Arriva still 100 drivers short
Arriva still has a shortage of 100 drivers, despite having brought in 70 drivers from abroad, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said in Parliament today.
Replying to questions, the minister noted that he had acknowledged that Arriva was not delivering the service that had been promised. The company had a number of operational problems, and it is due to present a statement to the authorities today or tomorrow about how it will bring the bus service up to the required standard by September.
The authorities, he said, would examine the statement in the light of the commitments that had been made, while also recognising the progress that had been made from the old system.
Replying to other questions, the minister said that out of 71 routes, there had been complaints about 18 and these were being catered for in a reform of the routes announced last week.
Reacting to a complaint about waiting time for commuters, the minister said the main issue which was causing this problem was the fact that out of a planned driver-complement of 570, Arriva was still missing 100 drivers, despite having brought in 70 drivers from other countries.
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Reg Alfour
Jul 25th 2011, 21:06
And don't forget that many of those drivers from overseas are nearing the end of their period here! Arriva is NEVER going to have enough drivers, unless they start putting asylum seeking migrants in the cabs.
Don't say this wasn't predicted six months or more ago. But sadly no one listened. It's all just part of Malta's tragic decline. Still, the coach operators, taxi drivers and car hire firms are doing brilliantly. So road traffic has really been cut down. NOT.
Let's hear it for Arriva then. All talk, but not a clue. I hope you get all of your subsidy withdrawn. Not that it will help the travelling public. We've already lost what we once had. Buses that actually turned up.
Mr mario aquilina
Jul 26th 2011, 22:54
Wait and see. The drivers from oversees will have their work permit renewed once the 30 days are over.
The government knows the loopholes.
Anthony Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 21:05
@ Carlos Espinal
Today, 12:48
I do not care where are the drivers from. Just get them now!
--------
You cannot get more to the point!
Christopher Pollard
Jul 25th 2011, 18:24
I must agree with the comments that mention the lack of communication. Our local feeder service, the 101, is shown on the timetables as running every half hour - at 10 past and 20 to the hour. I've yet to see one when out walking at the requisite time and this afternoon was talking to a bus driver coming off shift who said that the 101 leaves the Belleview hourly at 5 past the hour. But nowhere on the Arriva website or posted on the bus-stops is there to be found that simple information. I hope Arriva do not remove that route from lack of passengers - how are to catch the thing if we don't know the time it runs?
James Dewar
Jul 25th 2011, 18:00
@ Kathry Zahra
Kathryn, There are some who would say that the new transport system was not planned........ full stop, let alone any contingencies to address staff shortage etc!!
Regarding my reference to Arriva employment conditions this was a direct reference to Mr Holmes post and to a number of other references and submissions on the issue of visible tattoos. Tattoos are taboo it seems unless you can hide them, even in a desperate situation like this when the earliest date given for normality is 11/09.
Regarding "misinformation" I think that the guilty parties here are undoubtedly Arriva and TM ! Accurate factual statements with meaningful information are conspicuous by their absence!
Kathryn Zahra
Jul 25th 2011, 20:50
Yes you're right, maybe there were no plans involved, maybe it was bad planning and perhaps it could have been wrong for the Arriva management to undertake this project altogether. Hypothesis, hypothesis, hypothesis.
I understand that you were replying to the comments left by Mr. Holme, as well as previous articles featured on the Times of Malta which discussed tattoos and Arriva work ethics. However, Arriva never issued statements that the inability to speak fluent Maltese and visible tattoos would result in a potential candidate not to be chosen. It seems that Arriva employ people with visible tattoos, but they require the person to wear long sleeves, and personally I think that this is fair. (After all they do spend most of their time in A/C whilst at work...)
My statement on the inaccuracy was mostly addressed to those disseminating wrongful information in the form of sentences which includes phrases such as: "...according to the word of Arriva...". Yet I agree with you, there has been some absence from both Arriva and TM.
James Floris
Jul 25th 2011, 16:50
One of the things that I suspect is slowing the process of resolving the current situation is a pervading misunderstanding of who's responsible for what with the new bus service, and what each of the parties involved can do about it.
As long as the wrong parties are petitioned about the wrong things, and those actually with the power to act remain either unchallenged or (less likely) unaware, then resolution can only be delayed.
The more that I see, read and hear, the more it seems likely that if the bus operator was master of all it surveyed, then the service would look very different from that which we've seen since the July 3rd Revolution.
The facts are reasonably clear though: the routes and fare structure are the responsibility of Transport Malta. The physical locations and facilities of bus stops and interchanges are the responsibility of Transport Malta. The removal of definct signage and other street furniture is the responsibility of: yes, Transport Malta.
The requirement placed upon the new operator to take on the newest of the old buses, and to recruit a minimum quota of existing drivers, was handed down by Transport Malta.
The requirements for drivers to speak Maltese, for uniform to be worn and for tattoos to be covered are the responsibility of, hang on while I check: Transport Malta.
And one of the other requirements of Transport Malta, was that a local company should partner with whichever (likely) overseas operator successfully tendered for their explicitly-written contract.
Presumably, this was to help address Mrs Carmen Borg's concerns (mentioned below) about planning and research in the local market - amongst other cultural subtleties of doing business here. Indeed, if all the problems we're currently experiencing were so easily forseeable, then surely the very reason for - and greatest benefit of having - a local partner would be for them to be responsible for avoiding many of them.
If that was indeed the responsibility of the local partner - Tumas Group - then we need to be calling them to account too. The fact that their name isn't also etched into the turquise paintwork shouldn't stop us from asking what they're doing to help, if for no other reason than that they too are beneficiaries of the state subsidy.
We should, perhaps, be very careful what we wish for though; Mr Phil Humphries (below) raises the prospect that if the EU rules against the current pricing structure, then in all likelihood the fares will be standardised at the full fare, not the discounted residents' fare. Why do I think that? Well, it seems that there simply isn't enough subsidy available in Malta to run a modern, highly capital-intensive bus system at anything like the EU1.30 etc fare level for all users. Perhaps luckily, I also personally think that the EU ruling will be slow in coming as it will have ramifications in many other countries where differential pricing systems operate.
None of he above is to absolve the operator of all responsibility - but we are where we are and it seems futile to demand that they deliver all the solutions, when almost all of them are controlled by Transport Malta; and to apportion blame inappropriately while Tumas Group and, regularly, the government agency retreat from view.
S Cutajar
Jul 25th 2011, 16:43
When are you going to publish DETAILED MAPS showing every route (included new ones proposed/amended/extended as indicated last Friday? And would you be so kind as to post them online so that we would know where all bus stops are geographically positioned?
Mind you, this info. would better assist commuters when they utilise the interchanges arrangement which was supposed to be one of the pillars behind this reform!
alfred seguna
Jul 25th 2011, 16:24
It is not true that it is the drivers.If it is so than somebody stupid did not do his homework well despite the large amounts of money paid for advice.We must admit that this is another FIASCO from the same ARTIST.As long as it is the PEOPLES' money it does not matter.People will forget.I am sure that nobody will remember all the FIASCOES done since over 20 years ago.Viva Malta tac-CWIEC.
Mr Paul Caruana
Jul 25th 2011, 16:15
So reading between the lines, it would appear that it will take Arriva up to September to fill in its 100 driver deficit.
Looks like (bus A/C notwithstanding) it is going to be a long hot summer. Meantime, Arriva should be asked to prioritize service to the Bugibba area - the last thing our faltering tourist industry needs is tourists foaming at the mouth at the bugibba terminus.
Mr Paul Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 15:53
Transpaort Malta has been flooded with new employees , many from the Malta freeport. Maybe they can lend a few scores to arriva, especially the ones that do not know their job describtion yet !!!!
Anthony Busuttil
Jul 25th 2011, 15:52
If they pay decent they will find. I think that they are risking to loose more by the end of the month.
Marco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2011, 11:50
agreed
Mr John J Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 15:28
oh no still 100 drivers missing is quite a lot, exceptional efforts were done this month to recruit more drivers.....i cannot understand how they are going to reach their standard by september!!!......plus the adjustments needed for the routes may require more busses operational at the same time.....remember that the previous fleet was far more larger!!!!
Ms ANNA GRECH
Jul 25th 2011, 15:20
I think ARRIVA should find the solution to its problems.. What we expect is an efficient public transport service covering a good network like the one we had in the past and perhaps making some adjustments to improve on it. On the Bisazza Street issue it promptly imposed a fine of 1€100.000 as the company claimed there was a breach in contract but what about the poor service meted out to the commuters since it came into operation. Is that not a breach of contract? Let's hope that it is their turn to pay a fine!!
James Floris
Jul 25th 2011, 17:06
If other situations elsewhere are anything to go by, Ms Grech, the Triq-Bisazza situation will have been much bigger than a simple re-route. For a start, all the telematic equipment for the route will have been installed in the street, and all the software will have been programmed for signals to be gathered from the street transmitters.
As soon as the buses don't pass the correct transmitters in the correct order, alarms would go off to alert the controllers of a bus delay/disappearance, and all the display boards further down the route would lose their data source.
The buses themselves, notwithstanding the technology problems, would now take longer than previously scheduled as they traversed the diversion, which would put the operator into an immediate failure of standards position.
The cost of the installation of the telematics (mandated by the contract) was borne by the operator, as would be the costs of their removal and reinstallation on the diversionary route, plus the additional operational costs of fuel, wear and tear and perhaps different forecast usage figures for omitting certain stops. There would also be effects to the route schedule and standards failures mentioned above, as well as knock-on problems with the impact on the routes and schedules operated by affected buses later in the day.
None of which would have been anything to do with, or the responsibility of the operator. Instead, two of our government departments didn't talk to each other and in so doing created a problem that incurred costs and exposed potential liabilities on a third party under their contract. Accordingly, the strictures of their own contract, and the lack of flexibility that it gives to the operator, coupled with minimal relative subsidy and high levels of capital expenditure demanded of the operator, meant that a financial balancing payment was essential. If an agreement had not been reached, then the operator would have been in a strong position to take legal action against the departments that didn't communicate.
This, of course, was all agreed pre-July 3rd, when Transport Malta still apparently believed that their new system specification would work and that Triq-Bisazza would be the only problem that would have to be dealt with.....
Mr Mike Farrugia
Jul 25th 2011, 15:15
It is a well known secret that Coach drivers are paid an official minimum wage and handed cash for certain trips to avoid tax and VAT. So if Arriva calculated their wages on the info provided by government sources, they are not at fault
Ms pat muscat
Jul 25th 2011, 15:07
An other political flop and no one resigns! L-aqwa il-pozi u is-salarji tal-500 euros +fil-gimgha! Il-huta minn rasha tinten!
Phil Humphries
Jul 25th 2011, 14:55
Here's an opportunity for you to look good, Austin. - Get yourself an Arriva uniform, a Satnav and a good crash helmet.
A Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:43
I was on the Arriva website today and this is what it says and I quote
'NB: due to an excellent response from the Maltese public, applications for all positions are being evaluated and we have put a hold on accepting further applications at this time. We will of course, provide further information on this as soon as it becomes available.'
Nuff said?
Steve Elliott
Jul 25th 2011, 16:11
someones not being truthful
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 25th 2011, 14:40
I hope that this complaint arrives to the Minister's ears. At Luqa we are not being served with Public Transport. Leaving the commuters near the lidl stage to walk 10-15 minutes come rain or shine is NOT ON. We need the bus service every 20 minutes at least and which passes through lLuqa's internal road and not on the periphery. That is not a bus service. That is shambles. We know that it was the Luqa Local Council's fault which did not take part in consultations, but the people of Luqa deserve better than what the LLC wishes for its residents. We need a bus service which passes every 20 minutes and which passes through St Andrew Street (from Qrendi) Carmel Street and on to St Vincent De Paul; and Valletta; and (from Zurrieq) St Andrew Street, Church Square, St Paul Street, Valletta Road, and on to Valletta while coming back from Valletta, this bus (to Zurrieq) must pass through Valletta Road, New Street, Dun Pawl Street, St Andrew Street and on to Zurrieq. This is the way things are done and we hope that the 71 and 72 buses are changed as above. Otherwise, thank you very much Hon Minister but rid us of Arriva. They are not delivering a service to Luqa residents.
Fiona Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:32
I was all for Arriva - but the bad vibe it is giving tourists is terrible. Where is the tourism minister in all this. A new bus service that started in the peak of the tourism season, which is leaving tourists stranded and frustrated just to get to the beach not to mention to the airport or anywhere on their signhtseeing visits. What happened to the direct route buses such as 65, 645 and 652 to name a few that would take tourists straight to beaches and other important places without taking 3 hours to reach a destination???????????? I think our ministers need to get their behinds in gear and action things before it is too late and we end up like Greece!!!!
A Cordina
Jul 25th 2011, 14:20
From http://www.arriva.com.mt/work-with-us?l=1:
NB: due to an excellent response from the Maltese public, applications for all positions are being evaluated and we have put a hold on accepting further applications at this time. We will of course, provide further information on this as soon as it becomes available.
Mr Bernard Farrugia
Jul 25th 2011, 15:05
hahaha
A Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 15:46
Our posts were probably in the queue together :)
Charles Zammit
Jul 25th 2011, 14:16
If Arriva will give the drivers an adequate wage, they will find as many as they require to settle the present service problem
Mr Charles camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:35
Remember adequate wages and conditions have to be met by adequate bus fares.
Tony Zammit
Jul 25th 2011, 14:39
agree with you 100%............. for 35 Euro part time job is better..
Adrian Pavia
Jul 25th 2011, 14:48
ifhem jekk 14000 mhix paga adekwata ma nafx jien. P.S. xufier qalli li jaqla' hekk jekk gideb ma nafx.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jul 25th 2011, 15:49
Why doesn't someone say what these drivers' total wages will be?
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 22:42
Mr Tony Gatt since you seem to be happy with the wages the drivers were getting, why don't you volunteer to work with NON-Arriva-L for that wage?
Marc Alan Spiteri
Jul 26th 2011, 16:25
@Mr Adrian Pavia - ic-cifra li smajt jien hija ta' xi 230 a week
Mr M Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 14:12
I cannot understand how with all the comments written on this website plus all the letters published in the Times , they are now saying that complaints were made about only 18 routes.
The reform announced does not include any Bus that leaves from Sliema Ferries to replace Bus 645 to Cirkewwa , A bus which is needed baldly in summer. Bus 11 is of no use to anyone who tries to board it from Sliema.
The old 63 has not been replaced. At the moment we are told to use Bus 32 which geos all round the island before coming to the centre of Sliema. This route is going to be changed with Bus 32 passing trough Rue D'Argens up to Savoy and back to Valletta by the same route. Although the new route is not very clear is seems that it will now by pass the centre.
Something must be done about the number of standing passengers allowed on bendy buses. The two bus 11 that passed me by this morning ( from Cirkewwa to Valletta ) were packed. Should they be so full ??
Kathryn Zahra
Jul 25th 2011, 15:45
The bendy buses can hold up to 84 standing passengers. Nevertheless, I don't know the level of "packed" you are referring to.
A Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 16:23
In my opinion, NO passengers should be allowed to stand on those dangerous things. Seated passengers only. Better still GET RID!
Mario Pace
Jul 25th 2011, 17:07
No thay shouldn't be that full, only about 15 standing passengers but there are so few buses running such long journeys that they are being packed like sardines or anchovies!!!
Kathryn Zahra
Jul 25th 2011, 18:20
@Mr. Pace: Oh.God. The bendy buses can hold up to 84 standing passengers. This.Is.Written.Inside.The.Bendy.Buses.Themselves.
Carmel Zammit
Jul 25th 2011, 14:09
I believe it was the same Dr. Gatt who on the eve of the launch of the new Arriva Bus Service went as far as declaring an end the the "buzulotti". Of "buzullotti" we have had our full but now we seem to have moved to an enhanced type of "buzulotti" in the form of a never ending "farsa". With bus service on route 62 reduced from one every 20mins as it was under the old system to now officially one bus every 30 mins under the Arriva arrangment and unofficially one every hour or so at certain times in the early evening for Mondays to Saturdays. To top it all under the new Arriva arrangment bus service 62 is scheduled at one every hour on Sunday. It was one every 30 mins under the old system. Bus service at Siggiewi is gone backwards by at least 40 years. How about that for what the Minister calls progress??
Ms D Galea
Jul 25th 2011, 14:03
Am I to understand that out there, there are 100 unemployed people who find it more worthwhile to live on unemployment benefits then apply for a job with Arriva as a driver?
Fiona Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:34
I ask myself the same thing
E SCIBERRAS
Jul 25th 2011, 14:48
Exactly. It is much easier to live on benefits than having to work for your money.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 13:47
Hekk jippjana tajjeb Agostino Pio u d-dipartimenti u awtoritajiet tiegħu!!!!!!!
James Dewar
Jul 25th 2011, 13:47
"By September"!!??? What year?
Is it the case that, even allowing for the "no show" drivers who have so far been given most of the blame for the state of the service, Arriva commenced operations without the full compliment of trained drivers necessary to provide the promised service and to provide the resilience required to cover sicknesss, holidays and other unforesen circumstances?
Mr Stanley Fenech
Jul 25th 2011, 14:32
Would you expect driver with 30 years experience in driving, and an accident free history to be employed as a driver with the public transport in the UK even if he/she is not fluent in English? How would you help or give any directions to an old Maltese speaking person who might not be able to understand English (which is not a necessity for him to live comfortably in his home country)?
Mr Graham Holme
Jul 25th 2011, 13:46
As an ex bus,coach driver from the UK, with 30 years experience,residing in Malta.I would love to apply for one of the vacant positions,but I refuse to work for the 35 euros a day on offer,an insult,plus my inability to speak fluent Maltese,plus a few tattoos on my neck,rules me out completely,seems like some things are more important,than over 30 years accident free driving
Mr Joseph N. Attard
Jul 25th 2011, 14:01
Inability to speak fluent Maltese? Then how do you expect to swear back at your passengers?! :-)
Mario Pace
Jul 25th 2011, 14:15
It's 35 euros on top of their 8 hour shift pay, which in a week amounts to about 300 euros but that is still lacking behind other european drivers and the need to adjust to big 12 m buses and bendy dangerous coaches.
There are no job applications coming through for drivers to train up on the Arriva site or from other sources. Tatooes do not rule you out. They just want them covered up but that's discrimination in the summer heat, although I won't have one for anything.
Mario Pace
Jul 25th 2011, 14:16
It's 35 euros on top of their 8 hour shift pay, which in a week amounts to about 300 euros but that is still lacking behind other european drivers and the need to adjust to big 12 m buses and bendy dangerous coaches.
There are no job applications coming through for drivers to train up on the Arriva site or from other sources. Tatooes do not rule you out. They just want them covered up but that's discrimination in the summer heat, although I won't have one for anything.
James Dewar
Jul 25th 2011, 15:04
Yes,Graham, sad as it may be, according to the word of Arriva, your inability to speak fluent Maltese coupled with your neck tatoos does clearly mean that you must be incapable of driving a passenger carrying vehicle competently and safely!! Their logic, especially in the current "emergency" situation escapes me, but so also does the logic of the two - tier fare system, the "scenic" indirect routes network and the introduction of a new transport system with inadequate personnel at the height of the tourist season!
mark leaver
Jul 25th 2011, 15:50
I have put in a request for a transfer to Arriva Malta, I currently work for Arriva in England. They agreed to me starting in October, this was agreed in may and im still waiting for my start date! I am currently learning Maltese, but there was no talk of me knowing it fluently as that would be an impossibility until i move there? Thought they would be sending me begging letters by now to start driving over there but no word as yet!!
Victor Boyde
Jul 25th 2011, 15:50
Dear Mr Holme, tattoes are a fashion and a statement to many. However, a wage of 35euro is extremely poor. They should be paying £10.00 Maltese lira (rate is equivalent to 2,3 euro per Maltese pound) an hour. Then you will see a queue for Their H/O to Sliema.
Kathryn Zahra
Jul 25th 2011, 16:09
The misinformation in these comments... Mr Holme perhaps you should stick with the first argument, that is, you refuse to work for 35€ a day. Your inability to speak fluent Maltese has nothing to do with this. With regards to the tattoos, may I remind some of you that those having to wear long sleeves do so in buses, most of which offer air condition. Mr Dewar, the new transport system was not planned to feature "inadequate personnel" - this was a direct result of the circumstances that occurred just as the service started. I think it was wise for Arriva to introduce the system now; at least in this way they can hire subcontractors to help them out where needed (a service which would have been unavailable in September).
Oh and Mr. Dewar, from where did you pull this out? "...according to the word of Arriva, your inability to speak fluent Maltese coupled with your neck tatoos does clearly mean that you must be incapable of driving a passenger..." What word? When did they say so?
Mr Graham Holme
Jul 25th 2011, 16:48
Hahaha,Mr Attard,great sense of humor,love it,but sure I could get by,the universal sign language,2 fingers
Mr Dewar,I have 30 years experience,both ,bus,continental coach driving,accident free,but I am ruled out for reasons stated(Is Arriva giving the English drivers coming to Malta a crash course in Maltese?)Also one of the small tattoos on my neck is that of the Maltese cross,can not get more patriotic than that?
Mr Pace,the summer heat,I would have to drive in a polo neck sweater,or wear a scarf .I am sure the travelling public could not care less if the driver sports tattoos or not as long as he,or she is courteous,polite,officiant ,a good safe driver,and punctual
Anthony Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 18:43
@ mark leaver
Now, here's a chap who took the bulls by the horns - learning Maltese is no easy task for anyone outside these shores!
-
Mark, I would just love to hear your accent in Maltese when you finally make it here! Good Luck!
mark leaver
Jul 25th 2011, 19:42
@ Anthony Borg. I only think its fair that we learn the Maltese language. Its definitely not an easy language, but I respect that it is required for employment with arriva
Anthony Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 21:03
@ Mark Leaver
First and foremost you must learn to say : " Ersqu Lura Jekk jogħġobkom!" (Move back please).
Those standing up have a nasty habit of congregating behind the driver's cabin blocking the aisle.
:-)
Hope to see you here Mark!
E. Azzopardi
Jul 25th 2011, 13:42
It is definitely not their fault. It was a big blunder to guarantee a ten year job, over and above the amount of money given, to the previous inefficient and unappreciated drivers. They confirmed all this by their selfish actions. But, let us see as a positiive step. Everybody saw it coming except a few!!!!! Good riddens.
R Axisa
Jul 25th 2011, 13:25
"it is due to present a statement to the authorities today or tomorrow about how it will bring the bus service up to the required standard by September."
We were supposed to be supplied with a 'state of the art service' from the beginning! This is riduculous! And in the meantime, il-poplu jibqa' jsaffar, while the big boys enjoy the benefit of luxurious cars like Jaguars, BMWs, etc. I challenge these big boys to make use of the public transport themselves and feel what the public is feeling. Disgrace!
Anthony Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 21:08
"Arriva Subito!"
Mr twanny borg
Jul 25th 2011, 13:20
mhux ahjar ihalsu tajjeb jekk iridu jsibu xufiera maltin!
S. Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 13:18
Could this be a result of the princely wage of €35 per 8 hour shift?
Ms F Goodwin
Jul 25th 2011, 14:32
It's really depressing that people still believe this misinformation.
The sum of 35 euros refers to the 35 euros compensation they get for working a split shift, ON TOP OF their hourly wage.
E SCIBERRAS
Jul 25th 2011, 14:36
Please get your facts right. Thirty five Euros is over and above the daily wage.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 25th 2011, 15:24
parrots speak louder than facts. especially red parrots who want to destroy Arriva and thinking that the vulgar and criminal bus drivers w e had will be back. Nada man. they are gone forever.
S. Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 16:00
@ALL
I know that fact but that's the information that Joe Public and prospective drivers know and no sane man/woman will apply for a job paying that much.
Plus the actual hourly rate is only slightly better than €35 per 8 hours
Carmel Cilia
Jul 25th 2011, 16:00
The weekly wage is just 180 euros for a 40 hour week. The 35 extra euro is for a split shift and this according to the agreement should only apply once a week so the wage is 180euros plus 35 euros for a split shift. Out of this one has then to pay his weekly contribution and Income tax.
That means less than 200 euros home take pay. However it seems to certain people that this is quite a reasonable wage. Kemm kemm ma tmutx bil guh.
Tony Zammit
Jul 25th 2011, 18:39
Ms F Goodwin" 35 Euros a day one also get additional 35 euros compensation if his/her shift is more then 12hrs.
"Most cases" most of the drivers shift is no more then 11.5 Hrs..
Now you know...these drivers work 11.5 Hrs
Nik Xuereb Conti
Jul 25th 2011, 13:18
Who bright idea was is to implement the new bus system in the peak of Malta's tourism season?
Mr Charles camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:38
I think there had to be a chose of either during the tourists' season or during the school days.
James Dewar
Jul 25th 2011, 14:53
It was whoever swallowed Arriva's propoganda hook, line and sinker! No doubt they probably still believe the moon is made of cheese as well!!
B. Pollacco
Jul 25th 2011, 16:00
its better than making US students MISS OUR LECTURES because of the implementation of the new buses !
M Sciberras
Jul 25th 2011, 13:17
Is the shortage due to low wages on offer I wonder....
Malta is not so rich as to have foreign drivers manning her buses.
Peter Pace O'Shea
Jul 25th 2011, 13:11
The problem is: who do you address? Arriva, Transport Malta, but I am sure that the final responsibility falls on the minister. In my opinion the minister of transport should have left the same routes and simply started by having new (not reconditioned) busses, decently dressed drivers, clean and airconditiond busses and an efficient and punctual system. Once that would have been in place and the people would certainly have been happy, then he shoud have gone to the second stage of fine tuning the routes to try and accomodate as many commuters as possible. To take one simple example, Kappara residents have lost the bus stop they used to wait at to go to Valletta.
The change had no vision and the mission was a mess. I still feel that the minister should resign as he has failed to meet what the people expected by right. This is what democracy is all about after all.
P Buħaġiar
Jul 25th 2011, 13:03
Darba waħda waqt parata militari, wieħed suldat ma kienx qiegħed iżomm mal-linja ma sħabu is-suldati l-oħra. Mar fuqu il-fizzjal u ġibidlu l-attenzjoni li qiegħed barra il-linja. U is-suldat wieġbu, 'Skużi ta jien tajjeb qiegħed, l-oħrajn qegħdin ħażin'.
Għal PN kulħadd hażin barra huma.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 25th 2011, 15:21
il-hrafa li rrakkuntajt tista tapplika ghalik inifsek. Kemm hu facli tipponta subghajk lejn haddiehor meta tlieta qed jippuntaw lejk.
Ray Gatt
Jul 25th 2011, 13:02
Arriva should improve conditions for drivers. Then and only then will they get their full compliment of drivers.
D Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 13:00
how many persons are receiving unemployment benefits?
Mario Pace
Jul 25th 2011, 12:56
Where do you apply to train up to be a driver?
I haven't seen any ads yet.
E SCIBERRAS
Jul 25th 2011, 14:32
Please read yesterdays Sunday Times of Malta. There was a big advert requesting Drivers with ARRIVA.
Mr William Pierce
Jul 25th 2011, 14:37
There was an Arriva advert for Drivers in Yesterdays Times of Malta Classified.
I know someone who put in an application over one week ago with refs and police conduct certificate but has yet to hear a thing.
Ivan Camilleri
Jul 25th 2011, 14:41
Mario, apparently, 1000+ people applied for the job.....i guess they already have a waiting list to pick from...
Mr C Cassar
Jul 25th 2011, 14:45
No adverts in Malta because the Maltese aren't up to working in a modern disciplined transport environment. They're looking for drivers in other countries who have the experience of working in a modern transport operation. The Maltese had their chance. It's not as if a handful caused problems but closer to 200 of them. It was quite predictable but Arriva had their hands tied since it was a government decision to guarantee jobs for the old Maltese drivers.
Still, at least using those from abroad we likeley to get a proper service once they manage to fully staff up again.
Alfred Gatt
Jul 25th 2011, 12:55
How is it that they cannot find more Maltese drivers? What is the main and real problem that is causing this lack of recruits?
Mr Jo Camm
Jul 25th 2011, 13:55
Very simple reply. Some still want to discredit Arriva and the Government, while others do not dare apply as they might be victimised.
Claude MALEY
Jul 25th 2011, 12:55
I am mesmerised that fares have increased by close to 250% and now as a non-Maltese living in Malta I have to pay double the already exhorbitant fare, unless I show ID (!!!!!). Is this a police state???
WHY has the fare risen so much? WHY do non-Maltese still have to pay DOUBLE? Tourists I meet are discusted at this segregation - and some will be taking this up with the EU as discrimination.
So - WHO is doing anything about this?
Phil Humphries
Jul 25th 2011, 14:48
You could ask Austin Gatt, but he'll probably have retired from politics before you get an answer, so don't hold your breath.
And when the EP orders the fares to be equalised, and they are equalised at the tourist rate, does anyone think that the man who started this whole mess will give a fig ? - Yeah, of course he will. As if !
Alastair Ives
Jul 25th 2011, 15:42
So many things wrong with this. Firstly the claim that fares are exorbitant - they remain amongst the cheapest in Europe, and it's unclear if it is even a fare increase, it depends on your route. Granted it will be an increase in some circumstances, but you would still pay much more for the same length of bus journey pretty much anywhere else in Europe.
Secondly, if you are a non-Maltese living in Malta you are eligible for an ID card, which is free - show it and you will pay resident rates. If a driver sees someone who 'looks Maltese' or is speaking Maltese get on a bus they probably won't bother checking their ID, but that is not discrimination, it is just avoidance of a pointless measure because they already know the person in question is a resident, if you look like you're not from here they're going to be more likely to check you live here, which is just common sense.
Thirdly, tourists pay more for two very good reasons. For one, Maltese residents typically use buses in Malta a lot more over the course of a year, so they get a discount for buying in bulk. That is not unique to Malta, there are resident/bulk discounts for frequent users in the majority of public transport systems, if not all of them. Also Maltese taxpayers foot a huge annual subsidy (if I remember right €6M) to Arriva.
Mrs Carmen Borg
Jul 25th 2011, 12:48
Stop blaming the inefficiencies of Arriva on drivers. Blame it on your incompetence at planning and research.
Carlos Espinal
Jul 25th 2011, 12:48
I do not care where are the drivers from. Just get them now!
Ms Francesca Abela
Jul 25th 2011, 12:43
ALWAYS the same excuse, always the Bus drivers excuse, why dont Arriva see the WASTED and EMPTY buses on unpopular routes like the 119, and 124 in Marsascala and put the Buses and Drivers to good use by having MORE direct buses from Marsasscala to Valletta from Zonqor, Siberia and St Thomas bay.
E SCIBERRAS
Jul 25th 2011, 14:39
If I read correctly in the Sunday Times yesterday the Marsascala 'internal' route is going to run as before. Also the route from Cospicua to Zabbar and Marsascala is also going to start operating again.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Mark Galea
Jul 25th 2011, 12:34
If arriva reduces these round about sighseeing trips (see the 41/11) , then the drivers can be available earlier for more trips.
Mark Galea
Jul 25th 2011, 12:34
If arriva reduces these round about sighseeing trips (see the 41/11) , then the drivers can be available earlier for more trips.
Y Zammit
Jul 25th 2011, 12:32
Imho, the biggest problem with the routes is that people still perefer to buy their tickets on the bus, whislt the routes are modelled after european countries, where you buy bulk of tickets from the machines! Now that saves a ton of time!