Updated: - Arriva international CEO in Malta, PM comments on the bus service

Pierre Mangion

Jul 8th 2011, 08:45

this is all just management by crisis - when you have someone's ego (in this case a whole bunch of people starting from politicians to their lickasses and the contractors) taking over the project. Where is the planning? Why is the canopy to be installed after the start of the service? Why has not the IT system been severelly tested - god forbid the IT geniuses behind this project had to lead the country's information system as otherwise we have to bring back the typewriters, pencils and telex.

On a tangent - the same bunch promoting this service were promoting the now forgotten smart city project. Rumours have it that the leading construction firm has sent the majority of it's personnel to their respective countries or on other projects abroad.

Andrea Giallombardo

Jul 8th 2011, 04:53

service is working fine in sliema, st. julians area..

Mr Victor vella

Jul 7th 2011, 23:43

I ask the CEO David Martin who is running the service the Minister Wistin Gatt or his company? Who is paying for the service Wistin Gatt or the customers that are using the service? You really are a Mickey mouse company. The lip service that the people of Malta are suffering was never met in the history of bus transport in Malta. People want a better service than the one we had and Arriva had to be more democratic by finding routes that satisfy the wants and needs of customers and not of Wistin Gatt.

Mr Charles.C. Brown

Jul 7th 2011, 23:24

The maltese who use buses daily to go to work or wherever will not be satisfied unless the old routes are brought back. if it needs to employ new buses and move to a bigger terinus in valletta use the independece arena let it be it!! common sence please....

Anthony Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 22:54

People talk about unreliability. The old buses were reliable whatever state they were in. The PN could have invested millions before acceding to the EU and there would not have been the need to go for open tenders.

We are all used to people wearing shorts in summer. Why can't the driver wear them as well together with flipflops. we are not a nation that weras much clothes even tough we are religious.

The new buses will within a month start looking as grothy as the others did. Non Arriva underinvested in their numbers.

Gatt should resign and so should the PM and let the opposition lead us to a proper public transport system.

Joseph Bartolo

Jul 7th 2011, 21:37

Mine is a very basic comment really since I do not myself use the buses at all, however I can say that my perception is that there are a lot more people on bus stops these days than I used to observe before the change. This is so at the Marsascala stage near the swings (ironically where the PM lives) and also along the way to Valletta, including at Fgura and on the stages near Bombi (but in this case heading away from Valletta). This can't be good.

Mark Jones

Jul 7th 2011, 21:36

Another sudden bit of road engineering has now stopped traffic from turning right out of the recently re-laid Triq il-Gudja at Bir Miftuh - a route that the new buses had been using earlier in the week.

Another case of Transport Malta doing its best to assist Arriva in bringing the island to a complete standstill?

Another nail in the coffin of the minister responsible, as would have happened in most countries? As if.

Mr carlos ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 20:58

Just came from over 3hrs waiting on the stage. Please do bring the old system back. We need it.

Austin pls resign.

Michael Scicluna

Jul 7th 2011, 20:14

In my opinion the let down to The Hon Dr Austin Gatt and the commuters, has come from whoever planned the re-routing and the change in the bus numbering along with strange bus stops naming. As it would not have been possible to install the reform along the old system the new system could have been started where the older one was, with options to change as ones goes along. Albeit it was serving the commuters lifestyle for over 40 years, what was needed some start and finishing changes, and installing the smaller inter village routes. I am not a transport expert but like many I drive a car all day for my work, travel abroad, and notice what is going around me, sometimes even spend the luxury of using the Public Transport Service. About the technical glitches these should have never happened in a world of Smart Cities, construction and installation of shelters should have been taken care of at much earlier stage, so part of the blame is maybe bad planning from the start and armchair management. In the meantime I sympathize with the users and hope that all the issues are resolved without haste to everyone’s satisfaction. Arriva Motto should be Customer Care and Satisfaction.

Mr Mario Mercieca

Jul 7th 2011, 19:46

I cannot understand how we are still set with paper tickets. Its the only country in the world with paper tickets. Arriva will not fix the problem unless they decide to sell tickets which can be detected by an automated machine. A lot of time is being wasted by drivers selling tickets. This then reduces the frequency of the routes as drivers take longer to arrive frm A to B. SO pleae sell bus tickets at stationers and fit in the automated machines to puch or detect them

Lino Sant

Jul 7th 2011, 18:23

In my oppeneon Arriva made two big mistakes, One they should kept the same rouths of old busses, second, the master mind of the Transport Authority will be engaged untill the system is in perfect way, than will be the hand over, also i must add, that this disposable busses are not going to work in our Island, you have to bring extra busses to substitute for the break dawn ounce, becouse they are too fragile for our roads, and climate.

Sue De Nym

Jul 7th 2011, 18:20

I'm no expert, but why not provide infrequent direct larger buses that pass through the main roads only, with fewer stops (providing services to the more busy/touristy areas)? And, smaller but more frequent buses that go through the villages themselves?

phyllis butler

Jul 7th 2011, 18:18

A trip from Sliema started at 08:15 a.m. this morning and arival time in Cirkewwa was 11:30 a.m. Boarding bus in Cirkewwa was at 2:00 p.m. and arrival in Sliema at 4:40 p.m. I sincerely hope that Hon Mario DeMarco steps in since the Maltese are complaining, and rightly so, but the tourists are not remaining far behind. Even though the buses are comfortable and the drivers are very polite and smart, the service is not being given and this has nothing to do with the drivers who didn't turn up for work on Monday. The trip mentioned above is quoted as 1 hour 1 minute on the Arriva home page - perhaps another miscalculation like certain routes and interchanges?

Mr M Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 17:24

This is a crisis situation. I suggest that the administrators should listen to complaints and suggestions of the public, and adjust accordingly.

My first suggestion is to keep the public informed through radio, TV, and internet on how the system works, and the current frequency and times of the buses. In this way commuters will be more informed on how to use the system, and will not wait in vain on the stages.

Ritianne Abohason

Jul 7th 2011, 17:11

This is mostly what is causing the disruption in the service i.e. drivers selling tickets and checking for IDs. All of you who have travelled abroad know that the drivers in other countries don't sell tickets, don't check IDs and don't even check whether you have a ticket or not. You buy tickets from a ticketing office or tobacconists/post offices in every village. When you're on the bus, you just hold the ticket in front of another machine and voila! No one has to wait for you until you've gone through all the niceties with the bus driver. Bus drivers don't even have to be polite because you don't have to speak to the driver at all during your voyage! All they're required to do is drive the buses (frequently I might add) from Point A to Point B. I think if you wanted a service 'bhal ta barra' we should have adopted everything they do 'barra'.

If we have to be sure that everyone is paying for his trip and not taking a free ride, at least we could have a system where the bus driver is shown the ticket only, not him having to sell tickets and check ID Cards/Kartanzjan/Passports!

Stella Chetcuti

Jul 7th 2011, 17:02

S Chetcuti
Marsa residents who take the bus to Bombi or Valletta from 13th December Road are having to wait for more than half an hour (inhaling car fumes) to finally start their 5 to 7 minute bus journey to the city, and when a bus arrives it is packed full! With the old bus service we rarely had to wait for more than 10 minutes (max) on the bus stop and bus arrivals where continous during work hours. The situation is becoming more and more frustrating. As we have always commuted to work it seems as if we are being punished for doing so. The new bus service was supposed to attract more and more people to it. They were supposed to gladly leave their private cars at home and opt to use the public transport as it was loudly being advertised as faster and cheaper. I think that the new public transport service has BACK FIRED!!

Ms Eve Axiaq

Jul 7th 2011, 16:57

Ghalfejn ix- xufiera qed joqoghdu jaghmlu parlata shiha ma kull passiggier li jitla?? Veru jrid ikun hemm customer care imma z- zejjed kollu zejjed.
U ghalfejn qed isuqu bil mod hafna anke meta triq tkun dritta u vojta mit- traffic??
Route 11 from Sliema to Cirkewwa damet 2.15 hrs!! Bilkemm setghet titla t- telgha tal- Mellieha.
Allhares qabadni xi toilet convenience.

Chris Spiteri

Jul 7th 2011, 16:46

BUS 012 needs a really good wash!!!

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 16:41

I remember Dr. Austin gatt saying that on 3rd July The Maltese will wake up as if they were living in another country because of the change in the transport system...I never imagined he meant Afghanistan!

V. Cauchi

Jul 7th 2011, 16:41

I bet my last shilling that by Monday morning some 50 per cent of the old buses would have been "temporarily" brought back on the road driven by emergency drivers, trips would have gone back on the old routes and the whole fare structure would have been revised (probably slightly upwards).
I trust this would involve a full weekend of work to avert the economic losses (labour, fuel and prestige) we have incurred and to try reaching a face-saving formula in which reform is introduced more humanely and in a less self assured manner.
So much for abrupt innovation and I trust there is still some salt at Cabinet level by not simply shoving the responsibility on Arriva when it is known there were many cooks who put their fingers in the pie.

Michael Magri

Jul 7th 2011, 16:40

If ARRIVA persists with this miserable so called service then we should all say ADIOS AMICOS to ARRIVA and go to our cars or minivans

Mr Anthony Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 16:34

6:12 07/07/2011
For the most part of the video, a pompous rhetoric about how much "his" government has done and what courage he displayed". Let me see your courage Dr.Gonzi and, accompanied with your Transport minister, visit the Valletta Terminus and the Mater Dei Interchange! Show some solidarity with your people and see first hand the utter chaos that this "progress" brought.

And stop blaming the ever increasing number of defaulting drivers (first, they were a dozen, then 55, now Dr. Gonzi is saying there were 70). If he doesn't have a twin brother, I could have sworn I rode bus 106 this morning at 09:50 with the driver in the video who was urging his comrades to hand in their uniforms and refuse the roster.

I am sure the senior citizens, the mothers with pushchairs and others like myself, waiting for 2 hours in the blazing sun with no shelter, for buses that do not materialise at Mater Dei Hospital would welcome concrete action, not empty, pompous rhetoric! (I waited for Route 125 for 2 hours, then gave up and boarded 106 instead.)

Gaetano Attard

Jul 7th 2011, 16:24

Where ar your "Par Idejn Sodi" now Lawrence ! ?

Mr Peter Buttigieg

Jul 7th 2011, 16:10

What about the GOZITANS?
To get to Valletta from Imgarr Gozo it would take a Gozitan either 2 & 1/2 hours using Arriva 41 or 3 hours using Arriva 11.
Instead of ameliorating the service for Gozitans it is actually getting worse?
what does the EU stipulates for the Gozitan's concern? Regional? or relegated to the UNKNOWN?
EU gives funds to upgrade the transport, roads & services but for Malta it is the other way round when Cirkewwa is mentioned. Why?

who is really in command at the moment? Arriva or the Minister?
Can the Minister experience the pleasant bus rides from Valletta to Cirkewwa where the trips has been lengthened and then make his comments?
One must not forget that arriving at Cirkewwa there can be a 45 minute waiting for the next ferry!
Ask the Gozitans they know what this means!!!!
Routes 11 and 41 does not cater for travellers to and from Gozo!

Did Arriva make an estimate time of all the routes to help people plan their trip?
Were these published anywhere?

ARE WE GOZITANS ICONSIDERED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING OR BEING PLANNED

Who is looking after our interests?

Roy Schembri

Jul 7th 2011, 15:35

Dr Gonzi, rather than persisting with blame for the errant drivers (whoever they are and if ever they were ! ) you'd best show the leadership you promised prior to election. You are ultimately responsible, not the mysterious 'missing' drivers, Arriva or even Dr Gatt and his department. You need to send for Arriva C.E.O. while the man is here and let him know you are in charge and then in no uncertain terms what is required.

The new routes etc be suspended immediately in favour of a return to the old routes, schedules and route numbers. No ifs or buts, you and your Government decided to change public transport so now have a duty to ensure this happens successfully. If Arriva want to work here that will be the only way. If they don't comply then dismiss them and have their bags packed. Things have gone wrong Dr Gonzi and public transport is such a priority for any country that you need to step in now and halt the chaos, inconvenience and suffering your venture is causing. Once the old services are returned and we get back to normal then other matters such as who caused the failures can be addressed.

EMMANUEL ZAMMIT

Jul 7th 2011, 15:14

mr gonzi should have a look in his town where he live. 1 hour waiting for the bus NO 91 to go valleta.
still same problem !! PLUS we have to walk more and pay more.
By the way we where use to have a bus to bormla area and now we have to take 3 buses to go there.
thanks god we are not in USA.

I think the south should be given some attention not nothing.

krystle micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 15:09

bhalma il-gvern qed jistenna li l-arriva timxi skond il ftehim li hemm miktub fil-kuntartt ix-xufiera stennew hekk ukoll! mela mhux nkomplu nhamguwom u nghidu li tort taghhom! illum huwa 5 jum ta servizz fejn ix-xufiera l-antiki kecciethom u gabet il-barranin fejn ilom joperaw 3 ijiem!! pero xorta ghad hemm il-problemi? IVA mela mhux l-ex xufiera problema imma l-Arriva u min mexxa fil-ftehim!

Mr Alex Buds

Jul 7th 2011, 15:07

Better a Cuc Malti than a Cuc Ingliz any day!

At least the first one is cheaper!

Gordon Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 15:03

What about the old blue bus stops?when are they gonna be removed,maybe the grinder is not working or they are left there on purpose for people to take the poles for free and use them for the free to air antennas........................oh i forgot net tv and one tv are not broadcasting yes as we were promised from the first of June ..........................meglio tardi che mai..................

Ms F Goodwin

Jul 7th 2011, 14:56

Six weeks to build a canopy?! Bis-serjeta? If TM are really this incompetent, then why not contract some kind of event management company from abroad - they put up temporary canopies within a day for weddings and the like. The commuters definitely need something in the meantime. Seriously, put up some poles, suspend some kind of weatherproof material between the poles... it doesn't take six weeks. Obviously something permanent is needed, but in the meantime we need some kind of shelter, especially if the delays will persist.

Also, the number of no-shows has fluctuated between 55 and 70 according to which Arriva official or politician is speaking. Can we have an official number please, so we know when they are exaggerating or understating it?

Frank Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:49

@ David Martin, CEO

Please allow me comment in an objective way re the present ‘service’ rendered to the Maltese commuters by Arriva.

Many surely agree that before planning a bus route system, one should study the needs, culture and expectations of the cohort towards whom the route system is addressed. It is a very serious short sight to use a bus route pattern/system without paying heed to these indicators.

Unfortunately, whoever planned the present route system simply ‘imposed’ the pattern, which may be suitable to large cities but definitely not to a small island like Malta.

Changing three buses to go to certain localities is a far cry from an efficient bus service.
Waiting for hours for a bus is a far cry from an efficient bus service.
Change buses over relatively short distances a far cry from an efficient bus service.
Changing buses to go to Mater Dei apart from being a far cry from an efficient bus service is highly insensitive to the hustle and pain especially endured by the sick and the aged.

The Maltese way of life demands:
i. direct service to Valletta and back from and to every town and village as we used to have,
ii. direct service to Mater Dei as we used to have ,
iii. frequent bust stops in strategic points within the village/ town as we used to have.

Mr David Martin, the buses are great, the drivers are wonderful. All that is needed for the success of Arriva in Malta can only be guaranteed by the reintroduction of the old route system.

The present route system,at best can be at best described as short sighted,disrupting, chaotic and insensitive

Finally, I implore you to pay heed to our needs by reintroducing the old route system for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Thank you.

Carmel Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:42

The PM should sell these big coaches and tender for the smaller kind more in line with our roads using clean petrol or LGP. We need publictransport to go from our villages to Valletta and Sliema again and we need them to get to work. So PM listen to the people or you will be out of a job soon.

E. Azzopardi

Jul 7th 2011, 14:36

It was a big mistake to guarantee a ten year job to the previous inefficient drivers. So, partly the government is also to blame in my opinion. With all due respect to the CEO, no one knows better than his people who have been based in Malta since last year. What can he do about it? I firmly believe it was also a mistake to call him.
His people should have been given time. Although it is a German Company, the British are in charge of the Malta side.

Steve Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 14:35

Come on, yesterday I wanted to catch a bus from Haz-Zebbug. I arrived at the bus stop at 11.40...20 minutes later and no bus had yet showed up. Other commuters were frustrated and I heard them speaking, stating that some passengers that same morning waited an hour and a half for a bus to pass.

Not with standing this, I just got up and walked it all the way to Marsa Interchange terminus to catch a bus to Valletta. In 30 minutes I arrived, all sweating and thirsty, and on my way I only sighted 1 bus that was heading to Siggiewi. So I arrived to Marsa from Zebbug in 30 minutes by bus, while passengers waited on the Zebbug stop for at least an hour!! Unbelievable

I was really looking forward to the bus reform. I was eagerly waiting for 3rd of July to arrive. From what I have seen and experienced, I am really disappointed :(

And come on, Arriva chose to start to operate at the worst time of the year - July - pick time for tourists too

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And PLEASE re arrange bus routes 11 and 41. Now commuters who catch the bus from Cirkewwa, Mellieha and St. Paul's Bay who need to travel to Valletta have to waste at least 20 minutes going round Bugibba and Qawra!! Imsieken l-Ghawdxin............we want to arrive from A to B in the shortest time possible and not go sight seeing. Also all buses approching Bugibba and Qawra are alomost all the time FULL UP, so anyone who wants to catch a bus from Bugibba and Qawra to Valletta is left STRANDED in the sun!!

With Arriva we now have route 11 ( Valletta to Cirkewwa via Sliema ) and 41 ( Valletta to Cirkewwa via Mosta) which both pass from Bugibba!!

Bring back bus routes no. 49 (Qawra - Valletta) , 48 ( Cirkewwa to Qawra) and 645 (Sliema to Cirkewwa) !!!

It now takes me 1 hour and 30 minutes to arrive to Valletta from Xemxija...unbelievable, its crystal clear that whoever came up with these routes never used the buses himself!! If things remain how they are, I rather walk it or bike it instead...who knows, I may get runned over and I make headlines the following day in all newspapers

Bring back the old routes!!! The old routes were fine...what we needed were new buses, efficiency and reliability

Chris Spiteri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:35

Its true that those 70 bus drivers that didn t turn up to work caused some problems, no doubt about that. But what about the IT system, the digital signs found on board these new buses and 2 buses meeting simultanously in a narrow street? What a shame that today ARRIVA decided to start putting card numbers... and what about the planning of the routes, someone seems to missed out big time. I wonder what would have happened if Malta had to introduce either the tram or metro system... Hmmm, seeing all this, I m sticking to my private car!!

Frank Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:34

@ David Martin, CEO

Please allow me comment in an objective way re the present ‘service’ rendered to the Maltese commuters by Arriva.

Many surely agree that before planning a bus route system, one should study the needs, culture and expectations of the cohort towards whom the route system is addressed. It is a very serious short sight to use a bus route pattern/system without paying heed to these indicators.

Unfortunately, whoever planned the present route system simply ‘imposed’ the pattern, which may be suitable to large cities but definitely not to a small island like Malta. In other words he did not do his/her homework.

Changing three buses to go to certain localities is a far cry from an efficient bus service.
Waiting for hours for a bus is a far cry from an efficient bus service.
Having to change buses (especially to Mater Dei) over relatively short distance is a far cry from an efficient bus service.

The Maltese way of life demands:
i. direct service to Valletta and back from and to every town and village as we used to have,
ii. direct service to Mater Dei as we used to have ,
iii. frequent bust stops in strategic points within the village/ town as we used to have.

Mr David Martin, the buses are great, the drivers are wonderful. All that is needed for the success of Arriva in Malta can only be guaranteed by the reintroduction of the old route system.

The present route system ,at best can be at best described as short sighted,
disrupting, chaotic and insensitive

Finally, I implore you to pay heed to our needs by reintroducing the old route system for the benefit of all stake holders.

Thank you.

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 14:27

RE TERMINUS IN VALLETTA....

I am no expert but the way the bus bays have been designed in Valletta are not practical... each bus has to reverse to leave it's bay. Hopefully no one will be run over!

If it was designed in a circular pattern like Rome's Termini I think it would have been better.

Actually the old one was circular too.

J Cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 14:26

Arriva - NON ARRIVA......what a better way to start this new era in public transport

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 14:25

What have the PM and Austin to say about the almighty mess TM made with the new routes? Or are they after foreign blood? This truly is a case of cwiec Mlatin.

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 14:21

The routes seem to have been developed on the lines of government departments where one is directed from one office to the other only to finish where one had started! So they must have been set by Maltese.Re arrange the routes and most of the problems will be solved.

Charles Micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 14:20

A question to the Prime Minister to follow up with Arriva....!

Why on earth have the same 66 drivers that are known to one and all to be trouble makers and some of which were the leaders of the 2008 bus strike were re-employed with Arriva?

If anyone from the HR's at Arriva followed their CV's prior to engadging them, 90 of the problems that Arriva had to face in the first 5 days of the service would not have occured!

It is as simple as that!

Paul Micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 14:17

Shelters from the weather. This is the biggest joke. In Marsalforn in the area of the bus stop there is a big hole in place of the shelter. I saw people balancing on the very edge to avoid falling in the pit.

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 14:12

"Once we start operating in July 2011, Malta is going to benefit from a reliable transport service, a convenient new network, real time passenger information and trained helpful employees. Noticeable differences from day one will include; comfortable buses with air conditioning, more buses provided in the peak to maintain reliable and even headway for customers, and proven technology providing more passenger information than ever before.”

Arriva Malta Managing director, Keith Bastow

Paul Micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 14:11

Who was the cuc that made all this mess? Really hope not a maltese one but if he is I give Tonio Fenech full marks for the Air Malta appointments

Mr Adrian Borg Cardona

Jul 7th 2011, 14:01

Now we have language discrimination on the buses too! A colleague of mine from New Zealand, on stepping onto the bus this morning was asked to pay €2.30 for the trip. My colleague replied that he should be paying less. He was asked for his ID card. He did not have his local ID with him (he has one). My friend asked the driver why he was asking only him for his ID card as the driver had not asked the other passengers. My friend is blond and very fair skinned.. The driver replied: "Can you speak Maltese"? My friend replied no but that he works here, pays taxes here, etc. The driver would have none of it and told him to pay up or leave. The moral of the story is: if you are blond, better learn some Maltese quickly. And also, now I know why, when driving, I get stuck for a long long time each time a bus stops - driver checking ID cards.

S. Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 13:57

The real flaws with this system are the routes themselves which with few exceptions are unusable as an efficient and alternate means of transport for anyone who cannot spare 2 hours going from A-B and another 2 hours going back! Basically most of the routes try to serve God and Mammon and end up serving neither... other than being cheap tourist scenic routes. Whoever dreamt them up needs a good rap on their heads.

The present problems caused by driver no shows and the to-be-expected teething problems are, I believe transient. They will be resolved.

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 13:55

Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus and/or rail operations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Please don't keep blaming the British for this cock up. It's a German company

Tarcisio Bonello

Jul 7th 2011, 13:50

Come on people - So not everything is perfect - and yes some people didn't do their job well but let's say that the system is up and running well by Monday am - One week over the last 40 years isn't that bad.

In the meantime we have already gained:-
1. Drivers that are Human Beings
2. Comfortable Rides (Clean, New and Airconditioned)
3. We got rid of the old ORKS (refer to Lord of the Rings) 'Kings of the Road' Bus, Driver, Association, System and all.
4. Clean Running Vehicles. - Didn't the people driving their cars notice a change in the roads.
5. Bad Attitudes - even the GWU agrees for heaven's sake.

All this in under a week.

And yes we do need to revise the new routes but there are some very good new ones and people need time to adjust and discover the new ones >> Did everybody sincerely think that we were going to get it right the first time??? - I for one didn't expect so.

So - Well done Austin and well done Arriva (you were under pressure and still delivered) Now improve your standard by Sunday and all will be forgiven.

Mike Micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 13:49

I have purposely delayed commenting to avoid a knee jerk reaction to the initial teething problems which were only to be expected. At this stage there is only one comment I need to make - DISASTER!

When the end of the world was predicted for this year, I did not realise it would take the form of a public transport reform, which took something bad and made it worse.

And I am not referring to delays...I am judging on the basis of the service as it should be, where travelling time has been increased, albeit supposedly in more comfort. No provision seems to have been made for peak and off hours, and journeys have taken a leaf out of the Beatles hit, LONG AND WINDING ROAD....

Congratulations!

Anthony Roberts

Jul 7th 2011, 13:44

Why would you want them to distant themselves, they are the ones who introduced the idea. I am still waiting for my direct route to Mater Dei, but I suppose I will be too old or too ill to travel by then - I am 81 now, so who really cares!!!!

Mr Jeffrey Mallia

Jul 7th 2011, 13:32

Just the usual propaganda from the PM's mouth.......Because we had th guts to change the system after 30 years................high bloody time after 25 years of ruling this rock.........Each & every entity which had been privateised under this incompitent Govt, was unbeneficcial to all the generag public.............We're just sick of it all.

jack bristow

Jul 7th 2011, 13:26

Apart from courage to start the new system, the primeminister should have the"guts" to adress this situation without further delay as all this, is, but only describable in one only way ~ UNACCAPTABLE!
If Arriva is uncapable to take the deal, tell them to pack up & LEAVE.

Fran Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 13:25

Billie Watson - you are quite welcome to take the old buses - together with the drivers - back home with you !

Angela Bell

Jul 7th 2011, 13:23

I agree with everyone who has said that it is the new routes that are causing the problems not the drivers/buses. The route from the ferry port needs to be adjusted as people from the north of the island cannot get on the buses to go to the hospital.
I suggest Austin Gatt has his car taken off him for a week and travels on these new routes (without any media ) and see how all the local people are suffering.
Look at statistics and I am sure that by this time next year there will be many more cars on the road as people ditch the buses altogether.
So a challenge to the Minister get on the buses and see for yourself,and not just on one from Valletta but from villages.

B. Pollacco

Jul 7th 2011, 13:18

nahseb kul min qed jikkumenta kullhadd juza tal-linja !

Maruska Agius

Jul 7th 2011, 13:15

Mhux hekk Sur Gonzi!! Wehhel kollox fix-xufiera hux... facli nnehhu l-balla minn fuq saqajna u nitfawha fuq saqajn haddiehor|

Peter Busuttil

Jul 7th 2011, 13:10

Does one have to be a rocket scientist to understand that canopys, shelters or whatever, are a MUST to protect oneself from the sun, especially during the summer months?

Roberta Sciberras

Jul 7th 2011, 13:08

We've heard of 30 and we've heard of 60 and of 56 and now of 70. Exactly how many drivers did not report for work. And haven't they been substituted by 55 foreign drivers... or was that too chimeric.

And please remember that Arriva's reaction when the drivers protested at their rosters on Saturday was - leave your uniforms here and don't come to work. So exactly who was bluffing?

Of course that is only if for one minute you accept that this whole mess is the fault of missing drivers. It is not and Arriva knows it as does the Minister and the Prime Minister. Please stop treating us like morons.Who will be compensating the Maltese public for this hardship and frustration?

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 13:07

Arriva has shown a total lack of understanding of Malta from DAY 1.

It was obvious as soon as Keith Bastow said that 'roadsworks only last a day or two'. This is Malta not Japan so such a comment was extremely unrealistic and a sure sign of living in fantasy land.

The routes are NOT suited to Malta. The concept of concentric routes are applicable abroad when one lives in a city and does all his errands in that area. But this is MALTA so one has to go through several route systems just to get from A to B. The time where 2 people living in that village got married and kept living there is long gone. Today one lives in the North and works in the South or vice versa.

I am personally very disappointed that Arriva tried to 'force' a foreign concept on Malta without bothering to note the implications and the relevance to our island. This goes to show how much they really understand us.... or care about us. Indeed this is turning out to be a disaster that will have massive repercussions if it's not tackled IMMEDIATELY.

Your response is welcome to my comment if you think you can prove me wrong.

Tony Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 13:07

Beg to differ Mr. Prime Minister...the source of the problem is not the fact that 70 odd workers did not show up (although this did not help) but and it's a very big but the new routes. A trip from Mosta to Mellieha is taking one hour instead of the usual 30 minutes....hence in the time that this bus should have made 2 trips (there and back) it is making only one. My question is.....who designed the new routes? Who ever he/she was must tender their resignation now!!!!!

Mr mark johnson

Jul 7th 2011, 13:04

Malta - the only country with 360,000 local transport experts.

Isola Danti

Jul 7th 2011, 13:02

Since there are so many complaints and questions about the new routes which may be part of the cause of delays, the new routes should not be revised in 6 months but to start now. Transport Malta should send out their people right away to collect and analysis all the routing problems and begin to work on it.

Mr FRANS H SAID

Jul 7th 2011, 12:56

I hope that the PM and Austin Gatt will distance themselves from this mayhem. Ther new routes are not suitable and the genius who came out with them should be made to resign and be interdicted for life.

There was nothig wrong per se in the old system. It was the quality of busses and arrogance of the drivers.

We need direct routes. Valletta with the Law Courts and Govt Depts is still a hub. Why should we, from st Pauls' Bay go on a grand Malta tour to reach our destination. Why is the classican Bugibba area so badly served, as the distant stops only take you back to Qawra. Why do all the busses exit from the Qawra end and not through Bugibba. Why is there a new stop just round the corner from Bordino Street, only some 15 meters away?

If you want to introduce new routes do so bit by bit, but do not remove the old routes (such as 49) that was so covenient.

Please rember that St Pauls' Bay and Bugibba has become a retirement area. many aged couples have moved into small flats that used to be summer residences. Old people cannot be expected to walk long distances. come rain or shine.

So Once aqain, the PM and the Minister should admit that someone let them down. I am not blaming them, so long as they admit that they had been misled and give back certain rirect and quick routes.

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 12:54

The main complaint by the commuters seems to be the new nonsensical routes prepared by some genius at TM. An example; Do you want to go to Mosta from Zabbar? according to an Arriva flyer received yesterday:
Take number 91 to Floriana then take 31 or 91 to Paola then take x3!!
Incredible! So 91 passes through Paola on its way to Floriana. Why not alight at Paola and get the x2 without going to Floriana?!
BRING BACK THE OLD ROUTES FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!

Mario Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 12:54

The best name that suits best this new service though I wonder why it wasn't called "SMART Arriva Service" is "Arriva, Arriva non Arriva".
There shouldn't be any excuses of any sort after a year's study. Neither any teething problems. This is a monopolised service, so it should run with 99% efficiency and offer if not a high standard but at least a good service as abroad.
Not to mention the fact that this company is not managed by 'Ċwiċċ Maltin'!!!

D. Xerri

Jul 7th 2011, 12:54

Yes those bus drivers that stopped working did give Arriva a hard time - everyone knows that but most factors of failure could have been avoided with some common sense - Why stop a whole schedule and start anew the next day ? The New Arriva buses should have been introduced periodically example 30 new arriva buses on the road every week for a total of 12 weeks so as to say - that way the old service would have intertwined with the new one - Even the Numbers allocated to locations did a whole confusion where most numbers should have been kept the same - another thing is the waste of time most people are experiencing having to go to different locations out of the way to get to their destination - and were talking about a 30 mile island go figure if our island was 300 miles - on a same scale of error people would have to wait 10 hours at least to get on a bus - about the shelters a proper shelter should have been made in Valletta ahead of the start of arriva operating where especially old people and people with children can sit down protected from heat and rain - but I guess the Valletta bus shelter will come nicely some months before the election with celebrations and so much joy. Another thing I totally dont agree with Arriva is the way tourists are being charged for fares - when the maltese go to London we pay the same as every other british resident - its a turn-off for tourists when we should be encouraging more tourism to Malta.

Mr S Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 12:54

It is unbelievable how the PM blames those sixty persons who were fighting for their rights, only because their contract was not honoured from behalf of Arriva.
I was talking to one of the bus drivers who did his training and is not one of the old buses ex-driver and he was telling me that during his training period he was trained on 13 different routs,UNBELIEVABLE when given his work schedule he was assigned on different routes than those he was trained on! When he asked Arriva personel to give him routs he was familiar with, obviously good for himself and for the public, they refused! Do you consider this professional Mr Gonzi? If the Maltese old bus owners did something like this everyone would be accusing them of irresponsabilities and unprofessionality BUT FROM ARRIVA I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS CRAP! Besides this driver who on the 3/7/2011 did report to his duties was not able to go to the toilet for over 4 hours let alone eat or drink. Are these the conditions Arriva offered the Mlatese workers?
This person terminated his employment on the same day he started and today is on our registration records and again on Social Benefits!!
My daughter waited for 2 hours yesterday in the sun for a bus from Sliema to Naxxar after work when she was tired and hungry, in the sun waiting without choice, and finally I had to go pick her up myself, and she paid a day ticket FOR NOTHING MR PRIME MINISTER. WHO IS GOING TO REFUND THE MONEY SHE PAID FOR NOTHING AND THE PETROL I WAISTED???
GHAR IVA!!!!

Mario Grima

Jul 7th 2011, 12:52

This government cannot get one right. It's one mess after another, but the most astonishing fact is that no one is responsible or accountable for anything, notwithstanding the hardships the Maltese people who with the amount of taxes they pay through their noses should be treated better by this insensitive government. In the space of a few weeks we had three soap operas going on the Island,first we had the divorce issue wherein Gonzi went for an unnecessary referendum and now that the people have voted the PN is having second thoughts of honouring the people's majority vote. Then we had the undisclosed weekly payrise of €500 to all the cabinet and finally we had the bus service soap opera. Please do us a favour and go govern another Island in another platet and perhaps in another universe.

Paul Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 12:52

I hope that the CEO will see for himself that the bigger bendy buses are out of place on our small island. The bigger coaches are also too wide for out narrow streets.

The two smaller sized buses are what Malta and Gozo need. They can send the others back to China on a ship and sell them as unrequired or surplus stock/goods returned as being poor quality or unsuitable for the purpose.

Somebody should have got a couple of thes buses as samples to try on our roads before we bought last year for a trial run of two weeks. It would have been quite obvious that thay are not what we needed.

The bus owners could then have been told to form a federation to try and buy or get a loan on the newer buses until such time as Brussels coughs up some money to put into public transport.

I preferred the rude bus drivers wearing flip-flops, tee shirts and saints intermixed with the tatooes. At least I got somewhere within 20 minutes and not two hours.

Someone should point out to the CEO that we had over 550 buses, sometimes cramped with people in summer going to Ghadia, Golden Bay or Marsaxlok for a day and arriving in 30 minutes and not 2 hours! Now we have less than 200!

There were over 750 drivers, sometimes working long shifts with a day on and a day off. Now we have less than 500!

Minister terminate the contract now and get the old buses back before they are scapped. Tell Arriva to go home, return the unwanted buses and start to try to solve the problem again with the bus drivers, unions, owners and Brussels in gentlemanly talks.

Mr Ambrose Zahra

Jul 7th 2011, 12:48

Let's face it. In Malta we complain about the ways things are. When we change them, we complain that the old way was better.

Besides, we Maltese love to complain for the sake of complaining. Take Bugibba bus terminus and valletta bus terminus - there was never any real shelter there, and no one complained. Now everybody is up in arms about it. Get real people. There are more important issues at stake - like, where's my lunch?

K Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 12:47

Xi haga urgenti hemm bzonn li ssir fuq ir-rotta tal-Fgura in-Numru 91. Ma jistax ikun li rotta wahda trid taqdi 4 irhulha kbar bhal ma huma M'Scala, Zabbar, Fgura u Paola. Qabel mill-Fgura kienu jaddu 17, 18, 19, 20 u 21 u issa spicajna b'rotta wahda BISS (No.91). L-arriva qeghdin jintlew minn M'Scala b'detriment li meta jaslu Zabbar u Fgura jkunu diga mimlijin. Nissugerixi li ghandhom jinholqu 2 rotot godda (ex 92 li tkun titlaq minn Zabbar u 93 li tkun titlaq mill-Fgura). Dan isolvi drastikament il-problemi li qeghdin jaddu minnhom ta' kuljum ir-residenti tan-naha t'isfel ta' Malta.

Billie Watson

Jul 7th 2011, 12:44

One solution to all the Arriva problems and the absent drivers: PUT THE OLD BASES BACK ON THE ROAD, after all that is what we the British tourists look forward to see, well preserved beautiful leyland buses. You guys put your foot in it good and proper this time not amused. frequent visiter? not sure for how long.........................:-

Ms B Cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 12:35

Go back to the old routes and numbers and all the difficulties will be solved once and for all. When I welcomed the bus reform I never thought they would change the numbers and/or the routes. The routes worked perfectly as they were, the only problem were the old cars and the old drivers. it doesn't have to be a big genius to understand this. I don't know why whatever changes in Malta, it has always to be so drastic.

Thank god that I have two cars to rely on.

Mr Paul Licari

Jul 7th 2011, 12:30

It seems that ARRIVA have a lot to handle; breakdowns, drivers, accidents, long routes, no routes, erratic periods between runs, no runs, commuter stranding, etc...
It will not be easy to solve all these problems at once. Hope they do.
Until then, let us call it TARDIVA.

Mr Carmel Farrugia

Jul 7th 2011, 12:30

Besides other problems there is the problem of the new routes which are now passing from roads that did not handle large coaches before. Therefore wardens should be deployed to make sure that no irregular parking is allowed on the routes as this is slowing down the buses particularly when turning narrow corners. Here is Sliema at the corner between the Strand and Manwel Dimech street, cars are being parked irregularly and buses sometimes need to wait for long minutes until the situation is cleared.

Alfred Grech

Jul 7th 2011, 12:28

Why not switch to the old routes and secondary routes could be handled by either smaller buses or (don't faint) by using some of the previous buses until the problems are permanently solved?

Mr Mark Zerafa

Jul 7th 2011, 12:24

Arriva.... taking us for a ride!

Mr Patrick Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 12:24

I do agree perfectly well with what our PM said on this.

Jeff Mead

Jul 7th 2011, 12:23

No need for the British uk based executive to investigate the ampteen complaints by the tourists and the public, i shall personally tell them myself, its no only diabolical but pathetic at the same time. Never again Malta . see U.

Ms N Buttigieg

Jul 7th 2011, 12:17

After the first 5 days, the service is a complete disaster. This is the worst public transport service I have ever seen in Malta.

Mr D Psaila

Jul 7th 2011, 12:12

Its clear the new bus service is having problems but please don't blame Arriva for everything.

Buses have been meeting each other on Imrabat, Sliema (see photo and caption above) for a long time, the difference with the Arriva buses is that they pass each other quietly whilst the drivers of the yellow buses just sat with their hands on the horn. There are problems on Imrabat with or without buses because we also have construction vehicles, cranes, ignorant people who think it is okay just to stop their car and hold the traffic up whilst they chat to someone in a car coming from the opposite direction or who think they can park where they like, etc., etc.,

Malta has been short of bus shelters for a long time and the ones that were put up a few years ago are not fit for purpose.

Are Arriva responsible for designing the routes or Transport Malta? Should Arriva be blamed for that the routes designed by Transport Malta aren't fit for purpose?

The new bus drivers are surely doing their best under very difficult circumstances and they should be treated with some respect. It is not their fault if the routes aren't right or the computer software isn't working. Apart from the emergency foreign drivers they are our fellow citizens who are trying to their job and earn a wage like all the rest of us. They should be congratulated for what they have had to go through this week.

Mary Louise Cachia

Jul 7th 2011, 12:03

Nispera li s-Sur David Martin jipprova jaqbad tal-linja min Haz-Zabbar kmieni filghodu. In-numru 91 qed jitlaq minn Marsascala bi trakk mimli, qas dubbiena ma jkun hemm fejn tpoggi ahseb u ara persuna. Fir-rotta l-gdida, qed thalli warajha n-nies kolla ta Zabbar, Fgura u Paola, meta qabel kien hemm 17,18, 19 u 21 f'din ir-rotta u tal-linja xorta kienet tkun mimlija, ahseb u ara bi trakk wiehed x'ha naghmlu. ANDALE ANDELA ARRIVA!!

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 12:02

TO ALL THOSE SAYING "WHERE THERE BSU SHELTERS IN THE OLD TERMINI?"

DID WE EVER HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS IN THE SUN TO CATCH A BUS?

fabio cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 12:00

daqsekk arriva arriva......ASPETTA ASPETTA :) WICKED!!!!!

fabio cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 12:00

daqsekk arriva arriva.......

Mr Jonathan Calleja

Jul 7th 2011, 11:57

and what he can do?????
Perhaps a miracle ???

Mr M Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 11:55

I hope that Mr Martin will realise that the root of the whole problem are the new routes. These routes can be classified as sighteeing tours . I hope that he will give his go ahead to have the routes changed now and not in 6 months time. We Maltese need the service now !!

A person who commented on this website yesterday said that " The Consultants Halcrow, the people who planned the new routes, had published a report which said amongst other things that the Sliema routes were the only ones on the island to make a profit.

Knowing this why were these routes changed ? Who had the brilliant crazy idea of amalgamating them with other routes, so that all the buses arriving at Sliema are already full up ?

Why do all Sliema residents and the many tourists have to fight for a place on the Sliema bus at Valletta with whoever wants to go for a swim at Mellieha, with people who want to catch the Gozo ferry or whoever wants to go to Mater Dei or University ?

Why keep calling this a Sliema bus when it goes on a trip around the island ??

Give us back the old Sliema routes. Give us back the routes that can really be used by whoever wants to go to Sliema , and give them back to us now .

Victor Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 11:54

I will not hereunder try to be the defence lawyer for Dr Austin Gatt, I think he is able enough to do that himself.But as Ian Bugeja said , where were the bis shelters in the previous ermini?also we are shooting down the minister can anyone tell me how many comments were posted aganst the architect who designed the terminus and the ones who designed the interchanges? Unless of course a company of architectsin Norway designed them or for that instance one from northern germany? As for Dr Gatt I prefer to have the medicine straight out of the bottle like he dishes out then one with sweetener added and hardly works.

Alfred Grech

Jul 7th 2011, 11:52

The drivers that didn't show up on the first days definitely created a havoc but the route planning should have been done after proper consultation. Austin Gatt and his staff do not have the experience needed to plan such routes - bus drivers and some of the public could have been consulted.

The mess is obvious in many places. Yesterday, MDH parking was packed solid with many cars parked in the pathways and curbs within the parking lot. A Gozitan told me the Cirkewwa bus is now giving them a tour of Bugibba. He used to leave home at 5:30 am and now he has to leave home at 5:00 to make it in time for work.

Routes need to be planned by people who have experience and lots of common sense. It is not easy to plan routing in Malta but nothing is impossible if it's in the hands of knowledgeable and intelligent people.

The public cannot wait six months to see changes in the routes - these should be changed as soon as a better routing is decided upon or, better, should have been established BEFORE the service started.

Neville Bonavia

Jul 7th 2011, 11:52

Arriva are trying to justify their flop by blaming the drivers who did not report for work. Well, We aren't buying it!!!!. Today, I tried to use the Arriva buses from Zabbar to Valletta. I waited there between 7:15am-8:30am but not even a single bus turned out. Missing people does not justify an inexisting bus service.

So long Arriva, You need to regain your trust, and it's going to be a long time since I may consider to meet you again. You let many people down.

Mr Anton Portelli

Jul 7th 2011, 11:51

Hope he is shown where the system is failing and not try to impress that all is working like clock work!

Very often this is what is done in Malta when some high official or minister is shown around!

Martin Mangion

Jul 7th 2011, 11:49

i was not surprised that Minister Austin Gatt will stick to his decision and not be a canditate for the next general election. After this Grand Transport Fiasco, which of course he did not assume any responsibility one would be surprised had he changed his mind.

Image for a second he was managing a private business - the shareholders will come crashing down on him like a ton of bricks. But being a minister in the current governement - one questions accountability. Keep on smiling dear Prime Minister, the people out there will remember your smiles on election date.

Anthony Busuttil

Jul 7th 2011, 11:45

Welcome Mr Martin, hope you will have a pleasant drive in an AC bus, and on time, wish you lukck because so far we were the guiniepigs

Ian Bugeja

Jul 7th 2011, 11:41

But where where the shelters in the old terminus?

R. Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 11:41

From Siggiewi to Valletta use to take max 28 mins with the old buses. Now it take 1 hour for the same trip.
Thank you transport Malta and arriva. Do you call that a progress????
Very disappontented and hope for a better service, at least as before!!!!!

John Scerri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:34

6 weeks to put up a canopy ???...too much!!!

Do you out there still think we tax payers are idiots??

And yes Honourable Minister Austin Gatt....There were no canopies before..but people took refuge from the sun and the rain by entering buses ....what is there to laugh about on Dissett yesterday??

Trying to justify major infrastructural deficiencies and lack of project co-ordination by using escapism shows very poor management skills.

E Gatt

Jul 7th 2011, 11:32

I am sure that Arriva have a wealth of experience to solve most of the issues, however I believe they should seriously consider:
• Shortening the six month period to review the routes and timetables.
• Catering for more buses during the morning and evening rush hour, and on Sundays in Summer in Malta’s tourist areas.
• Discouraging passengers buying tickets from the bus driver, and till people get used to the system, dispatching ticket sellers at main bus stops.
• Replacing the bendy buses, with others that fit in the bus stop bays, don’t block cross roads/zebra crossings at the rear of the bus, and that can turn round tight corners.

Mr Joseph E Briffa

Jul 7th 2011, 11:32

It's a downright shame. Why not enage what's left of the PWD labourers to set up this canopy? Why issue a call for tenders for such a small project? Direct labour should be used, make them work overtime and pay them. Or let them start at 5 a.m. and work till noon, including Saturdays and Sundays. In this day and age why should it take 6 weeks for a canopy? Aren't we ridiculous? Wake up Censu Galea. You can do better than that!

V. Cauchi

Jul 7th 2011, 11:31

There's one real problem: money. To keep fares low we had to have less buses, more frequent trips and more crammed routes putting out of sync passengers used to former routes. A rethink at national (not company) level would have to be made. Like, perhaps, taking the bendies off the road, bringing in some good old buses to supplement certain routes, and restyling the routes back to the old tracks and only GRADUALLY changing certain routes. I think we went too fast about the whole exercise, in a hot summer month when tempers boil and electronic systems go haywire, and with little think on Arriva's part on traffic realities in Malta. Problem is most of us want to "educate the populace" (nedukaw lill-poplu - I hate hearing this phrase, as if coming from a godlike creature) but better first learn how to keep our feet on the ground, and our ears too if we are politicians or churchmen, to Maltese de facto realities.

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:26

It's a good thing that the CEO is here BUT how would he know that a route that takes over 1 hour used to take just 20 minutes with the old system.

How can he judge that routes are uselessly longer?

C Muscat

Jul 7th 2011, 11:26

I like local and national bodies like coptaco but the fault is not mainly of arriva but our management that decided to eliminate routes and make new routes go round and round without ending. the time from one departure to another is a farce because most of the busesleave already full and people are being treated like sardines. It is a disater from beginning to end. no light in the tunnel for many commuters.

Vanessa Walker

Jul 7th 2011, 11:21

I hope the CEO tries to go to the Airport from Bugibba (which does not pass from Luqa but goes to every other surrounding village!) or tries to catch a bus from St.Paul's Bay!

Mr A Spiteri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:20

"important thing was not the imposition of penalties" tajjeb ukoll u talli jaghddu min triq flok min ohra naghtum il mijiet ta eluf

Mario Desira

Jul 7th 2011, 11:18

So, before we are given yet another statement things are improving please note that today 7th July, four days after the new (dis)service started:

1 People in Qrendi on the bus stop at 0530 in the morning were left as usual without any buses. Only one to the airport showed up, eventually, the 0700 bus to the airport, were passengers want to go to work on time at Valletta were given an involuntary tour of the south of Malta before arriving late for work.

2 People in Kirkop were left on the bus stops as the buses were full up.

A complaint I emailed to Arriva got the automated response that my query would be addressed within 24 hours. 40 hours later, like the buses, no reply arrived.

Clarification about buses not stopping at the Floriana bus stops addressed to Transport Malta, published here in the Times comments, have remained unanswered. Perhaps one is asking too much – why should Transport Malta give a damn that passengers wanting to disembark at Floriana are taken to Valletta and made to walk back to Floriana?!

Keep it up guys! Rather than encouraging car users to opt for buses, you are convincing even die hard public transport users to abandon public transport!!
Ministry of Transport and Transport Malta should tell us what is being done about the imposed routes the public is up in arms against, instead of letting Arriva face the music on its own.

Alfred Gatt

Jul 7th 2011, 11:18

There were no bus shelters before but the need for them has been shown drastically this week. Let us hope they will soon be ready.

Mr Paul Caruana

Jul 7th 2011, 11:15

One of the main issues with the old system was its unreliability......this, more than anything else, turned off people from using it, turning instead to using private cars.

From what I can understand, unreliability is one of the issues affecting the new system as well. Basically, if Arriva, for whatever reason, is unable to deliver what it promised according to its detailed timetables as listed on its online website (with times given at specific bus stops down to the nearest minute no less!) within the next few days, then the new bus system is a failure.

In the days before the start, I always assumed that regarding public bus transportation, we where scraping the bottom of the barrel and surely things could not get any worse. However, if this level of unreliability persists beyond this week, Arriva would have managed the unthinkable: more than ever, the general public will be convinced that " issa u ghal dejjem, f' Malta b' tal-linja ma jaqbillekx!"

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 11:13

The Valletta terminus is far from completed. If more shelters are set up it will end up looking like Hal Far's tent city! Meanwhile the long trips continue and even if the full compliment of drivers is reached these trips will remain long. That is one of the problems the company needs to look into because it's one of the major concerns of the commuters. The old routes worked just fine and we never heard complaints of areas which were unreachable by bus. If there are new areas that need a bus service let's provide them by all means but not at the detriment of old ones.

Daniela C Lia

Jul 7th 2011, 11:13

only now the call for tenders was issued!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very proactive Minister Gatt

Mr R ferriggi

Jul 7th 2011, 11:10

shortcomings are short comings,,,,,, failings are failings,,,,,, granted.

but allow me to say..........

THIS MORNING I SAW AN 'OLD' BUS FROM THE PREVIOUS SERVICE AND I CRINGED TO SEE IT BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

SURPRISE SURPRISE,,,, IT HAD SOME ENGINE PROBLEM.

THANKS GOD FOR ARRIVA ,,,,, NO MATTER THESE INITIAL PROBLEMS.

Dennis Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 11:09

Not just sunny days but what about the winter?

Hope that the canopies are not installed in a puddle or in the path of a stream during the winter days.

Christina Pace

Jul 7th 2011, 11:06

I hope they will be also water proof as we also get rain in winter! and spring! and autumn! and guess what? :)) we get showers in summer sometimes too.

Should I carry on talking like i was addressing a 4 year old?

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:04

We cannot use certain words on this blog, but assure me, if I meet David Martin, he shall hear a lot about this "NEW" service. Cannot use the exact word to describe it, else I would be cencored.

A Cordina

Jul 7th 2011, 11:02

Hope the CEO gets a ride from Cirkewwa to Valletta...may God help him!

Mr C Cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 11:02

I've always said from the beginning that all of the drivers should have been sourced from abroad, possibly eastern Europe where the work ethic is more in keeping with delivering a professional service. The Maltese drivers really don't understand any of this and aren't qualified to be anywhere near the new bus fleet.

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:02

I appeal to the Times of Malta to send a the list of complaints on this website to this David Martin guy, so that he may read what is being written, not what they tell him.

And, if possible, can the Times of Malta give us a mobile / fixed line where we can call him and tell him about the REAL service they are giving us, i.e. STRANDING US AT BUSTOPS FOR HOURS AT END?

Mr Tony Morris

Jul 7th 2011, 10:59

So they didn't foresee sunny days in the Maltese summer, yet another own goal!!