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

The UK-based Chief Executive Officer of Arriva is in Malta to inspect the bus service after five days characterised by complaints.

The CEO, David Martin, arrived yesterday afternoon and this morning visited the Valletta terminus. He is also being shown around other facilities and meeting local company oficials and the government.

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said on television yesterday that he has made his disappointment known to the CEO. He noted that the company had said it would get the service on track by the end of the week, and added that the regulatory authorities may take action if problems persisted. However, he said, for him the most important thing was not the imposition of penalties, but ensuring that the people were satisfied with the service.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in comments this morning said that the government was pressing Arriva to reach the standards which had been agreed upon, as Transport Minister Austin Gatt said yesterday. (See full comments on video)

Initial problems were to be expected, he said, and he was extremely disappointed by the fact that 70 drivers had not turned up for work, but he was confident that problems on the bus service would be resolved.

Arriva said this morning that the service is improving and more drivers are being deployed. A spokesman acknowledged early morning problems on the routes to Rabat and Zebbug.

Commuters, however, were still experiencing delays in several localities as well.

Meanwhile, Arriva also temporarily switched off electronic destination signage on the buses to rectify a computer fault which has persisted since the launching of the service. Most of the buses were temporarily displaying cardboard route numbers this morning.

SHELTERS FROM THE WEATHER

It is going to take six weeks for a canopy to be built at the bus interchange in Bugibba/Qawra.

Replying to a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Censu Galea, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said in parliament that a call for tenders was issued and the bids had been adjudicated.

The canopy will be completed in six weeks.

The absence of shelters from the blazing sun has been one of the sources of complaint about the new bus service - leading the authorities to set up temporary shelters at the Valletta terminus and some outlying interchanges notably Qormi/Marsa and Pembroke.

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G Hoare

Jul 9th 2011, 00:35

Is this the joke of the day, shorts and flipflops even in the highway code it is illegal to drive in flipflops or bare footed are you by any chance an ex-driver as you sounded

Lino Busuttil

Jul 8th 2011, 10:02

Spot on Mr Scicluna, may some routes are a good idea but existing ones should have been kept at least most of them. The other problem is the kind of salaries being offered these days for a days work, by these international companies which equates to problems in maintaining their trained staff happy at work and not leaving with the first opportunity. Planning was surely lacking especially in testing the system and in ercting proper shelters.

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 19:43

One hour one minute...Not one hour two minutes or one hour one minute and forty seconds!

Jonathan McBee

Jul 8th 2011, 00:34

As inconvenient as it is for the Maltese to lose so much time commuting, I cannot help but feel even sorrier for tourists who are spending a significant portion of their limited time here waiting rather than exploring a new country.

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Jul 7th 2011, 19:49

Gone are the days, Stella, when two or three buses would be in line round 8.30 t0 9.00. Now we have a superlative service for the 21st Century.

Mr Victor Calleja

Jul 7th 2011, 17:14

Not only bus 012. I saw many of them dirty from the outside. Perhaps they have no time to car wash the buses. Parole si fatti no.

Sue De Nym

Jul 7th 2011, 18:10

lol!! Yeps, some people live in Laa-Laa Land.....

Stephen Koludrovic

Jul 7th 2011, 22:09

@ Sue De Nym,

But not when it comes to their weeky raise. That was a true state of the art rip off.

Anthony Pace

Jul 8th 2011, 07:51

According to the minister the fare structure is to remain static for three years.

But I agree with you that by Monday the old buses will be running back on the road, doing the same old trips.

Arriva will be told to order more of the smaller buses, the bendy buses willl be withdrawn and the bigger buses consigned to the main roads.

We should have appreciated our heritage more and not just said that they need to go into a museum. I always liked them even tough the drivers were a bit short on words. I ignored the swearing and the holy relics took us from A to B safely,

Resign minister for the fiasco you created and let someone younger and more tuned in take over. Take the PM with you as well.

Stephen Koludrovic

Jul 7th 2011, 16:57

@ Gaetano Attard,

Probably scratching his head, trying to figure what to say when KM GOES BUST. OOPS sorry that's already bust.

Mr Michael Debono

Jul 7th 2011, 18:19

Until Arriva arrived there was no complaint of people waiting in the sun. So what happened. Why Arriva did not use rhe same routes and shelters. Once these were fine Arriva should have continued using them. Very simple!

D. Xerri

Jul 7th 2011, 16:40

Par Idejn Sodi fuq it-Tmun tal-Arriva..... eeeh sorry ta` Pajjizna :~)

Mr Michael Debono

Jul 7th 2011, 18:30

Arriva has decided to use new routes at their pleasure in order to economise on petrol. And what happened? Ecery body is protesting. Arriva had enough time to draw the routes with the help of locals at the offices of transport Malta.
If Arriva came to Malta to make a good profit it will have to double the fares and suffer the consequences.
Arriva travail is in the open air and not hidden behind screens like the Valletta terminus and the non existant open gate and the theatre. We shall see when things atre uncovered just before the elections.
If the same happens, good luck to Gonzip.n.

Sandra Grima

Jul 7th 2011, 16:08

I agree with you 100% we desperately need the old routes back arriva please take notice apart from the missing drivers, arriva breakdowns etc!!!!!!!!

Mr Anthony Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 16:09

16:07 07/07/2011

A very sensible comment Mr.Schembri.
It beats me why our politicians do not see the obvious.

Stella Chetcuti

Jul 7th 2011, 16:18

Marsa residents who take the bus towards Valletta from December 13th Road are having to wait for over half an hour for a bus to come, (inhaling car fumes!). With the old service we rarely waited for more than 10 minutes to start our 5 to 7 minute journey to Bombi or Valletta. I think the situation is becoming rather frustrating. People who have always commuted to go to work are being punished for what?..... having always taken the bus to go to work? Shouldn't the new transport system have worked the other way round, meaning that people left their private cars at home to rest and gladly opting to commute, which was supposed to be faster and cheaper. I think that the new transport system has BACK FIRED!

Alex Falzon

Jul 7th 2011, 15:29

to correct you 2 buses from M'scala to Zabbar & Zabbar to Bormla

n grech

Jul 7th 2011, 16:32

@alex falzon
if you happen to live in the largest, most populated area of m'scala ie siberia/jerma area you have to catch 3 buses. one to grabiel, one to zabbar and a third to cottonera. and hope you make the connections. the 91 bus does not serve the majority of scalin directly.

Mr John J Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 16:13

lol good one.....btw i heard that when local stations start transmitting digital...it will be also the day that melita and go tv will start losing more clients.......because of dreambox

Mr Luke Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 17:07

Here's some interesting information Mr Camillieri, i was told during Arriva Introductions Sessions held at the University of Malta, that the new routes for Malta where planned out by Transport Malta! Arriva where only in charge of the Gozo Routes.... Hmmmmmm

Mr Michael Debono

Jul 7th 2011, 18:48

The old routes had years of experience behind them. Why Arriva had to draw its own routes without experience.
They most probably had in mind financial goals and decided to economise.

Ms F Goodwin

Jul 7th 2011, 15:30

A very constructive comment, prosit. Perhaps you could find some way to send this directly to Arriva?

I strongly agree that every village should be able to access Mater Dei directly, without changing buses. On any other route it's not a big deal as long as the buses are running regularly, but if you need to go to hospital, chances are you're not in fit condition to be boarding and disembarking multiple buses...

I don't think we need to return to the old routes completely, as some villages will actually be serviced better with these routes. We do need a change to the current routes though.

James Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 21:30

I agree with your comments 100%. A very very fair comment. Prosit and thanks for posting it. Hope that those who should listen are seeing such criticism.

krystle micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 15:26

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

Carmel Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:52

And now the pilots are going on strike and the airline might fold up because nobody listens to the people!! Without an airline we are at the mercy of foreign predators as before 1973 until there is a change of goverment and the formation of a new airline. The maltese have got used to their annual holiday or two abroad.

Mr john vella

Jul 7th 2011, 15:09

Paul between a cuc and a cuc you could not have said it better.
Hon. Minister Tonio Fench M.P. NP., please take note!

Gianfrancesco Buttigieg

Jul 7th 2011, 14:15

Adrian: "To take advantage of the fares listed below you must (present) and carry your ID card at all times when travelling". Simple, really.

Alan Cordina

Jul 7th 2011, 14:17

I just hope this story is not true !

Adele Mintoff

Jul 7th 2011, 14:25

Utterly ridiculous!!! C'mon Arriva ! This was a long awaited change on the island, please do not turn it into a nightmare.

Mr D Psaila

Jul 7th 2011, 14:33

There would have been no problem if he had been carrying his ID Its probably easier to carry and ID than learn Maltese. I understand, that if an inspector had checked his ticket and he would have been unable to present his ID, he would have been fined. However this is probably something for the future as presumably with all the problems they haven't got to the stage of checking that people have bought the right tickets.

E. Azzopardi

Jul 7th 2011, 14:40

Those who are using the buses did not read all the material given to them or search on the internet as regards Arriva. It is written that you must carry your ID card or the Kartanzjan with you so that you show it to the driver when he asks for it. He asked for it and it was not shown to him. It is useless for it being in a drawer at home. The driver was absolutely correct. But then it is in us to complain and grumble. Let us all move into this century shall we?

Ms F Goodwin

Jul 7th 2011, 14:59

While he should have had his ID card, the fact that only the blond was asked for ID looks REALLY bad. Are they going to judge African people in the same way? At what point does it become racial discrimination, because this person was clearly treated differently because he's Caucasian. I think they need to abolish the two-tier price structure ASAP. Hopefully Brussels will chime in soon enough.

Joseph Sammut

Jul 7th 2011, 15:13

Another moral of the story is: an ID card is to carry with you, blond or not and don't blame someone doing his duty for not carrying it with you, no matter how fair your skin is!

Mr Tony Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 15:52

When I was in Malta a couple of years ago I traveled to Sicily without being asked for the passport; I don't have an ID card, so would I have to show my Maltese Passport to board a bus in my old country?? Next we might need a pass from the Police Station to go from one village to the next !!!! :-(( or maybe :-))))))))))))))))
Jiena nikellem bil-Malti sewwa, tahsbu li-jejn?

Ritianne Abohason

Jul 7th 2011, 16:29

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!

Mr Adrian Borg Cardona

Jul 7th 2011, 18:56

When I said to my friend that he shiould have his ID card at all times, his reply was; is this a police state? How right he is! In which country are people asked to present their ID card when boarding a bus? Ridiculous! Also the comment from Mr Goodwin is correct - only the colour of your skin will determine whether Arriva asks you for your ID card or not.

Joseph Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:36

I tend to have a qualified agreement here. The routs may need tweaking. However the new routes reflect reality better in the sense that they avoid the systema of linking everywhere to Valletta only. Perhaps the Local Councils may join up an provide electric minibus service to join the village cores to the main routes. CPPS funds by MEPA and EU funds can be tapped. The main hurdle here is getting the local councils to work together.

We as commuters need to get used to changing busses. That too is dificult and a culture change.

Anthony Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:30

Quite right. I am sick of privatisation.

I look forward to the day when nationalisation occurs again.

It is a pity that the bus drivers gave up last year without much of a struggle. They were the bedrock of transportation on these islands, although trannsport in Gozo needed improvement. I had hoped that they would look to take on the ability to transport us effectively around the islands. They were a bit arrogant but thet were overun by work especially in peak hours.

New routes around the islands could have been developed to keep the tourists happy.

We did need light fuel buses but not these monsters that we got!!! Hear that PM as in eighteen months there will be an election and I hope that public services will return to the public whether Brussels likes it or not.

U. D'Amico

Jul 7th 2011, 14:35

its a british company owned by a german company..

Mr Mark Demicoli

Jul 7th 2011, 15:02

the classic blinkers syndrome! What did Arriva deliver?????? Utter chaos that' what I see. Haven't seen so much confusion and lack of public transport from the last public transport strike we had a couple of years ago!

commenting on your points....
1. Drivers that are Human Beings -- AGREED although not all of them were that bad, the majority yes, but not all.
2. Comfortable Rides (Clean, New and Airconditioned) - comfortable ride after waiting for 3 hours in the blazing sun in "a state of the art" bus terminus which doesn't even have a place where to shelter from sun/rain --- Tal misthija!
3. We got rid of the old ORKS (refer to Lord of the Rings) 'Kings of the Road' Bus, Driver, Association, System and all. - AGREED as per point 1
4. Clean Running Vehicles. - Didn't the people driving their cars notice a change in the roads. --- about damn time, why did have to be a private company to remove the old buses + as far as I see it right now, the state is even worst for the environment with all the traffic jams that this chaos caused this week!

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 17:20

'its a british company owned by a german company.'

Well yes......that makes it German.

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 17:44

@U. D'Amico

Did you have a hand in planning the routes?

Steve Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 14:58

I have to agree with your comment

Give arriva a chance for heaven's sake!

krystle micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 15:32

inti qed tghid li hafna mit-tort huwa tax-xufiera mela fhemni dawn l-affarijiet?
ghala destinations no. tal-coaches ma jahdmux?
ticket machines ma jahdmux
hafna coaches qed jieqfu idahnu!
issa lum huwa l-5 jum tas-servizz u mit tlieta li ghadda gew xufiera godda min barra flok l-antiki!
jiena fl-istess sitwazzjoni qed narani mela mhux xufiera l-antika l-problema

E. Azzopardi

Jul 7th 2011, 14:43

Stop complaining and being negative. They have said that they will be studying the situation during the first six months and change things around for the better. I bet you ALWAYS do everything right the first time.

Mr Dave Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 14:52

Or even THE WHEELS ON THE BUS DON'T GO ROUND AND ROUND !

Mr Dave Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 15:23

And the second line children ALL....KING>>>>LONG

Mr Daniel Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 15:02

Then again that's why we don't succeed. Because we GIVE UP. Try for once to appreciate that someone had the guts to actually alter the whole system to a clean and more comfortable one. I would like to see you choose in the middle of August at 14:00 Hrs between the old buses and the new.. All just for 1 - 2 weeks sacrifice for the system to kick in properly. It was the same with the euro, the local wardens, and many more.

Philip Hili

Jul 7th 2011, 14:49

@ B. Pollacco

Sur Pollacco, taf meta nibda' nuzh tal-linja? Meta nkun cert li qieghed fuq l-istage, nistenna tal-linja u din f'xi hin tigi ghax xi uhud mix-xufiera mhux l-ewwel darba li flok jghaddu mir-rotta li suppost jghaddu, imorru "short cut" u jhallu hafna passigieri jistennew fuq l-istage!
Jew inkella meta x-xufier jaqdi dmiru lejn il-passiggieri u jahdem ir-rotta u mhur imur jaghmel xi vjagg extra u jhalli l-passiggieri jistennew!!! Meta dan jispicca, imbaghad nuza tal-linja.

Peter Bonnici

Jul 7th 2011, 15:28

Sur Pollacco Ma hemmx ghalfejn tuza tal-linja biex tikkummenta. Sens komun u li tghix f'Malta hu bizzejjed biex tasal ghal soluzzjoni ragunata li sfortunatament kumpanija internazzjonali bhal Arriva ma kienitx kapaci taghmel ! Din hi inkompetenza GRASSA u ta min jistmerra.

L-aspettativa tal Poplu Malti, li jkollu servizz ahjar milli kellu wara hafna weghdiet, ma' ntlahqitx. Mela tlaqna minn servizz antik u rrigressajna f'wiehed inefficjenti u ta' ghajb. Hemm ghalfejn tuza t-trasport pubbliku biex tasal ghal dawn il-konkluzzjonijiet ?

Philip Hili

Jul 7th 2011, 23:53

@ Peter Bonnici

Kemm tixtieq li ghadna bhal ma ddiskrevejt int!!!
Peter, meta wiehed ikollu agenda mohbija ma tistax titkellem bhal ma tkellimt int.

X'garanzija ghandek li dawk ix-xufiera li ma dahlux ghax-xoghol ghamlu hekk mhux bi HSIEB? Kieku dak li gara ma kienx pre-meditat kieku ghala gabu dawk l-iskuzi infantili, bhal ma jridux jahdmu ghal 35euros, jahdmu 48 siegha, u hafna banalitajiet. Mela dawn ma kienux jafu ghal xiex dehlin qabel bdew it-training????? .Hallina Man!!!!

Li hu zgur hu li riedu jqarqu bil-kumpanija u sa certu punt irnexxielhom pero' il-Malti jghid "min jidhaq l-ahhar jidhaq l-ahjar"!!!!

George Tabone

Jul 7th 2011, 14:15

hu ma qalx li l problema kienet biss fix xufiera imma qal li ix xufiera ghazlu li ma jidhlux ghax xoghol u din kienet decizjoni irresponsabbli.


zgur li saret b'vendikazzjoni imma jiddispjacini nghid li dawk ix-xufiera issa qed ibatu l konsegwenza ta snin twal jaghmlu li jridu u minghalihom li ma jista ghalihom hadd...BRAVI, BRAVI TASSEW

krystle micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 15:38

proset marouska!
@ george tabone :- 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
u dawk ix-xufiera issa qed igawdu somma li qed thallas int l-ewwel wiehed mit-taxxi aktar int qed tbati milli huma

Carmel Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:44

I agee but the minister responsible should follow suit for listening to such poor advice from his confidantes.

Gianfrancesco Buttigieg

Jul 7th 2011, 14:16

413,000 ;)

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Jul 7th 2011, 14:27

Not experts but sufferers. There are those who are suffering because they use public transport, there are also those who are using private cars but suffer because they roads are more congested than before. Those who stay at home need not bother.

What type of transport do you use ?

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:31

You are dead right Mr Johnson! We have suffered it long enough. The consumer is more qualified than anyone and more of an expert to say what works and what doesn't. All these TM terrific route planner people go to work in their flaming cars!

Mr Philip Grech

Jul 7th 2011, 14:37

....and with all these transport experts, this reform was left in the hands of an expert in student stirikes ( mind you, not now, but under a labour government)

Joseph J. Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 14:40

Yet unable to read the information that the bus company sends in the mail, because why inform yourself when you can waste the bus drivers time with 20 questions every time you board the bus?

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 14:49

Thank goodness you're here to provide welcome comic relief.

Mr Daniel Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 14:57

Well said. About time someone pointed that out!

Carmel Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:46

I agee start to-day but consider returning the fleet of buses in exchange for smaller ones more suited to our roads than Continental Europe.

Mr Ray de Bono

Jul 7th 2011, 13:27

Well put Mr. Said.

Ramon Mangion

Jul 7th 2011, 13:31

Well I do not think that will be anytime soon as Arriva already sent out various mail shots etc... and changed signage at bus stops. That would mean more costs to them to retrain drivers and change this stuff hehehe

Ms Rita Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 13:36

Yes I think Cwiec Maltin. IN your opnion who is Transport Malta not Cwiec Maltin? they lived here all their lives and still made a mess and Arriva is taking the blame.


Rita Smith

Mr E. Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 14:41

So Dear Mr. Camilleri, so now Maltese, English and Germans are all Cwicc. I wonder why most of these who write on this blogg don't go for the next election as candidates maybe at last we see a bunch of clever Cwicc in parliament and our beloved nation will be running 'fuq ir rubini'

CHARLO' SAMMUT

Jul 7th 2011, 13:10

imsiken ux ?

Anthony Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 14:36

He only has himself to blame because he could not trust the Maltese to come up with a satisfactory solution. Bus drivers need to earn a living as well as the owners. I feel sorry that they did not put up a fight last year. The Maltese knew how buses ran and were they go and how they use them. I would not be surprised if one day the bus drivers just walk out like the pilots might do.
We Maltese have brains. Trust us and we can make it work. we might be blunt and obtuse at time verging on to rudeness but we know what is happening.

Mr S Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 14:56

@ Charlo Sammut
Imsieken ahna ghax dawk il-maggoranza jirregistraw qieghdin u jithallsu minn fuq dahar it-tax payer u tkunx sarkastiku jew jekk mhux jircievu beneficcju ghalissa, fil-futur qarib!!

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 13:08

Another armchair critic. Try catching the bus ambrose.

Michael Bruce

Jul 7th 2011, 13:29

Have you forgotten the beautiful row of big shady trees that were uprooted for this new bus station? Have you forgotten that you could wait inside the next bus to leave in the shade for upto 15 minutes? Have you forgotten the many kiosks selling very cheap cold drinks also offering shade? Or perhaps you were never waiting for a bus at Valletta last summer???
250 less drivers and 250 less buses, higher fares and paying for the park and ride - that is where the 50miliion euro saving for the Government over 10 years and Arriva´s expected profits are coming from!

The 56 drivers who quit and handed back their uniforms last weekend are well out of this mess and can earn better pay by helping out the very busy minivan Co-op !

Mr Peter Mercieca

Jul 7th 2011, 13:52

Finally an honest blog!! How people can continue to state that before was better and bring back th ethugs that dogged the old transport system is just crazy..... 3 days and we expect a utopic solution! Change comes with problems and those in turn create new opportunities for fresh perspective and (hopefully) better solutions - bringing back the old junkers is nonsensical to say the least. Enjoy your lunch!

Glen Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 14:09

You are right as no matter what happens there is always some that will complain... You are right aswell that there werent any shelters before but then people didnt have to wait sometimes 2 hours or even longer in the sun, its different..

Carmel Ellul

Jul 7th 2011, 15:07

There was never a bus shelter but there were trees and you could wait on the bus even if you were told it was not going till later or to get on another bus. There was no bus shelter at Bugibba but who needed it when you got on the bus in just a few minutes.
You could get a drink as the next one was only 10 minutes away, now you dare not as it might be two hours away or never.
When I read that Arriva were taking over my heart sank as I knew from my days abroad what sort of service they offer and I was right. I just wish the election was to-morrow so that the next PM can sort out the problem.

Victor Pulis

Jul 7th 2011, 13:02

Il Fgura fiha 12,000 ruh jghixu fiha. Ilu jinhass il bzonn li jkollha terminus taghha. L-iskuza kienet li kienet moqdija b'rotot ohra. Issa m'ghadhiex ghax kull ma jghaddi minn hawn hi il 91 li tghaddi mimlija.
Min fassal ir-rotot gadda jew ma joqghodx Malta, jew qatt ma resaq l-hawn jew qatt ma telgha f'tal linja. L-ismijiet farseski li nghataw certi bus stops juri li min ghamilhom ma kienx jaf x'qed jaghmel. Ezempju, l-istage ta' hdejn il ground tax Schreiber semmewh 'Xlajber"! Lanqas jafu li hemm ground! Ergghu aghmlu ir-rotot bhal ma kienu u kollox jimxi harir. Kull ma ridna karozzi sura, xufiera edukati u nodfa u hinijiet tajba. Il problemi qalghuhom it TM. Il bambin baghtilhom skuza bix xufiera li ma dahlux ghax xoghol imma hafna mill problemi xorta konna niffaccjawhom kieku dahlu kollha.

Adrian Cachia

Jul 7th 2011, 13:04

Il-frekwenza suppost tkun kull 10 minuti. Il-problema bhalissa li nahseb qed titlaq wahda kull nofs siegha!

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 13:00

I am sorry Ms Watson,( I presume you are a lady by the spelling of your name) You might come here for a week every year and go all gooey eyed at the ramshackle boneshakers that were our bus service, but try going to work on them every single day come rain or shine and it's no bloody joke I can tell you. If this kind of service were implemented on your arrival home in UK there would be anarchy!!
Some can be kept in service for the tourists to ride on and say ohhhhh and ahhhhh how sweet! That would free up the commuters service somewhat, but we have had enough of been thrown arround on white knucke rides. Drivers on the phone, writing in theior books, reading the paper, talking to their mates while not watching the road or eating pizza, and smoking and worst of all, talking to us like scum. You can have them dear. My pleasure!

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 13:13

Billie, ever tried living in a museum? Kindly don't confuse tourist attractions with practical items required for daily commutes. Then again the sensible solution would have been to have the new buses custom built to resemble the leylands that I agree are infinitely more beautiful than the boxes on wheels that arriva have.

Luke Desira

Jul 7th 2011, 13:17

so you used to come to Malta just to ride the buses? would have been much cheaper to buy one for yourself..

Ms Rita Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 13:44

Mr Billie Watson do go and tell Cameron to get you your old buses back in England. Maybe he will listen to you!. If that is why you come to Malta the see the preserves leyland buses, if they are preserved, I pity you. Well you can always go to Timbaktu if you wish but we Maltese want modern and suffecient public transport. I only hope that Arriva will at long last solve the problem otherwise the government have to substitute them with nother company.

Rita Smith

Billie Watson

Jul 7th 2011, 13:58

Well thanks for your reply Mr.camilleri, well, in that case i shall not be returning back to Malta, after all one of the reasons we visit your tiny Little island is exactly the very same reasons you so kindly put together for us to digest. Arrive/derci Malta

Isola Danti

Jul 7th 2011, 13:59

Ms. Watson, how about getting your local public transport company to buy the whole lot of our " well preserved beautiful leyland buses" to operate in your home town so that you folks won't have to take a flight all the way to here to enjoy them? Just an idea.

Mr Jimmie Rowe

Jul 7th 2011, 14:37

Ref< Isola Danti thanks thats a good idea, i see what i can do, now why haven't i thought of that eh? but in anycase we seen thew whole of Malta in one day its so small half an hour thats all it takes to go around the island (emmm NOT on your buses ofcourse silly)me i should have made that clearly, anyroad the way the sterling is going down hill and the exchange rate is not very favourable to my pocket, this time around what with the buses chaoes and all that, we shall holiday at home at least for the next few months, cause then we shall be flying out to gurnsey - tax free and no exchange rates. Tally HO.

A Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 14:39

Ms Watson, take one with you as a souvenir! But on one condition, you have to take the largest, smelliest, rudest driver with you to drive you ( I'm sure his wife won't miss him) to work every day and to the shiops and to your social functions. Friends may like you novel idea of transport.....for a short while.... but they won't be having an affair with your chauffeur for sure!!!!!

R. J Bernard

Jul 7th 2011, 14:55

As a Brit who lives on this 'tiny little island' I am embarrassed by the patronising and arrogant tone of this 'lady'. She appears to be one of those who believe that places like Malta only exist to satisfy the annual whims of a wealthy tourist.
Still, on the bright side, she promises never to return.

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 14:58

Billie..... Malta does not belong to Camilleri so only a fool would take his word to represent that of all Maltese. Having said that, your depreciating comment about Malta being a 'tiny little island' reveals a lot about the kind of tourist one needn't attract here.

Mr Slim Bartolo

Jul 8th 2011, 00:00

Yes i agree go now, and with you take as many British whingers as you can and leave us in peace thankyou verymuch. We Maltese can do just about anything and we definitly do not need foerigners as yourself to tell us what we can do and what we cannot do, the old days of Rule Britania is history and gone out the window years ago, so if you like OUR COUNTRY (in caps).you just have to accept us as you find us, no outsider should interfere with out politics. The problem with the Anglos they like to dish it out but they sure do not like it thrown back at them.

Steve Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 14:39

Lucky you!!

I have no car as I am only a student and I am afraid but I have no choice but to use the buses

But mind you, if the bus service is relaible and efficient, I would delay myslef from buying a car, I don't want to add one more car to our already polluted and hectic roads!!

Clayton Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 12:43

ARRIVA, ARRIVA !!

ma quando ARRIVA? NON ARRIVA MAI !!!!!

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 13:18

See you Jeff. Enjoy finding a country free of any problems whatsoever. One cannot blame you since Malta has nothing else to offer except riding buses aimlessly all day long. Sadly we don't have a single car rental company and taxis don't exist.

Ms Rita Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 13:47

The English complain everywhere they go. Maybe they want a free holidaya!!!!!!!!!!!!1



Rita Smith

Ms Margaret Williams

Jul 8th 2011, 01:08

Ms Rita Smitie, well my girl i'm English (thank God and not a local thank Allah again) however if you are offering a free holiday i'll take you on thanks verymuch. Excuse my ignorance but we always thought that its the other way around, the Maltesers always want everything for nicks/gratis call what you will, still i accept a free holiday for now cheers, i solemnly promise not to complain or whing anymore ok. Ta.or is it ARRIVA Derci.

Mr Patrick Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 12:20

Well said.

Adrian Bonett

Jul 7th 2011, 12:33

I can't just agree more. All the blame is being given to Arriva. Who designed the routes? Who is responsible for them?

Mr R.E. Saliba

Jul 7th 2011, 13:27

D. Psaila, Patrick Zammit and Adrian Bonett..... please share the joke because it's really not obvious.

Even if Arriva didn't design the route, who forced them to use it? Did they blindly accept someone else's decisions? Don't they have the ultimate responsibility? As far as I know they plan to rake in all the profits so that makes them the ones to blame if anything goes wrong.

Jew paga ta' xejn iridu?

Michael Lloyd

Jul 7th 2011, 13:42

Who designed the routes, Mr Bonett? A British consultants business called Halcrow. Then they were looked at and amended by the Government - the old ADT (now Transport Malta). Arriva is not responsible for the routes. It is however responsible for ticket systems that don't work, information systems that don't work, air-con that doesn't work, buses that don't fit the streets and articulated buses which can't get up the hills near Melheia without the passengers getting out to reduce the load. And the long waits between buses, of course.

But cheer up, the drivers are very polite now, and that was really all that mattered to some people, apparently.

Ms Rita Smith

Jul 7th 2011, 13:49

Thumbs Up well said

Rita Smith

J. Scicluna

Jul 7th 2011, 12:50

To all those saying, "Were there any shelters in the old Valletta terminus", including Minister Gatt yesterday on DISSETT...I ask, "WHY WEREN'T THERE?"

In this day and age one cannot immagine having the shortsightedness of NOT having shelters at bus termini and exchanges (which serve the sole purpose of allowing cimmuters to transit from one route to another) that are supposed to be operational throughout the whole year, irrespective of the weather conditions.

On the same lines, I and many others have also questioned why there are no covered bridges at MIA! This was not built eons ago so why where they not incorporated in the original design?

You would imagine that whoever designed the new termini and exchanges never traveled to other countries. It's not rocket science.....or is it?!

Mr Michael N Cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 12:48

Victor Vella The best thing for all is for Dr A.Gatt to get out of office and resign .

Mr Daniel Jones

Jul 7th 2011, 12:54

Missing people does not justify an inexisting (i assume you mean non-existent) bus service? Are you serious? I know we were promised a state of the art service but I don't think they have driverless buses anywhere in the world just yet.

Mr Alfred Dimech

Jul 7th 2011, 13:21

@Mr. Bonavia : Ghax bilhaqq bir-remote control qedghin ihaddmuhom il-buses tad-drivers li ma gewx. Habib, isma minni, tihom gimghatejn tal-Arriva ha jigu naqra f'taghhom imbaghad iddeciedi jekk tridx tkompli tuzahhom jew le. Tiftakar meta dahal il-VAT x'panic kien hawn l-ewwel xahar? U meta dahhlet l-ewro? Affarijiet bhal dawn bilmod. J'alla issa jisimghu mill-konsumaturi u jirrangaw x'uhud mir-rotot.

Phil Humphries

Jul 7th 2011, 12:10

The fact that there weren't any shelters in the old terminus doesn't mean that there shouldn't have been any. Anyway, if all else failed, you could always take cover under City Gate. - Oops ! - I forgot, you have to be a politician to get a roof over your head nowadays !

D. Xerri

Jul 7th 2011, 12:41

No-one complained about bus shelters before because you only waited from 5 to 15 minutes maximum to be on the bus NOT 1 or 2 hrs !

Charlot Bartolo

Jul 7th 2011, 11:49

Sheltering in what buses???... the buses used to be either closed or otherwise not fil-venda.

Have you ever tried to wait for bus 27 or 29 (Zejtun/M'xlokk) in the scorching sun of July or August for 2 hours.

That happened to me more than once last year and the year before. They used to miss their turn for any reason. The officer used to tell me, as usual, if you report it we would need your ID card so that you can take witness. As though losing 2 hours was not enough..

Lets give these people some time to get in line and hope (fingers crossed) that the service improves.

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:45

and the maximum time one had to wait was less than 30 minutes.... that is why the issue was never raised.... PLUS people use to stay behind the shops in the shadow where possible.

Still it would have been better if there were shelters on the old terminus too but people always hoped that once a new terminus is built it would incorporate some kind of shelter.

Din li dejjem nghidu "issa qed tgergru, qabel qatt m'ghidtu xejn" hija vera bla sens..... B'dar ragunament nistghu ma nippruvaw intejbu xejn u nhallu kollox kif kien qabel!

Mr Tony Bishop

Jul 7th 2011, 12:11

It only took a few hours to put up a conopy last Saturday so that they (Arriva & Gatt) can celibrate the Arriva take over.But next morning passingers had to wait in the scorching sun and still are.

Mr John J Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 11:46

yeah......you should try `nedukaw il poplu` ....stop your car near a bus stop with more than 15 people that have been waiting in the sun for more than an hour for a bus that should pass exact to the minute! ......

Mr Christopher Briffa

Jul 7th 2011, 11:53

Well said, I fully agree with your assessment, the main problem we have in this country is that people in a position of power think of themselves as demi Gods and think that they are infallible and cannot make mistakes. They are too aloof on their pedestals and they cannot hear the cries of lesser mortals on the ground. Going back to the present transport fiasco, it is very obvious that the main problem is the silly and unworkable routes that are causing the problems and not Arriva per se. As far as I know these routes were designed by Transport Malta, maybe Arriva in their eagerness to sign the contract or due to the lack of knowledge of the local network accepted these routes blindly.

As for the striking drivers, they obviously did not help matters but if anything they presented Arriva and Transport Malta with scapegoats and an obvious easy target to mask their failures.

Franco Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 12:00

"To keep fares low we had to have less buses"

Ghax Malta biex nifdu l-ispejjez u naghmlu profitt dejjem irridu naghmlu prezz gholi .... flok naghmlu prezz irhis halli iktar u iktar nies juzaw is-servizz u finalment tispicca taghmel iktar profitt.

Gianfrancesco Buttigieg

Jul 7th 2011, 11:43

Franco - he does not care and shouldn't. The routes were designed by Transport Malta and are only OPERATED by Arriva. He wouldn't care if the buses go round and round mgarr at 3 AM if that is what they are contracted to do.

Charles Zammit

Jul 7th 2011, 11:41

Hekk hu. Triq Bisazza

Fran Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:26

Now that they are setting up temporary shelts you are saying it is going to look like Hal Far's tent city. Is there no end to please you ? Agreed that some routes need to be changed. Are you serious when you say you never heard complaints of areas which were unreachable by bus ? All of a sudden some people seem to have forgotten completely all their complaints about the previous bus service. Come on guys and dolls, please give the system a chance and then complain by all means as you have every right to do but do also come up with suggestions too.

Victor Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 12:05

My Nation amazes me, we want the bus to drive us right to our front door(obviously without haveing other people wait for the bus on our doorstep) we want the busses go along the routes we want exactly and when we want tem.Come on people wake up to realities, if I had any say about itthere would only be bus stops at intervals of 500 meters and buses only go through main roads.Oh by the way, the 500 meters measurment would be kept even if it is infront of the ministers house.That way busses would not stop every 2 minutes and there would be an even distance for people to walk.For those living in outlying areas well you can allways take a connection bus which are now available tough luck that before you could take a direct service to Valleta which all of the Maltese were subsidising for you.

Fran Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:22

Who says the calls for tenders was issued now - do you have the actual date the tender was issued ? Do you know that a tender usually takes three months to be processed and then adjudicated ?

Mr Tony Gatt

Jul 7th 2011, 11:51

@ Frank Abela-
This Arriva changeover has been planned for months- surely someone could have seen the need for shelters before this, but I suppose it it as usual a last-minute thing.

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:17

Well, you can keep the arriva thing to yourself.

All we want is a service that at least is as good as the old one. But up to now (and in the foreseeable future), it WILL NOT BE BETTER. Take a look at the new routes and you will understand.

Mr A Spiteri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:21

surprise surprise and old bus had some engine problem

big surprise big surprise more that 10 new buses with low mileage and all stopped because of engine problems

thanks God for Arriva new busses with old problems

Fran Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:28

What was an 'old' bus from the previous service doing on the roads ? I thought government purchased all their licences for a 'mere' 100K ? Was it on the road without a licence ?

Mr John J Borg

Jul 7th 2011, 11:37

yes...when everything will work fine it will be a FINE WAY OF WASTING TIME

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:11

Is this CEO going to make the tour on his busses? Or in an airconditioned car with driver?

Stefan Enge

Jul 7th 2011, 11:19

Well. NOT Arriva planned the routes!

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:10

I had a trip with an English lady driver, and now that I heard her shrill, I prefer the old maltese drivers. At least they understood the need for a fast service.

jack bristow

Jul 7th 2011, 11:12

Go get a life! In Malta we have the right people & even more of it, its the managment that has to deal with its own mismanagment.

Mr Victor Laiviera

Jul 7th 2011, 11:16

You mean they have been trained to work for practically nothing and say thank-you.......

John Scerri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:24

i do NOT Agree ..you are by far very mistaken

The NEW Maltese bus Drivers are doing their best to cope with the confusion caused by the OLD Maltese bus drivers who dont give a hoot about their colleagues.

Apart from this they had to cope with heat rage , complaints, shouts, arrogance, grumbles, faults, bus breakdowns,

Yes I have faith in Maltese drivers...they are the best...they speak our language...they live here...their families live here ..they are one with us....

British drivers are here to substitute the rebel drivers and until more Maltese drivers are trained...they go back in a month

Joseph Camilleri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:43

@ Laiviera
In Malta the bus sitution was different - the drivers were assured a wage for not turning up or for providing an irregular service. But hey, so long as they could do part time! Of course, as Mr. Laiviers is wont to say, to praise anything now is tantamout to praising the government - so God Forbid.

The faults of Arriva should be tackeld immediately and without excuses. The back stabbing by the former drivers is one thisng. HOwever, software, engine failures etc are definately a management concern and should be addressed.

Mr Vincent Cassar

Jul 7th 2011, 11:45

Sur Cassar...ax ma temigrax? Umbaghad forsi tkun tista toqghod tikkritika kemm trid lill-Maltin...x'inferiority complex!

Mr Ronald Gauci

Jul 7th 2011, 11:57

@ Mr C Cassar

I have the following task for you: For every bus driver you bring to work in Malta from Eastern Europe or any other EU country which is capable to drive well on the Maltese roads and can speak English enough well to communicate with the passengers and is ready to work for 35 euros a day (from which he has to pay food and accommodation) for at least a period of one year I give you 1000 euros !
Come on mate go for it and show us how intelligent you are!!

Fran Abela

Jul 7th 2011, 11:19

Mr. Galea - when your plane delays departure do you call the Chairman of Air Malta ? Do not be ridiculous. However, I do agree that a list of complaints be placed on the website with a copy to Arriva Malta, so these can be dealt with as soon as possible.

Chris Xuereb

Jul 7th 2011, 11:21

It all depends what you mean by a Fast Service....... If Fast means driving like maniacs and in such a hurry that they do not even bother pulling into the bus bay at the bus stops I'd still opt for the change!

Mr J Busuttil

Jul 7th 2011, 11:24

Mark inti bis serjeta, most of the blogs are fake complaints. Example: This morning on one of the news items of the Times a certain John Spiteri wrote that he was delayed from Bugibba/Qawra to Bulebel by two hours and arrived at eight at work at the same time he had chance to write on the blog just minutes after he arrived. ( A cushy job he has). Five/ten minutes later he wrote another blog giving a different route same area different wording but same person.

Joe Micallef

Jul 7th 2011, 11:40

Are you at last at work Mark? Seems you either own the company or it allows you quite some free time to browse the internet posting comments .

Whatever the issues ARRIVA is already a better option than the no service of yesterday - at least the overall attitude is by far more ethical and civil and the air condition functioning!!

Constructive Complaints need to placed on the ARRIVA website to assist the company in identifying short comings

Mark Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 11:46

@Mr J Busuttil
Do you say I am a fake?
I AM FROM GOZO.
In the last 12 months excepts for a couple of times I always managed the 6:00 pm ferry.
NOW, because of Arriva, I board the 6:45 pm ferry.
AND I do not arrive at 6:10, but at 6:30 - 6:45. Thank God the ferry is usually a little late, else I would have lost it once too. I had to "tell kindly" the driver to stop before getting in the bus stop at cirkewwa, else we would have lost another 5 minutes, giving us the chance to rush for the ferry. You can imagine what the word kindly means when only a glass door is between a Gozitan and the ferry to Gozo.

If that is fake, my friend, go to the Qawra interchange. You have to be able to "fight" your way through to be able to board, else you will be left on the stage ... for the next bus ... and you can be sure that both the driver and the despatcher tried to stop us because bus full up ... cannot continue since saying more would be censored.

Mr J Busuttil

Jul 7th 2011, 12:16

Mark your outburst is useless I never said YOU are fake. Before answering make sure you read well what has been written.

Phil Humphries

Jul 7th 2011, 11:13

It seems that they didn't foresee rainy days either, so let's hope the canopy is robust and that it arrivas before the bad weather :)

Charles Sammut

Jul 7th 2011, 11:17

It is not only the sunny days they did not foresee, but neither the narrow roads and the fact that these buses cannot negotiate many urban streets without creating traffic chaos and piling up delays.

Jonathan Scerri

Jul 7th 2011, 11:37

Perhaps they did not foresee commuters waiting for "days" for some sort of service, be they sunny or wet!
The old terminus had no shelters, but waiting times were reasonable and commuters were often allowed to wait inside buses.

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