Michael J. Barnes, Mosta
Buses that never seem to get there on time
For 30 years I have enjoyed the privately-owned yellow buses, their drivers and their idiosyncrasies. Then came Arriva.
For the last two mornings I have aimed to catch the 41 bus from Mosta to Mellieħa at 9.50 a.m. On neither occasion did the bus arrive. The next scheduled bus duly arrived at 10.20 a.m. full to the rafters but on each occasion I was admitted.
However, my sympathies go to the other would-be passengers between Mosta and Mellieħa who were left standing at the bus stops as we ignored their requests to join the bus. As a tourist I feel for those people who obviously were trying to get to the beach or to Gozo with their children. According to the schedule there are six buses an hour from Mosta to Buġibba, most of which are sparsely used, probably due to their frequency. It would seem to make far more sense to reduce the 31 service even by one bus per hour and use that bus on the 41 route, which, in theory, only runs two buses per hour.
Malta being a member of the EU it presumably abides by its laws concerning discrimination. Why, therefore, is the tourist being discriminated against by having to pay double the locals’ fare?
Malta wants tourism but...
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Roy Schembri
Aug 28th 2011, 14:51
Has the tourist minister made any comment whatsoever on the matter ? Or is he frightened Dr Gatt will slap him down. Perhaps Gatt should take over the role and save us the tourists ministers salary which he clearly is not earning.
The matter is being 'looked into' by the E.U. but why can't they just haul Arriva and the Government before the European courts and order them to remove this blatant discrimination.
James Wightman
Aug 28th 2011, 10:04
Use a bike. Its free good exercise and you'll get there in half the time even at minimal effort and sweat. At least you won't be at Arriva's timing - you'll be calling the shots - its called independence.
Mr R.E. Saliba
Aug 28th 2011, 11:19
Boycotting is an option.
Anthony Borg
Aug 28th 2011, 14:22
Dear Mr. Wightman, kindly advise where is your cycle shop located and the opening hours.
Thank you
Mr C Cassar
Aug 28th 2011, 07:22
If all Maltese aspects of involvment in Arriva were removed, the system would operate like clockwork. 'management', drivers and third party interests that are Maltese are causing the recent problems because they have absolutely no experience of anything to do with a modern transport infratstructure nor it's maintenance or long term objectives.
Mr R.E. Saliba
Aug 28th 2011, 11:20
Let's remove the Maltese aspect of 'commuters' too, shall we?
Arriva would then function pefectly well.
The foolish circular routes are the problem Mr. Cassar, not the Maltese.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 28th 2011, 22:19
Mr C Cassar why don't you return where you came from and tell it to those in your country and not to us.
Mr R.E. Saliba don't you know that for Cassar everything Maltese is wrong and bad and everything foreign is good?
I wonder why a foreigner with a Maltese surname hates Malta and the Maltese so much.
Gary Jameson
Aug 27th 2011, 18:15
From my recent experience of using the bus service, it seems that Arriva have given up and resigned themselves to providing a sub-standard service.
For example, why are none of the information systems working at the bus stops? Why are buses driving around with route numbers stuck to the windscreen as under the old system? etc, etc ....
It seems that forces within the old system (former ATP drivers, Transport Malta, Government) really did want Malta to have a modern bus service and are doing their damned to ensure that Arriva do not deliver ...
Mr Joseph Calleja
Aug 27th 2011, 12:56
I believe that having a two tier fare is very discriminating and unfair to anybody.. So what happens when a man of colour rides the Arriva bus? What happens with a Maltese citizen who lives overseas and does not have an ID card? Why the discrimination when we preach equality and integration? Where is the equality in charging a different fare on who you are? Or does that fall under the convenience of Maltese politics? The only special fares should be for senior citizens and students. Passengers trying to catch a bus from Mosta to St Pauls Bay, Xemxija, Mellieha, Ghadira and Cirkewwa are out of luck because the buses are already filled beyond those points, and that happens on the reverse trip going to Valletta. Arriva, the bus that never arrives on time. Good going Dr Austin Gatt.
Caroline Young
Aug 27th 2011, 12:41
More complaints, but they dont give a damn. its a waste of time emailing because nothing really happens nearly two monthes on and still a crap service
Anthony Borg
Aug 27th 2011, 17:52
@ Caroline Young
I understand your frustration. Like you I am a daily commuter and make it a point that as soon as I arrive home, I unload all my Arriva frustration in an email.
Perhaps it is a waste of time, perhaps not. We should keep at it as we have no other choice.
That’s the price of a monopoly on such an important public service.
I will be the first one to leave an apology to Arriva, but by now it is evident that things will only get worse.
The Transport ministry through Transport Malta does not give two hoots. They send youths with yellow overalls to help commuters but the buses are still late, still infrequent and still too small in number to cater for a full-blown, decent service.
The name Arriva has become the brunt of jokes and disdain.
A nice, elderly English lady waiting at the outpatients at Mater Dei was telling me we could not have contracted with a more worse public transport operator.
< 17:50>
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 27th 2011, 11:52
Most bus companies would give their eye-teeth to have as many customers as would fill all their buses. Maybe it's different in Malta but I see many Arriva buses in Chester less than half-full.
Perhaps they could send you some buses over!
Mr David Willow
Aug 27th 2011, 10:51
Malta has only agreed on not discriminating on the grounds of nationality - the bus fares are supposedly based in residency....personally dont agree with the fare structure but thats the way it is until it gets changed when the much needed tourists cash stream runs dry and Malta decides to stop fleecing the tourist in the name of being fair to the residents and tax payers of Malta.
Philip Pryce
Aug 27th 2011, 10:17
It is not discrimination against tourists. The buses are subsidised from our taxes in Malta. We get a reduced fare because of this. You pay the normal price. Do you really think 12 Euros for 7 days daytime travelling is expensive?
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 27th 2011, 16:41
It's not the price, it's the discrimination that counts. This is a P.R. disaster.
As it happens I don't think the 'tourist' day ticket is expensive- I'll have to pay that when I'm in Malta.