhom mit triq li jfisser li kull sid tal-linja se jieħu 103,000 ewro għax-xarabanks l-antiki u 123,000 għal dawk aktar ġodda tat-tip low-floor. Filwaqt li s-sid li jirrinunzja għal-liċenzja tiegħu, minflok se jingħata garanzija ta' 10 snin impjieg . Ghalhekk ahna il Maltin irridu servizz ahjar wara kollox ghax hallasna ahna mit taxxi taghna imma jidher car hafna li beda fuq sieq hazina sfortunatament.

A.f Ellul

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:55

Fiz-|urrieq tal-linja soltu jitilqu fil-05.30 u tlahhaq ghax-xoghol,issa bil-suppost karozza komda trid toqoghod tistenna u jekk tigi fil-hin ,jigifieri 05:45 -l-anqas sal ST.thompsom ma tlahhaq ghax thallik hal-Kirkop u trid tmur bil-mixi biex tasal.Grazzi tas-servizz,Ghalija mil-hazin ghal-ghar u ghal hafna ohrajn bhali.

S Bonnici

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:23

Firstly, I wish to send my best wishes to Arriva and all the drivers for a positive outcome and a good service. Malta needed a new bus service, no matter how much we grumble! Ok, so some routes might have changed....times too, but we have to give it time for us to adapt to this new service and for the service providers to get used to the new schedules and routes. As the saying goes...."Rome wasn't built in a day!" ... so i didn't expect a perfect service on day 1 ....

Nevertheless.... what i want to comment about is regarding the uniform. An ENORMOUS well done to Arriva and directors for finally making our bus drivers wear a decent uniform and especially for enforcing discipline... and i do agree that a person with tatoos has to wear a long sleeved shirt and tie and a man with earrings has to take them off whilst in service. That is what being SMART means. We do not wish any more bellies showing! or any tattoos portraying sexy nude ladies on their arms. Or as a matter of fact any more rudeness. Soooo wearing a long sleeved shirt is a must and apart from this, you can't complain much...since all buses are airconditioned!

I've seen the buses and drivers whilst in training... and you definitely looked really really SMART so keep it up. The Maltese are waiting for your service and im sure that you'll be thanked. And i do urge people to say Thank You. After all, drivers do give us a service.

I'm looking forward to start using the new bus service. Keep it up and best wishes once again.

Michael Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:22

Despite having to wait for in the sun for a quite a while longer, i thought to myself that this is actually good news...these useless, stubborn and thuggish drivers will hopefully be given the sack and we can finally enjoy a decent public transport service....once the bus arrived service was impeccable and i actually enjoyed the comfy ride....the busses didn't even belch out black smoke along the way.

Some people never learn...but once these idiots find themselves without a job they will finally realise that Malta is fed up of their ignorance and their own stupid actions resulted in them visiting the ETC in the hope that some lunatic will actually employ them again....they had their chance and they blew it so they have absolutely no sympathy from me! Good riddance

Mr Matthew Galea

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:19

ADNI GEJ MIN FUQ L-ISTAGE. ILNI 3 SIEGHAT !!! 3 SIEGHAT FUQ STAGE NIXXEMMEX!!

ghamilt mis-1:10pm sa 4:15pm fuq l-istage!

la ghaddew tal-airport u lanqas tal-belt! tal-misthijja!!

Min joghod hal Kirkop, tahlux hin tmorru tistennew tal-linja. Saqsu l-xi hadd iwassalkom!

Paul Cirillo

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:14

Can Arriva confirm today that they can guarantee a reliable and puntual service for tomorrow ? Otherwise we have no option but to use our cars to go to work.

B. Pollacco

Jul 3rd 2011, 16:01

it's very common that tattoos have to be hidden in the place of work, normal work practice...

Mr Dave Smith

Jul 3rd 2011, 15:19

Which alleged manager hired a person with tatoos and or earring at interview stage?

Neil Cutajar

Jul 3rd 2011, 14:17

x'jipprentendu d-drivers...li jmorru ghax-xoghol bil flok tac-cingi jew bil-qmis miftuha biex naraw zaqq kollha birra u riha taqsam ta' gharaq??

Proset tal-management.

Ms F Goodwin

Jul 3rd 2011, 14:12

It's utterly disgraceful that those drivers have successfully sabotaged the inauguration of our new bus system. I'm sure there are plenty of honest, hardworking drivers in Malta who would be happy to take their job and the compensation payout they get for working a split shift, which many workers elsewhere in the world do for no more than their hourly wage. The people of Malta deserve a good quality public transport system without these unprofessional interruptions. Hopefully Arriva have learned their lesson and will be more careful as to who among the old drivers they choose to trust. I agree that all those who chose not to show up to work today, causing disruption and delays to the Maltese people as well as embarrassment to their employer, should be promptly sacked.

While I'm happy to see the introduction of uniforms, and am looking forward to a summer without any bus drivers displaying their hairy bellies through unbuttoned shirts, I don't agree with the tattoo policy. What is this, 1952? It's time to move into the 21st century, not only in terms of the age of the vehicles! The ban on visible tattoos is extremely old fashioned, and long sleeves aren't really an option in this heat. As long as the drivers are neatly dressed in appropriate uniform and not exposing themselves I think they will look professional with or without body art.

Anthide Agius Muscat

Jul 3rd 2011, 14:06

The service at present running in the St Julians does not match at any level with the schedules on the Arriva website/promotional material/notices on bus stops. Routes 11, 12 and 13 are scheduled to run "frequently" 7 days a week between 0530 and 2359 hrs. Up to now - its nearly 1400 hrs none of this has taken place in the Sliema/St Julians area ! I am a daily user of public transport and at no time except during total bus strikes and in the last two weeks, have I had to wait for more than 60 mins to board a bus to my destination [whether to or from Valletta]. These are not "teething troubles" but a case of a "cardic arrest". Arriva has "failed" miserably at the first hurdle - so much for all the hype the local resident population has been fed for the past two months. Unless within a very short time frame Arriva clean up their act, the proposed shift from the use of personal transport to using a public service will most definitely not take place.

Eileen Hull

Jul 3rd 2011, 14:01

I for one am very disappointed at the stat of Arriva today.I'm very surprised that it is mentioned that all is well in the North! We arrived at our local bus stop in Burmarrad at 11am in the hope of getting a bus to Valletta.This is supposed to be served by no 31 every 10 minutes and no 41 every 30 mins.We waited for 40 minutes without seeing a single bus no 31 and cosequently the two no 41 buses that did pass through did exactly that!...pass through!... as they were full to the brim with passengers from previous stages of the route.My concern is for tomorrow when I now have to rely on the buses to get me to work on time in Swatar.I suspect I may be walking to St Pauls as I had to do last week to have any chance of gaining access to the bus!We were also under the impression that theX3 airport route would be passing through however so far there is no indication of this on our bus stop and certainly no sign of the actual bus appearing whilst we waited today.Needless to say I am writing this now after returning home giving up hope of ever seeing a bus and hoping to find some information regards the situation!

Michael Lloyd

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:56

One might have thought that a professional world-wide transport operator would have ascertained before now whether or not an articulated bus could negotiate the Mater Dei road system. If the bus is capable, then why was its driver incapable? This does seem a pretty basic mistake.

Mr D Psaila

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:46

Welcome to the real world. Well done Arriva for applying a dress code. If you work in public service you are expected to cover tattoos and remove earrings. Some people in public service are only allowed to wear wedding and engagement rings and a watch.

And to all the moaners, this is day 1. Give it a chance. Why is everybody expecting perfection? With something this big there are bound to be a few teething troubles. I for one am looking for to an efficient, clean bus service with polite and couteous drivers.

Good luck Arriva and get rid of the troublemakers and replace them with people who want to make the service a success.

Charles Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:40

Arriva has arrived!

While one salutes the number of genuine bus drivers for their service and dedication afforded to the general public with the previous bus service, one cannot but condemn the cow boyish behaviour of a very, very few of the intimidating drivers from the now defunct bus service who we saw on TV last night not wanting to co-operate with their union’s instructions or give their new employers a chance to settle down, although they were promised that their issue, as genuine as it sounded was only temporary and would be addressed within a fortnight. Co-operation should have been the order of the day!

Love him, or love him not, Dr Gatt was and is 100% right, on this particular issue as there is no room in any new bus service for these same intimidating bus drivers who ruled the roost for many decades and were amongst the leaders of the last bus strike. They are also no longer relevant to the new commuter bus service and should resign from their positions before they even start work. One must appreciate that some need to work part time to support their families, but giving Arriva a chance to settle down is what one expects for a now venture.

If they are complaining about working split shifts, they should speak to thousands of workers in the Hospitality Industry, some worked split shifts all their lives and have plenty of experience on the subject!

Jeanau Mercieca

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:28

I think that like every other system it needs time to be 100% efficient.... unfortunately to us Maltese the whole system is new, like what happend with that Lady, the bus driver didn't open the door, we are used to the bus driver stops and wait for us. however the system dose not allow the driver to re-open the doors, and we need to respect that. The two comments that I didnt like is "all the passengers thanked the drive".
"I never came across that before," she said. I dont know who said That, by I came across it a lot of times, Its a metter of being "nice" even though some bus drivwers weren't nioce at all. I am just saying this because there are nice ppl. And the other is about tatoos!!!! whats with that??? I dont understand it, CAN ANYONE PLEASE EXPLAINE TO ME WHY NOT????? AND WHAT IS WRONG.. I've been to london and I went into a lot of shops there, and belive me , I was assisted by a guy with big hair, like tredlogs or somthing, nose and ear percing, and tatoos in hio arms and he had more custumer centric then a person working at mc donalds,the store was HMV. I will asure you that If this driver were to wear long slevees , ppl wopuld say he is very nice, but if they see him with short sleeves ppl would say he is a "hamalu". Grow up ppl never judge a book by its cover ,

matthew tanti

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:25

it is time that people who work in valletta stop being taken for a ride and treated as second or worse class citizens. we are amongst the principal users of the city, yet all that is done is to the benefit of the residents, who are supposed to be an ever decreasing amount, or tourists or shoppers. parking tariffs have been raised to more than 2 euros per day, and walking into valletta with a briefcase/laptop, umbrella or in the heat, is not very convenient. the 133 service is not sufficiently frequent to cater for our needs. A VAlletta Workers Group, with facebook page and all, needs to be set up to put pressure and lobby the authorities to provide better ways to access the central and lower parts of valletta.

Mr Angelo Vassallo

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:21

@ Mr Emmanuel Muscat

Sur Muscat, there is absolutely NOTHING WRONG in a person having a tatoo or a man wearing earrings, but for example, in the hotel and restaurants sector all those normally wearing earrings have to take them off when on duty and no fuss was ever made on that and those persons who have a tatoo need to hide it when on duty and no fuss was ever made. These drivers a nothing special, they are employees as well and need some discipline as they have been doing what the wanted for the last sixty years. Ghandna bzonn HAFNA AKTAR SERJETA fuq tal-linja.

Carmela Mercieca

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:18

il-poplu qatt ma jitghallem. Anzi sawtu u jghidlek grazzi. Ma ridux ninsew kif dejjem hadem dan il-Gvern, l-ewwel b'mod propogandist tambar kemm tiflah fuq in-negattiv tas-sitwazzjoni u kemm il-poplu qed ihallas u mhux jiehu servizz, imbaghad attakka. Hekk ghamel f'ghad t'azjendi fejn tilfu l-impjieg eluf ta' haddiema. L-aqwa li imbaghad dawn il-haddiema sabu impjieg gdid imma b'kundizzjonijiet prekarji. Issa kien imiss il-haddiema tax-xarabanks u mhux facli jkollhom l-appogg tal-poplu imma l-hazin hu li huma l-haddiema kullimkien mal-Gvern u fil-privat li meta jmisshom se jkollhom jaccettaw kull kundizzjoni li tigi lejhom. Inutli li jgergru ghaliex meta kien hemm glieda tal-Interprint, hadd ma defendihon, tal-maltacom, tas-Sea Malta l-istess imbaghad gew tat-Tarzna u dalwaqt tal-Air MAlta. U allura sur poplu haddiema tibqax issawwat lilek innifsek u tiehu gost.

Paul Sammut

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:12

I agree with Arriva regarding the Dress Code. Well done! As for bullying, the days are over and I am sure that the teething problems met on the first day of the service will be adjusted. Even if not to a 100% perfection, we support the efforts of the new company. By the way, if the new protesting drivers do not agree with the split shift, the can leave their uniforms at the office and go back home. There would be others to replace them. They should be sacked immediately - we should not see a repeat of the 2008 choas that they have done, especially at the airport. For once I must admit that I agree with the Hon A Gatt on this issue.

Mr Lawrence Calleja

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:06

Din gurnata ser tibqa msemmija bhala PROGRESS F"MALTA. Is-sitwazzjoni ta' karozzi tal-linja zdingati, minghajr arja kundizzjonata, u minghajr etiket mix-xufiera hi xi haga tal-passat. Proset lill Gvern talli ha dawn il-passi biex is-servizz pubbliku jigi ghall ahjar. Persuna instema jghid "Bhall ta' barra", iva vera imma nghid ukoll li jekk il-kumpanijja tibqa ghaddejja bit-triq ta' serjeta allura inkunu "Ahjar minn ta' barra". Lill dawk ix-xufieira li ma marrux ghax xoghol nghidilhom biex jahsbu sew, altrimenti dawn ix-xuffiera ghandhom jigu imkeccija minnufih ghax is-servizz pubbliku irid nies affidabli u mhux skond il-burdati. Nheggeg lill GWU li c-canfar lil dawk ix-xufiera li ma marrux ghax xoghol ghax b'dak li qed jaghmlu qed jitfaw dell ikrah fuq shabhom xufiera ohra.

Mr Daniel Jones

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:05

It seems that some people are blaming Arriva for buses being full or not running to schedule. Did they miss the part in the story about 20 drivers not turning up for work like they were supposed to?

20 less drivers means 20 less buses. 20 buses (holding say 70 passengers) means 1,400 less seats. The knock on effect of this is massive.

The bus operator has to run this like a business now, not some club like it was before. A business will have a contingency for a couple of no-shows (illness etc) but no business would account for a shortfall of 20 staff in any given shift.

Don't blame Arriva for being left in the sun. Blame those 20 drivers who are resistant to change.

In fact Arriva should be congratulated for not bowing to pressure of these militant few, but being flexible enough to come to a compromise with the GWU.

Well done Arriva. You now know who the trouble makers are, and thankfully they have shown themselves at an early stage. Now root them out and replace them with people who want to make the new bus service a success.

Dominic Watson

Jul 3rd 2011, 13:04

why are there 3 drivers on each bus? if there were a lack of drivers due to strikes then why don't the drivers standing about start working as well?

Mr George Calleja

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:47

Your journalists are having a field day, hearing all the gloomers and moaners explaining their experience. As if Rome was built in one day! Give them a chance. At least we have new , clean, ventilated buses. Have we already forgotten what we endured for so many years in primitive trucks called buses. Many are already appreciating the difference. Labourites will take some more time....as they did with the EU membership, the euro, etc.

John Muscat

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:46

How some people perceive things in this country never ceases to amaze me. What has sporting a tattoo or wearing earrings has to do with one's performance. I expect a bus driver to be courteous and on time. Wearing an earring or having a tattoo has nothing to do with one's performance as a bus driver. That is personal. What's wrong with that. It's just plain prejudice, ignorance and a holier than thou mentality.

Ronald Bowm\n

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:44

Well done Arriva for insisting on dress-code discipline;
Two bus stops near the University Roundabout at Tal-Qroqq are still unnamed and do not indicate the buses which will be stopping there. The electronic signs are still not functioning and the relevent time-tables have not been fixed. Tal-Qroqq is a hub point where one has to change buses.

Joe Scerri

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:41

So you expect to provide a public service wearing earrings and tattoos? Same arrogance from day one.
Arriva please do not tolerate this nonsense. These people are probably on probation and can be summarily dismissed. Try doing this with any other private company and you will be immediately shown the front door.

G. Ellul

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:41

Standard teething problems, which I'm sure will be resolved in the near future.

M. Bezzina

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:41

They have obeyed Austin!!!!!!!!

Sara Baldacchino

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:40

I do not know why they are complaining since that every single one of them knew about all these conditions before agreed to start to work for Arriva. If they did not like the condition that were imposed on them they should have left before they were given full training and got the special license to drive those big buses. Or they just stayed to get the license free of charge!!!!

Sara Baldacchino

Martin Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:39

@ Ganni Sciberras: My friend, you sound ery sour on ths matter. I suggest you use the service before speaking. Evidently you have not. The service will only get better and if the reported problems are the only ones of the first day, mostly caused by drivers who thik they can still rule the roads like yesteryear, then I think it was a good start and in a month's time we will be enjoying a decent service that can finally make us proud. In yor own words, my friend,"Issa naraw"!!

Ramon Mangion

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:37

Well people do you expect that mentality changes instantly ? Far from it. Whenever there is a change process one will always expect resistance. These were expected and well it clearly happened.

However the message is simple, if you do not want to work., jsut give your uniform back and find another job. This is not the old public transport system anymore where everyone does as he/she pleases. There are rules, terms and conditions which need to be respected.

With regards to the tatoos ear rings etc.. well that is something normal for service providers. For example In hotels you need to shave every day, and make sure tatoos are hidden etc... Bus drivers are giving a service and the service industry requires a certain standard

Mr Anthony Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:21

We had to go out with our car this morning and from Attard, driving down to Msida and then to Sliema Tigne point, we encountered only six buses in all! And there were also the usual long queues in Sliema.
Frankly, I am a bit disappointed with Arriva. It's not just giving them a week or two to settle down: it is evident that not enough preparation and driver training in routes were catered for. Adding to this, why change the drivers' roster (working hours) at the last minute?

Indeed, a great shame

Mr Angelo Vassallo

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:18

One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings

Hekk ghandu jkun. Dawn il-ftit xufiera ma jistghux jibqghu jhassru u jtelfu lill-poplu Malti u lill dak Ghawdxi din is-sistema gdida ta' traspost. Min ma jridx jahdem kif trid il-kumpanija jhalli l-uniformi hemm u jitlaq u jhallina kwieti.

Mr Angelo Vassallo

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:14

"One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings"

Ma nafx ghalfejn qeghdin jiehduha bi kbira ghas ma jithallewx bl-insielet u biex jahbu t-tatoos. Din hija s-serjeta` li hemm bzonn ig=dahhlu f'rashom dawn in-nies. Ilhom aktar min sittin sena jghamlu li jridu, issa hemm bzonn li jkunu bhal haddiema kollha ta' malta li joqoghdu ghad-dixxiplina li hemm bzonn fuq il-post tax-xoghol. Ma nistghux inhallu FTIT xufiera ihassru dak kollu li sar ghal god ta

Miriam Sammut

Jul 3rd 2011, 12:12

I waited from 8.30 Am till 9.15.......6 busses with the number relevant to the stop I was on went by, heading towards Valetta, and none stopped. All were empty except for the airport one which had about 6 passengers on. So what's going on? By the way, this was in Mannarino road B'kara, not in some desolate village!!

John Spiteri

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:55

Why cant a man ear earings. Its discrimination!

Mr Aaron Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:53

I'm sure it will get better in a few days. Well done.

Charlie Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:48

That's what I call Discipline! I like, too. About time someone taught us how to really work and respect our clients.

Mr Jo Camm

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:48

GOOD RIDDANCE TROUBLE MAKERS.

"One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings". - These things do not give a good image of the bus drivers.

M'hemmx isbah mis-serjeta' meta tkun qed tahdem mal-pubbliku.

Jason Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:39

Regarding tattooes and earrings - well done Arrive. Scruffy drivers should be a thing of the past.

Tony Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:35

Well....if Cirkewwa is working with the full compliment of busses then there is a very big problem. In one and a half hours 2 busses passed bye (near the Maritim Hotel), one was full and did not stop and the other took only 3 passengers up.

Sammy Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:29

One thing i would like to ask Arriva is; Isn't it pure discrimination to ask staff and drivers to cover up their tattoos or remove earings?

Are not pepple with tattoos people with dignity as much as other people without tattoos?

Victor Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:29

Tistaw tghiduli jekk xi hadd minnkhom ma twelidx jibki?

Mrs Teresa Pace

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:26

Discipline is good for any entity so that is good.

Adrian Paul Spiteri

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:25

A documentary which gives an overview of how the changeover in Malta's public transport system took place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEQT8X4gP-g&hd=1

Joe Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:19

Arriva = dicipline = I like

Mr M Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:16

@ M Cachia (10.28)

What you call " garbage " has been providing us Sliema residents with a good service for years.

The way these new routes have been worked out even if we had to wait a " month " nothing will change.

Don't these people know that Sliema buses are always full of people ? Why make them go round the island plus Mater Dei and University before coming to Sliema ?? How on earth are we ever to find a place on these buses ??

jack bristow

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:09

A lady I know waited for the usual 8am bus but never turned up and had to opt for her dad to take her to work. Very sad indeed, no excuses at all. Hope this is solved ASAP!

Mr l Azzopardi

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:09

Take it easy guys...its still early days to get an an objective analysis of the service. No one is brilliant on his first day at a new place of work. Give them time.

Regarding tatoos and earrings one should understand that there is a dress code in every work place.

The "complainers" should take a chill pill. It was explained its temporary. If the roster does not change then they should speak up but to do that on the first day its not good timing.

Mr Peter Korsten

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:06

At my place of work, it's specifically not allowed to show tattoos, or for men to wear earrings, or for women to have excessive jewellery. And that is for everybody, not just the ones who face customers. It's not an unreasonable thing to ask.

It's to be hoped that Arriva manage to bring in a working ethos that is found abroad in public transport companies, whilst not forgetting that they're operating in Malta. An example is the thanking of the driver (which I've often witnessed with the old buses, and which I did myself if the driver had been more or less polite).

Gerry Cowie

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:05

Shame that tourists are being penalised for being tourists. That is not the case in other countries. Arriva are not allowed to do that in London where everybody can benefit from the fares system in which it runs services alongside other operators.

I hope that the articulated buses are not the same as the ones withdrawn in London when they started catching fire.

One of the good things is that buses will run later into the evening so that more remote areas such as Golden Bay will not be cut off after 7pm and will not subject to drivers just deciding not to turn up or else to terminate their buses where they see fit.

Mary Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:04

hopefully all will be for the better but they really should reconsider the routes. in Ghaxaq for example, we used to catch one bus to Paola or Valletta, the direct one for Mater Dei and two for locations such as Luqa and Sliema. as things are now we have no direct buses and we have to get two buses to get everywhere bar airport and Bir id- Deheb. this is highly inconvenient and only encourages people to use car at least to the first stop (and probably go on for the whole way). i pity those who are elderly or who have young kids without a car who will have to catch two buses, with the waiting in between to get anywhere!

Mr B Grech

Jul 3rd 2011, 11:01

Nowadays 700 euros before tax (per month) is not a wage you can live on. The bus drivers are correct to be very angry over leaving old jobs and or losing part time ones, over what was not stipulated in their contracts. Anyone making less than that amount feel free to attack the drivers all you want. Otherwise shut up. Austin Gatt himself should reflect on his own monthly income of over 5000 euros per month (excluding benefits) before attacking these workers. Ara vera il haddiem ghamiltuh zibel dan l-ahhar ghaxar snien.

Joseph Attard

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:54

If its company policy not to have earringg and to hide visible tattoes, then so be it......were not going to the old days. If you do not like long sleevesplease leave.....get another job! If you prefer your earrings to your daily bread , leave too!
Arriva keep up the pressure.......with strong hands!

As for the operation on B Day......were aware that not all was to run smooth........but forseeing this Arriva could have been more proactive, not just reactive.

Muchmore commitment needs to be dedicated to tourist areas. We cannot have Arriva providing a lack of service and tourists going back home moaning! Up north you should have customer relations officers in smaller vehciles monitoring all bus stops and providing feedback to Central offices and Central offices reacting fast....even if this meant an addittional five buses in Cirkewwa this morning.
Im sure Arriva can manage this.......and this way provide a much much better service. Arriva has to remember that if DAY ONE provides a bad picture........then people willthink ten times about using the service, and the target was exactly different!

george borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:52

3 days before the start of the service I logged on the company's website and checked for the route I should take to go from Attard to the airport. The solution from the system was that I must first go to Rabat than get a bus to Ta Qali than get an other bus to Rabat than a bus to Hamrun than to Paola than to Airport. Than I phoned the Arriva Customer care and a young guy replied and he was not aware that Arriva has sheduled a bus that Leaves from Bugibba and passes through Attard towards the airport. So I decided not to use the Arivva service today because the confusion is organised perfectly

Chris Sammut

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:49

Reguarding the tattoos I don't know what was the preblem. Even Police officers here in the UK let them wear short sleeves despice being heavily tattooed. Earings as long as they are neat can't find any problem with them. I seen both Arriva and even Stagecoach drivers with earings, so..... what's the problem?

Damian Fenech

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:48

At least some people got a late bus, here in Attard with the yellow buses we had some sort of service now we have what exactly??????? The residents living in the housing estate (behind St.Catherine's home for the elderly) and it's sorrounding area have been forgotten as usual. Better the Devil you know!!!

Carmel Gatt

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:41

We dont want gorillas driving the new buses. If they don't like the job they could always apply for another one. I doubt however, if a sane employer would give them a job. These people caused a lot of trouble before, they are ready to cause it again.

Mr M Farrugia

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:38

Mhux kulhadd jaf li kull bidu ikollu l-problemi. Forsi ghalhekk is-servizz beda il-hadd biex ghada x'hin il-haddiema jibdew juzaw is-servizz ilkollhom problemi mill-inqas. Naghtu cans u naraw. wiehed jispera li jekk xi haddiema jaslu tard minhabba problemi fis-servizz ma jiġux kastigati mill-kumpaniji fejn jahdmu ghax inkella l-problema tkun akbar.

Mr r curmi

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:33

considering that this is day 1 anyone with any common sense will realize that problems will arise especially after all the quarelling between drivers and Arriva.... but yet common sense in Malta is a luxury and as usual for something new half teh island went down to take a bus to try it out on day 1 and others complaining li mil hazin al aghar. Typical Maltese how about you please shut up and let teh new service solve its problems...... maaa xi dwejjaq filkom

Mr Dylan Olliver

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:30

It is to be expected to have some confusion on the first day. Nothing to woory about. Obviosly the prophets of doom are enjoying themselves. With regards to those drivers who did not turn up, just sack them.

Mr Joe Cardona

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:23

Mit-tajjeb morna ghall-ahjar suppost. Tgerifix wahda majna...Sew jghid il-Maltin.

Ahjar meta konna aghar.

Le servizz tal-genn. U vera tal-genn gahx hadd ma jaf x'qed jigri.

Skond ic-Chairman suppost kollox kellu jimxi fuq ir-rubini imma nahseb li nesa jaghtihom iz-zejt.

Mr FRANS H SAID

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:21

But the toiurists (and Maltese) in the Bigibba area have been ignored. People have to walg long distances, come rain or shine, to go to Mosta Road, which was inundated by crowds. If this is the new service, I prefer the previous one.

Who is gaining by busses not driving to Bognor Beach and Dawriet il-Gzejjer, is it some special show or restaurant, friend of a friend, that do not want busses to pass in front of his shop/restaurant.

Come on, admistration, who took such a stupid decision without CLEARLY informing the people?

Peter Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:20

Can you please give a new service some time to settle dawn!! Every new thing usually doesn't turn out excellent the first time!! Don't show us with who you side and grumble for every stupid reason!! First you grumble that you wanted to get rid of the old buses because they where lousy, dirty and inefficient and now you still grumble because we have a new system. Do not show how stupid you are and keep it to yourself for your own sake!!

Mr Michael Camileri

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:20

But on a positive, it sounds like Arriva made good by training and selecting good drivers according to this report.

People especially the foreigners always thank the drivers but was usually pointless as the driver would just grunt.

Are the hours not outlined in the contract they signed?

S. Zahra

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:16

reading this article one can say that after this HUGE changeover, service is quite good! Such problems are expected and seems that they are being handled accordingly.
In this situation, people should help Arriva and Arriva should help people.

Mr Michael Camileri

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:15

This is obviously a big change in lifestyle, no doubt outlined in the contracts they agreed to.

No earrings, no tattoos on show fellas....this is very normal. Come on guys grow a pair! Just get on with it. Remember this is a UK company and contracts are usually upheld, if you do not follow the contract I have no sympathy if you are sacked as a result.

There are too many people in Malta who would appreciate a job as a driver! Consider yourself lucky

A Azzopardi

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:13

One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings.


Welcome to the real world of real jobs homies. The ones I had to lose hours and respect from because you never took your old job seriously and I was always arriving late to.

JOSEPH mercieca

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:08

I urge the public to be patient and support Arivva. Some drivers may have joined Arriva simply to sabotage the new service Arriva should weed out these drivers and sack them .The GWU should back Arriva if it s proven these drivers from the old system are trying to cause trouble ,it s no co incedence that the man chosen to represent the drivers was a driver from the old service good luck Arriva i for one am 100% with you.

Mr Joseph N. Attard

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:03

Sack the bus drivers who did not turn up. No iffs and butts. They went against their union's recomendations. If they are allowed to get away with it, they will do worse next time. Nip the trouble makers in the bud. They are on probation, they gave Arriva an excellent oportunity to weed out the trouble makers. If Arriva is lenient this time, then they would already have lost the battle.

Charles Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:01

One of the drivers said he was being made to wear long sleeves to hide his tattoos. Another said he was made to take off his two earrings.
...........and so they should, that is known s dress code which they should abide to and the buses are airconditioned so covering the tattoos with wearing long sleeves should not be a problem, I bet the ones who are complaining are some of the old bus service!

Ms Monica Muscat

Jul 3rd 2011, 10:01

Teething Problems!!! Just to be expected after al. Let us all acknowledge that this IS a mammoth change over. No one would reasonably expect things to fall in place like a jigsaw puzzle with a corresponding picture to work one. Anyway, just calm down everyone. Solving all the problems at a go is not quite possible. So some of the drivers are protesting! So what, they have a right to do so, have they not? They have been promised a solution within a week. Fair enough. Some people have not read the literature send to all the homes. This is to be expected. Some are illiterate, others could not be bother before the need came to use a bus. Others, though able to read a map, do not have the ability to understand it. These, I am afraid, have to relay on personal contact with drivers and supervisors.

I did make a suggestion, some days ago. Why did not Local Councils take a more active role in this matter? In my opinion each council should have held a meeting for their locals and explained to them in plain Maltese, how to solve their particular problems, and chose routes and payment methods to better suit their needs and their pockets.

Still it is not too late. Such meetings will speed up in clearing the teething problems.

Joseph Attard

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:58

Eveery thing smoothly in the North......thu guy is so wrong......ive been out since half five and at Mellieha a shambles reigns. two comuters waited at the exchange near bellview for over an hour to be taken to ghadira bay......at each bus stop from ghadira bay going up to Belleview........no fewer then 75 people are waiting to board a bus going to valletta. The three bus stops in Mellieha Bay had over twenty passengers each waiting to Board at 9.40 pm. A bendy bus is already undergoing repairs in the middle of the road at Ghadira Bay......come on.....let s not start to bend the media !

Until now the system in the North is far from satisfactory! I would ask Keith Bastow to come to Mellieha now and act! or Shall we bring back the old busess.......cause old they were...but they came...somehow!

Malcolm Mizzi

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:58

good luck to arriva seems it had a good start.

as for the drivers that did not turn up for work I hope that these are fired and lets start removing the old bullies from the new arriva

Shawn Abela

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:53

Watch this video for some humour!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WSF5BooTnA&feature=related

Antonina Hindley

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:47

Its normal to see problems at the begin we can't have miracles over night. Let Arriva know your opinions and suggestions i'm sure they will take them into consideration. Let's be patient and hopefully everything will work out quickly.
Good luck Arriva!

Mr Paul Barrett

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:44

I really do not understand why Arriva did not phase in the new service route by route over a number of days or weeks rather than try this all at once take over.

As for the language announcements - these are for the tourists as the Maltese know where they are and where they are going. Apart from an educational point of view (in which case both languages should be used one after the other), It would be rather unhelpful giving this information in Maltese to people that do not understand the language and are not here long enough to be able to learn it.

Mr Criss Camilleri

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:43

Ms. Chetcuti, you must be quite young, and have never rode buses before, otherwise you would'nt have said, ' People Thanked The Driver etc' Of course, many did, thank the driver when they got their ticket and when they left the Bus. OK, not the majority, but many did. I rode the ex-41 & 42 Buses, which carry a lot of Sixth Form, & University Students. It is these,persons [ the majority] who do not thank the Driver, the most educated. They get on the Bus wearing headphones,, give the driver the money, get the ticket and sit down without uttering a word. The same thing happens when they alight. So yes, we the OAP's and the not so old DO SAY THANK YOU, and will continue to do so.

Tonio Bone

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:42

Give the operations people a week and the service will be massively better than the antiquated and unprofessional almost 'go-as-you-please' service we were used to. If anything, commuters are travelling on air suspension and in air-conditioned comfort.
Nobody's perfect, but this will be definitely light years ahead of what we were used to!

Gianfrancesco Buttigieg

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:39

I'd say the service would need at the very least a month or two to fall in place (it is a fairly big operation after all).

Give it time and eventually send Arriva emails explaining what you would like changed (bilingual announcements for example) and encourage them on what works.

Did the feeder lines work? Can anyone confirm?

And does anyone have links to photos of the new Valletta terminus?

Mr Philip Grech

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:34

"I never came across that before," she said.

When I usually boarded to bus to Valletta, most passengers thanked the driver

Mr Roderick Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:30

:) It seems we have quite a few people on this island that are very easily 'impressed' and get really carried away with a little propaganda! For me personally the thing that struck me most is the ridiculous tariffs for the park and ride of 3 Euros which is now managed by the company Arriva which isn't arriving so accuratly as promised it seems!

Stefan Galea

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:29

Oh come on, it's only the 1st day! give them a chance!

Mr Paul Attard

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:29

I was at the bus stop near B'Kara primary school at 8.35, and remained there till 9.05 without success! Three new buses passed by with destinations showing Msida, Valletta signage, but they kept on going as if no one was present! Was that part of the new drivers' protest or what? If in the affirmative; Shame on you!!!

Mr L Zammit

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:28

Well done Austin!

Mr M Borg

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:28

What a let down !!

Have been waiting on the bus stop " DUD " on the Sliema Front to go to Cirkewwa since 7.50.I gave up and returned home at 9.00 !! Over an hour on the bus stop.

The first bus to pass ( with no number ) was full, so even if it was going to Cirkewwa it would have been of no use to us.

This is not a case of " teething problems ". This will be happen every day.

We had bus 645 which left the Ferries every 30 mins and always on time.

With the new " crasy routes " bus 11 the new bus 645 leaves Valletta every 30 mins goes round the island takes people going to Sliema , St. Julians , Pembroke , Bugibba , Mellieha before going on to Cirkewwa.

You do not have to be very intelligent to work out the fact that by the time the bus gets to Sliema it will be always full .

Is this the " new service " we have been waiting for ?? Are Transport Malta or who ever fixed these " stupid routes " living in Mlata ?? Dont they know that in summer any route that goes to Mellieha or to the Gozo boat is sure to be full .

Why remove the bus from Sliema ?? If it was felt that it needed to be removed why have bus 11 operate every 30 mins ??

Is it going to be the case that we were better served before !!

Mr charles vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:25

i just arrived at work, and on time! The last time I used public was some 2 years ago when for a 1.16 c ticket i handed out a 10 Euro note, and the swearing I recieved was out of this world, it was like I offended his family. Naturally I was not allowed on the bus and had to wait an other 45 minutes and with the same note I was allowed on and the correct change was given.... Today I bought a 1 week travel ticket, makes more sense I guess, the driver was friendly and the audio on the bus is superb! The connections are understandable, practically the same as if getting on a London or any European underground. Well done Arriva! Finally we now have a modern public bus service with international standards. I just hope that the drivers issue will be solved though as they too have families! ...my car will rest this week :)

Mark Piscopo

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:25

Austin Gatt huwa bniedem arroganti hafna u minghalih li hadt ma jista ghalih u l-isfida diretta li ghamel lix xufiera urtat bil kbir hafna haddiema tal Arriva li hassewhom mhedda personali. L-Arriva beda fuq sieq hazina minhabba lkummenti provokattivi tal ministru Austin Gatt.
Hbieb tieghi it- tattika tal- PN hija li jbezzghu in nies mil- PL. Min qieghed jghamel hekk lanqas jafhom ghax kienu ghadhom bil -harqa meta kien hemm il labour fil- gvern. Qisek tal knisja jbezzghu in nies bl-infern. Jiena nghid lil Lawrence Gonzi biex jinzel min hemm malajr kemm jista jkun ghax dejn aktar ma jistax ikollna. Lawrence Gonzi jibqa mfakkar “iva” ..... imma ghad dhul tad divorzju, ghal loghla dejn nazzjonali, ghal hdura li wera ma John Dalli u l-fazzjoni tieghu, ghan nuqqas ta xoghol u fallimenti ta progetti, ghal bejgh ta l-assi nazzjonali li kien baqa wara li kien bihh kollox EFA, ghal €500 li seraq ghalieh u ghal shabu, ghal U-Turns kbar li ghamel bhal din tad divorzju, ghal allejanza patologika mal knisja, ghal gideb li jigdeb biex idawwar kollox kif jaqbel lilu, ghal li nehha is sussidju mil kontijiet tad- dawl u ilma, ghaz- żieda drastika fil-liċenzji tal-karozzi li qed jiżdiedu kull sena sakemm il karozza taghlaq dsatax il sena, segwit minn żieda drastika fil-ċilindri tal-gass,ghaz- zieda drastika fis sijsa fuq fuel,fl- alkoħol, Sigaretti, u minflok ma ta il-vawċers tal-enerġija huwa nehha dawn il-vouchers li jammontaw għal 11million fis-sena, ghaz- Tariffi tal- MEPA segwit minn żieda drastika fil-Siment li ziedu l-prezzijiet tal-proprjetà fis suq u kissru lil “first time buyer”. Lawrence Gonzi jibqa maghruf wkoll talli ivvota kontra u bil qalb biex jizdiedu drastikament il kontijiet tad dawl u ilma, ghal nefqa ta mitt miljum mil kaxxa ta Malta biex jagħmel Parlament ġdid u teatru bla saqaf li ha jiswina 100 miljun,ghaz zieda enormi fil fuel meta ghal kull 20Eur li tghati fuel johodlok Eur12 f’taxxa, ghal estensjoni ghal Power Station tal Marsa li tniggez u talli nefaq miljuni tal Euro mit taxxi taghna ghal Power Station li thammeg l-arja li tahdem bil heavy fuel oil mhux bil gas ghal arja iktar nadifa. GonziPn ha jibqa maghruf talli nefaq miljuni ta Euro fuq Bisazza street biex jgiba “Pedestrianised zone” u wara sirna nafu li karrozzi tal linja ha jghaddu 479 il darba kuljum imghad reggha ta mitt elf euro biex jghaddu min triq ohra lil Arriva. L-iktar haga li ha jibqa maghruf li ivvota kontra li l-mara jkollha 20gimgha leave tal-maternita u issa ha tibqa 14il-gimgha biss. Ha jibqa maghruf wkoll ghal gidba li ghamel li ha jnaqass it taxxa fl-ewwel sena li jitla imma wara 3snin u nofs baqa ma naqqas xejn anzi ha jergha jgholli lbolla “Second Pillar Pension”. Ha jibqa wkoll maghruf l-ghaziz Gonzi talli tella l-fuq l-eta tal pensjoni ghal 65sena. Ha jibqa maghruf wkoll talli kisser l-AirMalta u gab barranin jithallsu Eur500,000elf biex jaghmlu massakru mil haddiema u ha jkeccu fuq 512 il- haddiem, ghal skandli kbar fil vat u li tlifna hafna fondi mil EU ghas settur edukattiv minhabba zball enormi fejn hadt ma huwa accountable!

Lena Hahn

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:16

I know this isn't the point of the article but it irked me when I saw it...why on earth isn't The Times capable of writing 3 words in Maltese correctly??

They are the ONLY 3 words in Maltese in the entire article - possibly in the entire paper today - and yet I can spot 2 mistakes! :O

Steve Zammit

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:07

I arrived at the Simar bus stop at Xemxija at 5:45, waiting in anticipation for the bus that was supposed to pass according to the timetable at 05:57 and later at 06:07. To my disappointment nothing showed up. After waiting for 40 minutes, bus no 41 turned up.

It took me 1 hour and 20 mins to arrive to Valletta. One should note that today is a Sunday morning and there were hardly any cars around

At Valletta there was a sense of confusion and I noticed that more people than usual were waiting on the bus stops

On a postive note, the buses were quite comfortable, fully air conditioned, the driver serves with a smile and the officers at the terminus were very helpful. Also I was impressed how the bus stops exactly infront of the passengers, unlike the old ones that stop metres away from where they are supposed too

Lets be patient, we need to give the service at least a week until it starts running smoothly. Complaining and moaning isn't actually going to help the situation.

Good luck Arriva, you have a major challenge ahead, all the best

Alfred Grech

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:07

ARRIVAno I Nostri - Look at some old buses and welcome to ARRIVA - Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcyalGU99CA

Michelle Attard

Jul 3rd 2011, 09:03

Good... the filtering out of the bad apples has started. A headache for Arriva and problems for commuters, but the quicker it happens the better for everyone.

Mr Chris Grillo

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:46

I went for a walk early this morning, from Tarxien, round Paola,Fgura and back. True...there were quite more people on the stages, and true enough, many people alighting from the buses with a smile on their face!

To my surprise I also found that the bus-stop right across the road from where I live takes me straight to my place of work in Bulebel. Cool, and worth considering.

I was skeptical about a bus service where you need changes and connections....and I admit I might be wrong.I think that within a couple of weeks or a month at most, we will be settled again.

Wenzu Vella

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:45

Why the name of the bus stops are in English? This is Malta not England. Would the bus stop names in England be in Maltese or a language other than English? Where else in the world passengers are told the names of stops or stations in a foreign language without first being in the local language. One fly with Emirates on Malta routes and the Maltese language is respected along other languages. In Malta any information on Arriva buses should be FIRST in Maltese then if required an-other language. The transport minister should see that this anomaly be rectified immediately.

Loranne Zammit

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:35

thanks to all involved at arriva who worked and are working for a smooth transition in our public transport service. besides i wish to thank also those previous bus drivers who were polite and helpful during their course of work ( I was lucky to meet a couple of them).
as regarding the new audio system, i strongly believe that the audio has to be in dual languages (both maltese and english) ... have to go now as i have to catch the arriva bus in few minutes! enjoy your trips!!!

Loranne Zammit

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:35

thanks to all involved at arriva who worked and are working for a smooth transition in our public transport service. besides i wish to thank also those previous bus drivers who were polite and helpful during their course of work ( I was lucky to meet a couple of them).
as regarding the new audio system, i strongly believe that the audio has to be in dual languages (both maltese and english) ... have to go now as i have to catch the arriva bus in few minutes! enjoy your trips!!!

Mr mario aquilina

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:31

Nothing different from a new born baby. First few steps, with a few falls, but hey the future is bright.

Monica Debono

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:26

Am glad that some villages had the long-awaiting service of Arriva. Which is not the same for us people from Birrzebbuga (surprise surprise!!) We waited for the bus, which the 1st was scheduled at 05:44 and till 6:20 it has still not appeared. Note that we had to catch a connecting bus for Mater Dei from Paola. Had to ask member of family to drive me to Mater Dei since I was positively sure that I would have arrived half an hour or more late.
Please, don't start ignoring the south area, especially Birzebbuga, as always happens, as if we are not part of Malta. We too pay the taxes, please note

Yosef Scicluna

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:17

Audio in English !!!! good or not ?????? When I was in France it was in French and same in Italy. Why in Malta not in Maltese?????

J. Schembri

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:15

Let’s hope people will start using this service and Arriva finds more drivers and the drivers get what they agreed upon.
In a few weeks time Arriva will establish its numbers and hopefully there will be better working conditions for the drivers.

Charles Micallef

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:09

What is needed is patience and co-operation from all concerned, and commuters who are unsure of the new route to allow a bit more time than usual................... and all will fall into place soon!

No if's or but's!

Mr Charlie Grech

Jul 3rd 2011, 08:05

Glad to see it got off to a good start, too bad for those 20 bad apples who refused to take thier busses out, serious action should be taken against them.