Arriva: Buses should run on time from Monday
Commuter numbers up 20% from August last year
Commuters should as from Monday expect buses to turn up according to schedule, the managing director of Arriva Malta, Keith Bastow, said this afternoon.
Speaking at a press conference he acknowledged the problems his company has endured in the past two months since it introduced the bus service in Malta but said that a lot of progress had been made.
The company, he said, had recruited 160 drivers since July and now that their training was complete, buses should run on schedule from Monday.
Mr Bastow said the driver shortage at the launch of the service - caused when a large number of drivers walked away - had meant that frequency was reduced.
Since then, he said, Arriva had set up an ongoing driver programme. It was hoped that by October, the company would no longer need foreign drivers to man its buses - there are currently 70.
"Services have demonstrably improved and we are pleased to see an overall marked improvement in reliability from our records, reinforced by fewer customer complaints and encouraging feedback from the public reporting better service experience. Early indications are that we carried around 20 per cent more passengers than the previous operator did in the similar period last year, which whilst it is too early to be representative of any wider trends, is very encouraging," Mr Bastow said.
He said that queries, feedback and complaints had kept Arriva's Customer Care Centre busy, with almost 65,000 calls since 3 July. However, Mr Bastow pointed out, that the average number of daily customer complaints in August fell to 132 – less than a quarter of a per cent of those who travelled – as a further sign of perceived improvements.
He said that Arriva over the past weeks introduced 10 new Optare Hybrid buses.
"The reaction to our drivers and the new standards of customer service on buses has attracted praise from passengers – I am very proud of our team and want to thank the drivers and other employees who have worked so hard to help us turn things around and improve services for our passengers."
Mr Bastow acknowledged there was still more to be done to improve the service.
"We are monitoring the network closely in preparation for any potential issues which may arise anywhere, at any time – and we are still learning to better deal with difficult situations where roads are closed for periods of time, such as the ministerial visit from the Czech (Slovak) Republic this week."
He said the company had identified a number of challenging routes where improvement work is ongoing.
"For example, Arriva will continue to focus extra resource on routes 11, 12 and 13, 31 and 91 which can suffer delays from congestion and from overcrowding issues at certain times. We will continue to monitor and address challenges on these routes, including committing additional buses at busy times where possible. We will continue to monitor emerging trends into September and this coming season and will work hard to alleviate the challenges.
He added, that Route 41 which had also met with high demand, would be assisted by the introduction of the new X6 limited stop, fast service from Cirkewwa/ Mellieha to Valletta.
NEW DIRECT SERVICES TO MATER DEI
Mr Bastow said that improvements in the pipeline for the coming weeks included new direct services from various localities to Mater Dei Hospital and the University as from October 2. The absence of those services were among the most frequent source of complaints over the past weeks.
Arriva, he said, received an average of 131 complaints every day last month.
Piers Marlow, director, said he was satisfied with the progress made in the past two months, but more remained to be done, including the system to inform commuters on waiting times in real time.
He said that new routes and adjustments to existing routes, announced over the past few days, would come into force tomorrow.
Mr Bastow said Arriva is also in the process of refurbishing 28 low-floor buses from the old service. They are being fitted with air conditioning and will also produce less harmful emissions than before.
Reacting to complaints made yesterday by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Mr Bastow said tourists were an important sector of the company's customer base, but the routes were decided by Transport Malta, not Arriva. He noted, however, that improvements had been made in some routes, benefiting tourists.
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Chris Galea
Sep 13th 2011, 19:45
They have never run on time, are still not running on time, and I suspect they never will. 31 bus is a complete disaster.
There is a limit how much people will tolerate this incompetence and Non-Arriva are really testing it.
A Caruana
Sep 12th 2011, 12:11
Quote- For example, Arriva will continue to focus extra resource on routes 11, 12 and 13, 31 and 91 which can suffer delays from congestion and from overcrowding issues at certain times. We will continue to monitor and address challenges on these routes, including committing additional buses at busy times where possible. We will continue to monitor emerging trends into September and this coming season and will work hard to alleviate the challenges. The challenge of Bus no 91 dear Mr Barstow is simply to get this friggin bus up Triq il Qaliet and out from Triq il- Gardiel, Then you will solve 75 per cent of the complaints from residents, it is not rocket science but a basic fact of life. One doesn't have to be the village idiot to understand this basic concept. Residents have been deprived of the old bus routes 17, 19 and 20 which used to pass from this very long street and highly populated area, now we have a zero service uinless we take a hike come sun or very soon come rain. Giving residents a mini van every hour instead of a direct Valletta bus every 10 mins as promised is none other then cheating and fraud.
Mrs M. Attard
Sep 12th 2011, 13:33
Arriva or non Arrival as funnily stated by Johnny il Kajboy is a no hoper that is run and managed by totally incompetent people who have shown us Marsascala residents time and time again that they do not even know this locality. If they did they would have honoured their pronmise that Route Bus number 91 would pass from the siberia area. It also shows us the total lack of respect from Transport Malta and the Minister responsible for this sorry state of affairs. Must we all go on hunger strike to finally see Marsascala - a locality with over 10, 000 permanent residents, some 250 ex- Pats and some 2000 summer residents to finally get a decent bus service to Valletta? All it takes is not a drastic change of route but only an extension of the route to service the area which has the most residents, why is this so hard for the idiots at Arriva and Transport Malta to comprehend??
Marco Farrugia
Sep 12th 2011, 11:05
Today:
I experienced delays at Zurrieq... Same for my colleague in St Lucija.
A Caruana
Sep 12th 2011, 08:51
WHERE IS BUS NO 91 PASSING FROM TRIQ IL QALIET AS PROMISED MR BARSTOW??? ARRIVA HAD STATED THAT THIS BUS WOULD BE REVISED TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE LOCALITY BUT AGAIN ANOTHER 'REVISION' AND MARSASCALA IS ONCE AGAIN LEFT OUT. MELA AHNA SECOND CLASS CITIZENS GHAX MA NITKELLMUX B;-INGLIZ FIN NAHA T'ISFEL TA' MALTA? WHAT ABOUT OUR STUDENTS GOING TO JUNIOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COME OCTOBER? DO THEY HAVE TO WALK 30 MINUTES IN THE RAIN TO GET TO A BUS WHICH DOES NOT EVEN GO DIRECTLY TO COLLEGE BUT THEY HAVE TO CHANGE AT PAOLA AGAIN. VERA SEWWA QAL JOHN BUNDY - PAJJIZ TAL MICKEY MOUSE DAN! ISSA ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - WHAT ARE MARSASCALA RESIDENTS GOING TO DO ABOUTH THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS? ACCEPT IT AND GRUMBLE IN THE SHOPS? OR TAKE DRASTIC ACTION?
A Cordina
Sep 12th 2011, 06:47
This morning there was no X6 bus at Cirkewwa! A very good 2nd start indeed...
Anthony Pace
Sep 11th 2011, 21:25
9/11 was here to-day.
So what was the verdict? Improvement or not.
Perhaps someone could get a barometric reading and commuters could vote on it.
Ms pat muscat
Sep 11th 2011, 17:39
I've been to Mellieha Bay and I saw some 50 people walking up the village in the heat (some with prams) cause they got fed up of waiting for an empty Arriva ! bus!
Lawrence Anastasi
Sep 11th 2011, 17:23
If you beleive the routes will run on time then you must beleive in the tooth fairy as well. Are the rude drivers being dealt with? They don't even stop and pick up passengers when the bus is empty, it is like a game to them. I rode thse buses for the past 3 weeks while holidaying in Malta, drivers are rude, don't stop to pick up passenegers when they don't feel like it. They talk on their cells phones while driving and overall don't give a damn about the job or customers!!! The routes are rediculous, not all the busses have A/C and you bake since the windows don't open. The transfer points such as Marsa is confusion all the time for the drivers. As soon as word gets out to the travel media to tourists that using the buses in Malta is expensive and you waste your time to get from place to place you will see less tourists. Two hours minimum for where ever I went, busses are full, schedules make no sense. Once again as they say, " Only in Malta." The government should be embarrased for this fiasco and ruining a wonderful efficient system. Well done!! On a positive note I did find a few, very few good drivers but not enought to undue the damage.
David Farrugia
Sep 11th 2011, 14:12
I thought with the new routes some of the problems would be solved. But they didn't. Route 202 takes a passenger from Rabat to Mater Dei. However the bus do not stop at Mater Dei but a half a kilometer away from the hospital to Tal-Qroqq Bus stop. Can someone tell me it is not oppression to walk half a kilometer in the baking sun or in a rainy day to get to your destination. In London, there are no such exchanges - especially the Underground.
Mr M Borg
Sep 11th 2011, 11:06
@Nadya Depasquale ( yeaterday 20.43 )
" The officail said that no buses would be passing through Dingli Street anymore ......... and people could just walk to the Ferries, after all it wasn't that far . "
Why be surprised by this answer. These people do not know Sliema. To them Sliema means " the Ferries " , they do not know that Sliema is built on a hill and that it is no joke being made to walk from the Ferries up to the centre rain or shine !!
When I asked why Bus 32 would not be serving Sliema anymore, I was told that this was done to reduce traffic from Rudolph Street . Buses have always made use of Rudolph Street and Dingli Street before, we never had any problems with them. To " reduce traffic from Roudolph Street " buses are now being directed to Mrabat !! this must be their greatest joke. Mrabat cannot take all these buses.
It would seem that this decision was taken because of all the videos that Joe Morana was sending showing buses blocking Roudolh Street. They must have realised that this was happening with buses that were coming out of Mrabat, there would not have been any problem if the buses followed the old routes i.e up Rue D'Argens .
They do not know or care about the great number of Sliema residents that make use of buses in the Savoy area. To Arriva customer care Mrabot is Savoy !!
PS. You have somthing wrong with this website, It starts " skipping " to the previous lines if you stop to correct something
FRANS H SAID
Sep 11th 2011, 10:34
DO NOT IGNORE THE OLD ROUTES. Mr Prime Minister, take this in your hands and install the bulk of the old routes. Find out why certain councils wanted to eliminate certain routes. Find out why Agostino and TM made a mess. THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU.
The impression I have, and so do many others, is that the Nationalists are going out of their way to antagonise the people with the hope of NOT being re-elected as they do not have good members and are afraid how to tackle the problems (hidden) facing them.
Come on Mr Prime Minister, make a crear cut statement without trying to cirvcumvent the issue.
Mr R.E. Saliba
Sep 11th 2011, 10:13
It's always about MATER DEI... what about ST. LUKE'S? There is a whole medical complex functioning there, second only to Mater Dei and set to increase as more government infrastructure is shifted into that patch of land.
Mr Paul Micallef
Sep 11th 2011, 10:01
Well mate come to Bugiba and you can speak to the TOURISTS and you can get an earfull.
Is it nice living in the colouds??? No simple matters DISSASTRU, when the school starts you will see caos, it will be hell on earth, kif ha lahqu???? i hope that the schools will make sure that our kids are not left behind, and left to the resbonsability of the CLEANER, as all other staff will hop it. Is there a plan??? I dont want to sound doom and glom, but summer is nearly over, school is around the corner. Eh I heard thet the EDUCATION DIVISION has had talks with the MINITER to introduce a payment from students so they can use the tansport service, is this TRUE?? please elaborate???? nothing surprises me from 47c to 1.50 euro, just because we have a better service, u halluna and get the army in.
Anthony Pace
Sep 11th 2011, 09:40
Mr Bastow said last month that the service will be reliable from 9/11, now he's saying from 9/12!! he's contradicting himself again. Mater Dei services not running properly until October. That's to coincide with the opening of the university. what happens next summer. The time-table gets put back on the burner.
English joke!!! HA1Ha!
David Grech
Sep 11th 2011, 09:30
Kindly cut this crap, TM and Arriva.
Please provide us with a decent service at Theuma bus stop (Gebel San Martin area) at Zejtun as used to be with the old system.
You have no excuse this time because my wife and I have provided you with many complaints and alternatives during these last 2 months. You removed route 124 to accommodate others.
I invite you to try and walk uphill for about 15 minutes from bus stop Theuma to bus stop Diacono to catch a bus to Valletta (route 81) in heavy rain and during the recent summer time .
A Caruana
Sep 12th 2011, 11:54
David, we in the south of Malta are considered as inferior by Arriva and Transport Malta, because they arranged the routes for the other areas but in the Souith like Marsascala, Zejtun and Cottonera nothing tangible has changed. Tal Misthija .
SILVANA AGIUS
Sep 11th 2011, 08:50
PROSET..PROSETHAFNA TA ROUTE GDIDA 43....GEJNA TAJJEB NIES TA HAL-LIJA, MINAJR SERVIZ..BIEX HA TAQDU LIS STUDENTI, NEHHEJTU LI TIDHOL LIJA....sewwa jghid il malti /nzarmaw knisja u narmaw ohra! NISPERA LI TERGA TIGI GHAL NORMAL 43.....LEWWEL TIDHOL HAL LIJA ////FEJN IT TORRI...UMBAGHAD TMUR NAXXAR! Ma tantx domhna ferhanin li ghandna bus tidhol fejn torri.
GRAZZI U NISPERA LI TITRANGA IS SITWAZZJONI.S,AGIUS
Andre Fenech
Sep 11th 2011, 08:36
May I suggest something very simple to Arriva which will save a huge amount of time in commuting. Can they make some sort of agreement with grocery shops, stationers and other retail outlets to start selling tickets like in other countries. The same could be applied to Hotels for Tourists where people would be able to buy tickets beforehand and thus save time for the other commuters. I must admit that the biggest delays I've experienced thus far have been at each bus stop because it takes ages for people to buy their tickets. I'm not suggesting to eliminate the current system of buying the tickets from the bus drivers, but this could come at a higher price.This is what happens all across Europe.
Anthony Pace
Sep 11th 2011, 09:36
The amount of time spent selling tickets is mininal as this happened before anaway. The time wasted is trying to manipulate a large coach on a maltese road and having to be careful not to hit another car. It add 10 minutes to a straight forward journey. Money is in short supply at present. The biggest need is to increase the number of buses on the road and direct destinations as with the old routes.
Mr Joe B Edwards
Sep 11th 2011, 10:00
http://arriva.com.mt/client-type <- you can buy tickets online
Philip Pryce
Sep 11th 2011, 10:02
They should introduce an all electronic system with smart cards which are scanned by a reader on the bus, like the London Oyster card. The Oyster card can be topped up on line, at bus stations or automatically from your bank when the credit is below a certain level. Most of the time the buses spend too long selling tickets. Both ticket machines at Valletta were outy of order the other day.
Adrian Grech
Sep 11th 2011, 08:09
trasport gdid u xorta minix moqdi ,manistax immur fejn iried jiena u xorta ad fadal drivers aroganti u slavag li jibilaw in nies
Mario H Calleja
Sep 11th 2011, 05:38
I travel every weekday to Cirkewwa by the X1 from Mater Dei to catch the 0815 Ferry to Gozo. The first bus takes approx 25 - 30 mins to get to Mater Dei whilst the 2nd bus takes 45 mins and sometimes more. It takes app 45 - 50 mins to Cirkewwa from Mater Dei. This means that the bus must be at Mater day by, latest 0720, later than that I miss the ferry. I would have thought that Arriva would have increased the frequency of journeys during the critcal first hours of the morning so as to service workers traveling to their workplace. As it now stands, there is only one option from Mater Dei to catch the 0815 ferry, the 0545, by which I will be at Cirkewwa at 0700, (in time for the 0730 ferry). which is much too early for the 0815 ferry. The 0650 bus will take me to Cirkewwa and eta is 0810 at best but that would be cutting it too fine and assuming that no traffic on the way is encountered. What is needed is another journey at 0620. Arrivals and departures to/from Cirkewwa should be synchronised to the ferries' schedule if this service is to be of any good to travellers to/from Gozo
john grech
Sep 11th 2011, 01:17
J grech
i cannot understand why there are more buses from cirkewwa to the airport than from cirkewwa to Valletta
Most of the gozitans that need to go to malta use three places
Valletta or mater dei hospital or university
Doing a bus service from cirkewwa to the airport must be the work of a genius who never used public transport himself.
John Zammit-Spiteri
Sep 11th 2011, 00:59
Arriva has started with high hopes but it failed to impress us Fact! But then Arriva is undergoing immediate restructuring. Knowing how we love to destroy instead of carefully pointing out the rough edges to be polished smooth , I am not surprised , how we rub our hands in glee and enjoy the misgivings.
I hope that all of you jokers and moaners below will have the decency to take it all back when Arriva will be in line with " all your high expectations!"
I would like to say something to Dr Brincat, you are much older and you should know better how it was before. Do you remember that ugly buss strike we had in the early 80's? do you remember the " tal Barrani busses had to switch off lights because they were shot at by guns hiding from the bridge in 13 ta dicembru rd?
Just immagine Dr Brincat if this happened today? Hell would break loose, But since our GonziPN believes in freedom of speech something which is not on lejbers credentials, you can enjoy yourselves silly. so enjoy yourselves moan groan.
Just be decent when arriva adjusts itself to your perfect needs ................. be Men enough to admit it, if you really have it .
ryan portelli
Sep 11th 2011, 10:45
Mr. Zammit Spiteri, whilst i havn't to recall these horrid times, i am living in 2011, were failing in keeping up to standards is not an excuse anymore. It is not a matter of rubbing our hands and jump in glee about the matter, in fact no one is, actually it is scores of structural critisicm of how the system alongside with the service can be improved to accomodate the commuter,with a lot of sacrifices being made , just to mention having to endure our scorching sweaty summer.
Again MR.Zammit Spiteri get your feet to the ground and talk to those tourists out there who came to visit the island in these past 2 months, and just see from what a night mare they had to endure. A lot of damage has been inflicted to our branded island and its transport service, and all this because of arriva's unforseen circumstances and incompetences. This has put us back on promoting our islands. which at the end of the day i'm sure you will know the outcome of such a fiasco more than me.
the matter you mentioned wasnt because of the transportation system, but a matter being caused by our political dark ages, which please let us not justify our old barbarian days with our modern democratic days.
may i remind you that in a democratic country people have the right to voice and protest their laments and comments aswell as opinions, so be a man enough and commuter if need be and go witness such complaints yourself , just to make sure that the complaints are genuinely lodged by our frequent transport users, not only laments of (destruction). during the past months all over the media and through Arriva's complaints, was a true example of how democratic open minded people are building our newly reborn transport service, with proper constructive critism. let us not hope it will not keep falling on deaf ears, and pray that our service once school starts all will be fully operational with the best service our country deserves.
Anna Vella
Sep 11th 2011, 00:35
Will there be a bus going straight to the Junior College from Marsaskala?
A Caruana
Sep 12th 2011, 22:11
No - you either have to get Bus 91 ( depending if you live in Siberia in which case walk 20 minutes first) and stop at Paola square and get another Bus from Paola, or else get V
ruth dimech
Sep 11th 2011, 00:14
I hope so ax taf kif gejna '''''''' ARRIVA ARRIVA NON ARRIVA'''''
Dennis Zammit
Sep 10th 2011, 23:23
Just came off Bus route 23.
When will Arriva and/or Transport Malta arrange the names of the bus stops?
In Tower Road, Sliema, the bus stop next to the Torri is called Dud, the bus stop in Ghar id-Dud is called Chalet and the bus stop next to the former Chalet is called Torri. Is it so difficult to take a screw driver and undo a couple of screws and change the signs and then modify the data in the bus software?
Maybe it is easier to leave mixed up things mixed up eh?
Further more, the bus stop Xatt, Ta' Xbiex is in Msida and the bus stop Marina, Msida is in Pietà.
Who is responsible for these stupid mistakes? Can someone modify them?
Mr Charles Caruana Carabez
Sep 10th 2011, 22:04
Oh, I like the 'should' (in 'should' run on time).
Claire Busuttil
Sep 10th 2011, 21:48
I just hope that the X2 will start working as scheduled....every 30mins. This bus connects, all the south of Malta to Mater Dei hospital.
Mr m farrugia
Sep 10th 2011, 21:46
all this fuss about arriva creating havoc on roads
for examples bendy bus stuck in paceville - most probably the punto should not have parked here in a corner.
the problem is not with arriva but with our unruly drivers creating havoc on our roads and parking in the middle of a main road such as st pauls bay to buy a loaf of bread and holding traffic as far as burmarrad roundabout and never a policeman or warden in sight.
when are we going to civilise our drivers with hefty fines for being impolite, to say the least.
it's useless educating our bus drivers but not our policemen, wardens and drivers.
Nadya Depasquale
Sep 10th 2011, 20:43
Yesterday on RTK there was an Arriva official being interviewed. We knew that route # 32 would no longer be passing through Dingli Street, Sliema. However, this official said that no buses would be passing through Dingli Street any more...........and people could just walk to the Ferries, after all it wasn't that far. I looked in the booklet we received and there was no mention of the removal of the other routes #21 and #23 - just the
# 32.
I thought that very arrogant.
Gustav Svensson
Sep 10th 2011, 20:30
Maybe the service can improve but don't forget the improvement for the environment;)
Mrs Rose Piccinino
Sep 10th 2011, 20:19
"Arriva: Buses should run on time from Monday" I hope this statement includes route buses leaving from Zejtun to Valletta! There were times quite recently when a bus was 45 minutes late!
Mr Paul Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 20:07
Fewer complaints does not necessarily mean fewer problems. Some of the people that gave up complaining might turn to other means to get your attention....for example the huge album of photos of mishaps sent to the TIMES. Others might decide NEVER to give way to your buses in traffic in protest ...Capisc Mr Bastow.
The Maltese had only one request and nothing else. Keep the old route system with slight additions. But I guess Hon Austin Gatt said no , so you get the wrap.
K. Vella
Sep 10th 2011, 19:52
Route 81 should have been included as a revised route.....from Marsaxlokk one will finish at Qormi and Hamrun is simply not logical, this route is simply suicidal going through all the islands heavy traffic jams.....
Arriva please ACT NOW!!!
Victor Caruana
Sep 10th 2011, 19:45
Mr.Bastow what about the DIESEL spillage on our roads !! I hope that you also control this !
P. Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 19:00
We are yet to see havoc.... Come October , the nightmare starts....:(
Anthony Pace
Sep 10th 2011, 18:55
Arriva is a sick joke.
To Cirkewwa there is a bus every 30 minutes when before it was every 15 minutes.
Now there is going to be a direct bus service every hour on to of the one already in place.
That means 3 buses every hour instead of 4 buses or more.
The newer buses do not accomodate more passengers as the seats are spread out and there is a luggage compartment. So we are back to square one.
POOR SERVICE TO CIRKEWWA.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Sep 10th 2011, 18:51
If Arriva is intent on wanting to use the Bendy Buses, take a look at the picture above? There should be no parking allowed at these type of corners and the Green Giant has to keep his eyes open for offenders. Again I repeat and hope this time Transport Malta and the local councils are listening. You cannot fir 5 litres of water in a 1 litre can. Capisce? Why is that so hard to understand? This is not rocket science, and even you can figure that one out, or maybe not? Bendy Buses should be used on express routes for instance Valletta and Cirkewwa, the Airport and Cirkewwa, Valletta and the Airport etc etc. I am no bus dispatcher but even I can figure that one out. Come on you guys, try to get it together for crying out loud.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Sep 10th 2011, 18:37
I think that the first order of business is for Austin Gatt and Transport Malta to accept the responsibility for the fiasco and especially for ignoring the people that they are supposed to serve. Hoss fl-ilma. Like flying on Air Malta, all a passenger is asking for is a comfortable ride, a bus ride where a passenger does not get insulted by any arrogant driver and one of the main reasons is for the bus to get him/her from point A to point B on time without given the tour of the inner cities. Is that too much to ask?
Joe Brincat-LL.D
Sep 10th 2011, 18:30
Wait a minute ! About timetables. When the drivers of the old system were undergoing training with Arriva, to accommodate the new venture, timetables were changed from every quarter of an hour to 20 minutes. There was havoc at the Valletta Terminus. If the timetable means that it fits the number of buses available to Arriva, and not according to commuters' needs, then this could be a sick joke.
Dennis Zammit
Sep 10th 2011, 18:48
EVERYTHING has been changed to accommodate Arriva;
Timetables
Roads
Roundabouts
Bus stops
Parking areas changed into fictitious Park and Ride - Marsa BUS DEPOT
Parking lots changed into No Parking Areas such as The Strand, Sliema, Hamrun main road etc
FREE OF CHARGE Floriana Park and Ride into paying parking area
and others and others
cettina portelli
Sep 10th 2011, 18:48
for route no.3 xghajra/valetta via the 3cities, there will STILL be a huge problem with scheduled times. it is a physical impossibility for a bus to arrive in bormla from xghajra with the present time table. THEY ARE STILL GOING TO ARRIVE LATE and the people of the 3cities are STILL going to have huge problems getting to work on time early in the mornings!
Saviour Pace
Sep 10th 2011, 18:22
I still believe that given time things will work out the way planned. I think that what Arriva should do next is work hard on educating the commuters on the final aim and gain from this project. Then once these goals are reached, once noticeable reduction in air and noise pollution together with a reduced traffic on our roads, then we will benefit from such a project. A couple of other things I would like to suggest Arrive to work on is the avoidance of 3 buses following each other down the same road in the less then a minute. This can be noticed in San Gwann leading to Sliema, around Sliema and all the way to St. Pauls Bay. Punctuality will prove very healthy together with replacement of the bigger buses with the smaller ones as thes will blend in better with the our roads and traffic needs.
Peter Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 19:25
I would say that rather than Arriva "work hard on educating the commuters on the final aim and gain from this project" (whatever that may mean in the mind of Mr Saviour Pace), it would be much more appropriate if the local educational authorities work hard on educating certain members of the public on the desirability of refraining from making inane comments.
Has it entered Mr Pace's head that the goals of this "project" should consist in providing the commuting public of the Maltese Island, locals and tourists alike, with a better public transport service than they had before? Better buses and pollution reduction are only part of the issue. There is such a thing as convenience to commuters, both route-wise and time-wise. Under the old system, these factors were gradually improved over the years, and were generally not the subject of complaint. Why somebody took it into his head to change them (definitely for the worse in several areas of Malta) is beyond reasonable comprehension.
Mr francis darmanin
Sep 10th 2011, 19:39
Excuse me sir. "Educating the commuters" . about what!!! Is it the commuters' fault that the bus stops have the wrong names.? that the names of stages are not readily available at the bus stops' time-tables? that customer care though very nice guys & gals have no clue about localities? that tickets now take LONGEr to emerge from that Chinese machine than they did in old buses? that the buses have the wrong routes displayed along the sides of the bus? that only one bus fits into each bay at Valletta terminus meaning that commuters are standing waiting while empty buses are waiting to get into the bays? that the promnised modern technology at the bus stops is not working? that there is no sign of any vending machines anywhere? that some of the old and very useful routes have been discontinued? that the price for a single one way ticket has increased by over 200% from 0.47 cents to 1.30 cents?
No sir...you've got it wrong... the people who need educating are not the commuters but those incompetent people who allowed this mess to happen AND ARE PAYING A SUBSIDY OUT OF OUR MONEY>>>
Alfred Gatt
Sep 10th 2011, 18:18
Looking forward to a better service. I think there will be still problems until further time passes but we need to be more patient. Such a big change needs time for full implementation. After all, only two months have passed. Let us wait a boit more.
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Sep 10th 2011, 20:05
There wouldnt be all this chaos if this was planned wisely . its only that some idiot in TM was trying to make himself look more important then others.
Peter Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 20:15
Yes, Mr Gatt, we certainly need to be more patient !!! And where will that get us? According to you, we should stop complaining, and do nothing, but wait and wait .... till the cows come home. And if we do just that, you really imagine that things will ever improve?
john pace
Sep 10th 2011, 18:17
"commuter numbers up 20% from August last year". This is a big joke. From where they got these statistics?
So hope that from Monday I will be using the buses how I used to do before arriva came in charge.
Alfred Gatt
Sep 10th 2011, 18:14
I would suggest for Route X6 that commuters whose journey is from Valleta up to B'kara should not be allowed to board this bus so that persons who need to go to Mellieha and Cirkewwa would not be denied boarding because of full occupancy up to the stages of B'kara.
Mr V Mercieca
Sep 10th 2011, 19:25
I am in full agreement with you
Ryan Navarro
Sep 10th 2011, 20:57
I agree completely with what you're suggesting but I would include St.Paul's Bay as well.
Anthony Attard
Sep 10th 2011, 18:11
Would dispatchers at Valletta please ensure that coaches leaving Valletta Terminus have a number of empty seats/standing space for Hamrun (beyond Fra Diego) and Sta Venera bound passengers waiting at Floriana and Blata l-Bajda. More space will be needed as from October when the Blata l-Bajda schools finish in early afternoon.
Likewise, Valetta bound passenges waiting in Sta Venera and Hamrun (up to the stage in front of St Cajetan's Church) need seats/standing space especially during rush hours. Again, come October, matters will get worse when the Blata il-Bajda schools start.
Many appreciate the new coaches and service given; better management should lessen complaints.
James Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 17:56
First it was 3rd July. Then we had to wait until the teething troubles were over. Then we had again to wait until the newly trained drivers got used to the ropes. Now it's up to this coming Monday and then up to Ocotber when all the routes would be in place. And maybe then...... Well we have a span of 10 years to start getting things wight and the complaining would stop.
Mr Paul Caruana
Sep 10th 2011, 17:44
If they keep to the published timetables (which they evidently where not doing up to now) Arriva would have solved the main problem plaguing the new system.
If this happens, then the reform will definitely, finally be considered to have worked!
Lets just hope that Piers Marlow is not being excessively optimistic on this issue.
Mr M Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 19:39
The published timetables have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is the routes which just do not work.
What good is a timetable which tells me that " bus A " will pass at 10 am. when I know that this " A bus " will take ages to take me to where I want to go.
What good is a timetable when I know that if I ever had to board Bus 11 from Sliema it would take me close to 2 hours to get to Cirkewwa when before with bus 645 I used to make it in 30-40 mins ??
What good is a timetable when as from next Sunday the only bus from Valletta which used to pass through the centre of Sliema ( route 32 ) is not going to serve Sliema anymore.
And who is this intelligent person at Transport Malta who decided that Bus 32 should pass through Mrabat both ways ( from and to Valletta ).Does this person live in Malta ?
Last Sunday Mrabat was - blocked by three Arriva buses , for 30 mins. Why stop buses from passing through Savoy, we never had any trouble with them before. Buses have always passed through Rudoph street.
j brincat
Sep 10th 2011, 17:44
We have already heard this type of hype!
(jb)
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Sep 10th 2011, 17:39
Well from what i can gather from this article is that the blame for all the chaos caused, lies with some idiot in transport malta who came out with the idea of changing timetables and routes. the once we had before are the only routes that work on this island .the old routes were put there not by some experts but by those who knows best i.e. the drivers. all tthe people wanted was decent buses driven by more diciplined drivers nothing else. all this chaos complains etc is the inefficentcy within transport malta, simple as that.
Louis Craus
Sep 10th 2011, 17:38
We were promised that Buses No.81 and 82 will no longer go through the Marsa/Qormi Park and Ride.
The route is already long in itself. Whenever we are at the Park and Ride,only few people use it,and all the rest look at their watches. It takes almost an hour to arrive at Valletta.
Is the promise going to be kept?
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Sep 10th 2011, 17:27
Whatever happens now, and I have no reason to doubt that things will continue improving, the point still remains that the "routes" fiasco was a huge "qassata" which lays squarely on Minister Gatt's laps. And yes on the lap of the other guy, whats his name?, Manwel Delia!? The guy who tries to project an image of professionalism and capability and who will 'honour' the country and his much beloved PN with an electoral candidacy and who failed so miserably and spectacularly on the one thing he was responsible for. But I suppose delia, pretty much like his mentor, thinks that people will let it go and put a sock in it just because it was a Nationalist "qassata" not a Labour one!
Mr Angus Black
Sep 10th 2011, 18:55
Obviously Cunningham, some of the commuters will not 'put a sock in it' as much as you haven't.
You can rant as much as you want,like you have been doing since your 'conversion' to the Labour Party. Remember you can do that with abandon because since 1987, freedom of speech and expression suddenly became the norm.
Had these problems arisen under a Labour administration we would have been bombarded by claims of 'sabotage', although admittedly, in this case, it would not have been entirely untrue.
For 180 drivers to renege on a contract they signed all in the first few days, it must have taken several days to organize, thus the use of 'sabotage' is justified.
No Labour government dared modernize public transportation, it had to be a Nationalist government to have the courage and rid us of the unsavoury individuals who treated passengers like dirt and worse.
It is surprising that someone like you chose to associate himself with those who relish mediocrity.
nancy zahra
Sep 10th 2011, 17:01
from next monday......let's do as Mr.Delia told us when the arriva began its first day here...families are going out to see how precisely the arriva is going to work !!!. In my opinion if they do not go back to the old routes it's useless trying to keep on time....How can bus no 71 get to valletta from Zurrieq in 35...sorry 36 minutes ?? with all the traffic one encounters before going out of the Kirkop tunnels and now we have to keep behind traffic even in Luqa near the fantastic monument . What about the bus no 34 which used to take us to Bubaqra...now we have to take two buses....first we have a tour round the villages before being dropped at airport ,than take another bus to valletta....why can't we take a bus which gets us directly to valletta ?
Mr M Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 17:18
" Why can't we take a bus which gets us directly to Valletta ? "
Why ? Do you have to ask why ? If you had a direct bus to Valletta all the population of Malta , the ones who have to go round in circles before getting to where they want to go will " complain " !!
How dare you ask for a route that works, this is Arriva remember !!
Mr Jo Camm
Sep 10th 2011, 17:22
Ms Zahra - If you prefer the old system "travel to the past and remain there". The rest of us are looking to the future.
Mr John Dee
Sep 10th 2011, 22:41
Good idea - take all the families out to try to clog up the system again.
Didn't alter anything last time, won't alter anything this time - I think the rest of us are too mature for that.
At least you've admitted that it was planned !
James Camilleri
Sep 11th 2011, 00:39
@Mr Jo Camm - you do not use the buses so you do not know what you are talking about. It is not just a question of speaking about the past. The old buses delivered, the new system does not, in any way. Thank God the buses are new (most not all), thank god the drivers are decent (most not all) because at least Arriva have 2 points in their favour. otherwise nil - zilc.
albert galea
Sep 10th 2011, 16:49
does this mean that as from monday tm officials are going to be on various bus stops and if buses does not show on time arriva will be fined?
Mr M Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 16:43
" He noted, however, that improvements had been made in some routes, benefiting tourists. "
Why keep on insisting that the system has been bettered when we all know that nothing has changed ? How can Bastow say that " Bus 11, 12 and 13 suffer delays from congestion and from overcrowding issues at certain times " when we all know that these buses pass trough packed without stopping at any bus stop through out most of the day ?
Why keep on insisting that route 11 works when this route has 83 bus stops ?
Why will it be impossible to get to the Savoy area of Sliema as from next Sunday ? Why is bus 32 being made to use Mrabat instead of passing through Savoy ??
Joe Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 16:20
Fewer complaints... people got tired of complaining...they know that its of no use.
So...Let us all expect a miracle on Monday! Just yesterday I took a bus from its terminur and it left 40 minutes later than scheduled. hope...hope...hope.
Victor Pulis
Sep 10th 2011, 16:18
Let's take one example. A passenger wishes to go to mater Dei. so he takes a bus from, say Senglea he gets off at Paola and gets the X2 to the hospital. That's two trips=two passengers. Whereas in the past the same passenger would have taken a bus from Senglea direct to Mater Dei = one passenger. Multiply this example by x times and you get your false statistics. So much for numbers Mr. Bastow but perhaps he had instructions to say so from T.M.
Alex Falzon
Sep 10th 2011, 17:50
and that means more buses on the roads meaning more traffic.
Marco Farrugia
Sep 10th 2011, 16:07
"Arriva: Buses should run on time from Monday"
this statement is a couple of months early.... its not 1st April... good joke by the way...
trust Arriva? naaaahhhh
Catherine Caruana
Sep 10th 2011, 16:06
Does Mr.Bastow know that in Kalkara there exists a road St.Liberata from where no Arriva bus runs in spite of the fact that in it there live a considerable number of commuters who have to go to work?The ridiculous thing about this fact is that then this same bus that ought to do the mentioned route passes through Xghajra along fields where no one lives.With the old buses the St.Liberata route no.4 existed. Why Arriva a more modern bus system not capable to give us this service??!!
Victor Pulis
Sep 10th 2011, 16:06
Reacting to complaints made yesterday by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Mr Bastow said tourists were an important sector of the company's customer base, but the routes were decided by Transport Malta, not Arriva.
So where is Transport Malta? Where is Mr. Delia of pudding fame? The biggest problem stems from the crazy way the routes were arranged.
Mr. Bastow has been left facing the public while Transport malta experts sit in their air conditioned offices with their chauffeur driven cars waiting outside. Was TM also responsible for the pseudo information given t the bus stops? Besides the stupid names given to stops the information is useless to anuone not familiar with the area. YOU ARE HERE...XX...YY...ZZ. that's not exactly information.
Marco Farrugia
Sep 10th 2011, 16:04
"...daily customer complaints in August fell to 132..."
Yeah, why should i contact customer care if there was no action/remedy for my report???
Low numbers not because service is good (far from it actually) but because its utterly useless contacting customer care...
Marco Farrugia
Sep 10th 2011, 16:02
"...such as the ministerial visit from the Czech Republic this week."
HAHAHA.... anyone can spot the mistake there?
Hint : wrong country :)
Loredana Formosa
Sep 10th 2011, 16:00
I have been complaining about the removal of bus number 8 (Gudja, Ghaxaq to Valletta) since before arriva started... up till today nothing has been done, we are still without a bus dear Mr Bastow. There are people living in those two town you know!!
Anthony Roberts
Sep 10th 2011, 15:57
Please please please help me get to my hospital appointments this winter. I really hope that Birzebbuga is one of the direct routes to be re-introduced for my fellow pensioners and sick who have to attend Mater Dei regularly.
Joe Attard
Sep 10th 2011, 15:56
Last Sunday communters at Mellieha Bay were on abus stop from 7.20 pm to 8.30 pm and arrived at St Julians at 9.36pm. How about an imporvement on this Schedule eh.
All we wanted was to get to St Julians not Athens or Amsterdam!
Joe Brincat-LL.D
Sep 10th 2011, 15:45
I have used the old system and the new system. On the old system there was a ticket per trip. So it could be counted. On the new system, I saw people just showing the ticket and allowed on board. I saw drivers looking inside to see approximately how many were standing. How were numbers counted ? By weight ?
I saw people crowding round buses as soon as one arrived, and rushing in when the door opened. There was no one to count.
How did the count the figure ? Approximation ?
FRANS H SAID
Sep 10th 2011, 15:38
As many passengers now need to take 2 buses, obviously statistics-wise, there are more passengers, but in fact less persons using, or satisfied with the system.
Some of us can understand and utilise statistics. Numbers are not difficult to manage.
We still lack the service we had before. YES, the drivers might seem to be more civil, the buses less noisy (altghough the ones I used are jerkier and sudden braking), yes there seems to be less black smoke. But why must you and TM insist on not re-installing the old routes?
George Azzopardi
Sep 10th 2011, 15:37
hope it works .. but I will believe it when I see things fro real!!!!
Ms C Galea
Sep 10th 2011, 15:34
Commuter numbers up 20% from August last year LOL Of course you would have to go on two buses to arrive at the same place as before
This service should have been better not far worse as it is at the moment
FRANS H SAID
Sep 10th 2011, 15:32
If you re-install route 49 you will have even less complaints. I have describing hoe this route could operate with it passing through Bugibba Square and thus will not affect "certain" restaurant owners.
The re -intru=oduction of route 58 will also be a godsend.
Ryan Navarro
Sep 10th 2011, 21:05
I agree 100% with you! These two routes were very benfecial and at with them re-introduced, there would be a bus to Mater Dei and University for St.Paul's Bay residents and an extra one for Bugibba/ Qawra/ Mosta and Birkirkara by-pass residents.
However, frustratingly, I know that Arriva will never take notice of this!
Brandon Caruana
Sep 10th 2011, 15:27
"Arriva: Buses should run on time from Monday"
Then what where they supposed to be doing for the past two months?
Ramon Mangion
Sep 10th 2011, 15:23
It was a very funny moment yesterday ( well actually a very angry moment considering rush hour traffic) a bendy bus stopped in the Sta Venera Tunnels.
C Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 15:06
Ok, i acknowledge that an effort has been made to improve the system. But, alas for me and other commuters, the effort still doesn't offer a service as decent at least as the old transport service.
Take the so called improvements for Santa Lucija residents. A direct bus has now been introduced from Santa Lucija to Valletta. So at least this brings back the service which existed under the old system. Yet, it is still much worse than the old system. Under the old system, Santa Lucija bus frequency was one every 20 - 30 minutes, especially at rush hour. The new route is now of only ONE BUS EVERY HOUR.
Additionally, the timing of the reduced bus frequency is not user friendly for those who work in Floriana/Valletta. Buses from St Lucija to Valletta in morning rush hour are at 6.28 and 7.28am. But Government employees start work at 7.45am so they will have to catch the 6.28 am bus to be on time, that's 1hr 15 minutes before work starts! Similarly, those working in Valletta shops mostly need to be there at 8.45am. The 8.28am bus will be too late for them so they will have to catch the 7.28am bus, again 1 hr 15 minutes before work starts. The car becomes a compelling and expensive necessity.
Why can't Transport Malta take the needs and circumstances of the Maltese commuter into account when designing bus routes and frequency? Please improve the timing of Santa Lucija buses for work commuters to Valletta.
Frequency has been reduced so as to make the use of large buses financially worthwhile. Well, the bus system should be designed for the residents' circumstances, not the other way round. The reality of many small Maltese towns is that there are between five and ten passengers wanting to go to Valletta roughly every thirty minutes. So TM should require minibuses used every 30 minutes, not opting to use a 45 passenger bus every 1 hour so as to let passengers accumulate.
Mr francis darmanin
Sep 10th 2011, 14:59
I hope this works... though I'm tempted to ask Mr Bastow....which schedule are you now talking about?
As regards the 20 % increase, not having access to the sources of these statistics, I think all I shall add is, just like I said when I once waited for an X2 which never turned up .... I'll believe it when I see it!!!
Anthony Pace
Sep 10th 2011, 14:54
Let's hope that the bendy buses will be phased out in the very near future before any serious injury to people occurs.
Anthony Pace
Sep 10th 2011, 14:53
In less then 30 minutes there are already over 20 comments. Some service provided to the maltese in the last two months.
Noel Bartoli
Sep 10th 2011, 14:47
how can the buses be on time if the schedules are not realistic ?? Can one explain how during the busy hours of the morning, a bus can make it from Valletta to Bombi in 1 minute and Valletta to Blata l-Bajda in 3 minutes (quoting schedule for route 54) ? It takes more than that time for the driver to issue / check tickets !! Wishful thinking Mr Bastow!!
John Borg (mlh)
Sep 10th 2011, 14:34
By singling out the problems encountered on the 41 route, I'm glad to read that at least Arriva recognises that there is in fact a serious problem on this route. Commuters using the service in Mellieha face long delays and unrealistic travelling times for even short journeys. One has to sometimes wait from 6.00am till 7.00am to see a bus turn up, often meaning that you arrive late for work and suffer deductions from your wages all due to the gross inefficiency of this route. Other times one may even see 3 or more buses turn-up within minutes of each other. This could be die to the buses waiting for passengers alighting from the Gozo ferry, but don't the residents of Mellieha deserve a route that runs on time for them? Fingers crossed for the X6 route, though this bus is scheduled every hour, so I can't see much improvement there either.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Sep 10th 2011, 14:27
Tell it to the marines Bastow. They were supposed to run on time as from DAY ONE.
Lorraine Vella
Sep 10th 2011, 14:26
Well, let us hope it is so! Here in M'scala there still are some bus stops without the time schedule!
Regarding Mr Bastow's comment that " improvements had been made in some routes, benefiting tourists", I have two comments/questions:
1: how about changing the medium of transport and use normal Arriva buses as opposed to the white or red small buses that are being used on route 135, Airport-M'Scala? Without mentioning the fact that they do not have/swithc on ACs, they carry only a limited amount of passengers each way. I once was on such a bus and people had to be left waiting because the bus was full up! Also, if one wants to use the bus after arriving to Malta, your beloved tourists wouldn't be able to accommodate their luggage!
2: what about locals??' In order for me to catch a bus to Valletta, I either have to take my own bus and drive down to the terminus, or else walk almost 25 minutes!
Loredana Formosa
Sep 10th 2011, 16:04
actually I don't think there is need for a bus for route 135! They are always almost empty! Who needs to go to Marsascala from Gudja/Ghaxaq at 6.30am in the morning? Ohh and they don't pass on schedule and they are still almost empty. Only a few people use this uneeded route. We'd rather go to Valletta!!! We want the old route back!! give us the X5 immediately and don't tell us that you are going to have info mid September, that doesn't help us to arrive to work!!!!!!!!!!
John Spiteri
Sep 10th 2011, 17:03
Agree with you, first you have to accomadate a decent service to the locals, why are we still waiting for the 91 to be extended to St Thomas Bay and Zonqor Point like we used to have before.
As for the compaints decreasing, well people are fed up complaining as they are falling on deaf ears.
Stephen Grech
Sep 10th 2011, 14:24
What about the promised Ta' Giorni - Valletta route? There is no sign of it neither in the article nor the glossy brochure just received.
Noel Bartoli
Sep 10th 2011, 18:21
we have to pay for the mistakes done by the foreign consultants!! Doesn't Smart Malta have any Smart People to plan and design a local bus network ? which would have surely cost a fraction of the price with a much better service.
mark borg
Sep 10th 2011, 14:23
ABOUT TIME ! MR BASTOW.
Doris Farrugia
Sep 10th 2011, 14:15
If Mr.Bastow does not know that at the southern part of the island there are two villages named Gudja/Ghaxaq and had a bus service under the previous system and now under the new modernised system have none which is causing great difficulties to the residents,I suggest him to find them on google earth to update himself.This same comment goes to those silly idiots at TM who designed the routes.
Mr reader89 5
Sep 10th 2011, 15:28
You are so right. I'm from Gudja, and can't thank the lord enough everyday that I got my driving license before Arriva started operating. I mean, seriously, how shameful is it that you totally wipe out from your system two entire villages like they dont even exist? And don't tell me that the residents can use the shuttle service from the Airport as not all the residents from Gudja live close to the Airport, especially those from Ghaxaq or the housing estate. The situation was already unbearable under the old transport system and now it got a whole lot worse. And thereagain, I haven't heard one single complaint on the news by our Mayor or something similar. As for me, you are all a bunch of idiots on show!
Loredana Formosa
Sep 10th 2011, 16:05
MS Farrugia and Mr reader89 5 - both of you are so right. Arriva are so arrogant, I think even more arrogant then the old bus drivers!!
Noel Mifsud
Sep 10th 2011, 14:12
Hope Mr Bastow is not another day dreamer, lets say like Dr Gatt. Last week in Hamrun people had to wait for the bus over then 75 min for the MTarfa bus service. Pity in this small island.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Sep 10th 2011, 14:07
Mr Bastow how about the two tier fare which differentiate between locals and tourists? This is pure discrimination at best and the only differential in fares should be for the elderly and for students going and coming back from school, otherwise everybody should pay the same fare. I don't know if Arriva, Minister Austin Gatt and or TM is responsible for such an atrocity but as I mentioned earlier, this is pure discrimination against tourists. It is also a big imposition on the drivers who have to act as policemen and check IDs. Dr Gatt do something decent for a change and eliminate the two tier fare system and start treating everybody equal. Arriva is to start running on time starting Monday 12 September. Are we still going to be subjected to a tour of the inner cities before we get to our destinations?
sintja busuttil
Sep 10th 2011, 14:02
And good luck to all. However, I still have to protest at the cost of a single trip when added to a night return trip, 1.30 + 2.50 = 3.80 euros. Sorry, still not worth leaving the car behind.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Sep 10th 2011, 14:01
As a regular commuter I hope for the best after all the trouble using the new bus system. But if Transport Malta will not introduce again many of the old routes I doubt how many commuters will be satisfied including myself.
Carmel Ellul
Sep 10th 2011, 14:01
The biggest time waster is the ticket issuing part by the driver.
When will all buses have ticketing machines so that no time is wasted at bus stops by the driver issuing tickets and change?
D. A . Agius
Sep 10th 2011, 15:41
Buy tickets from terminuses and from shops. The ticketing system would have been a bit better if one had the facility to "punch" a ticket and if the cards could hold "credit" and just swiping was needed, working out best rate for customer later by the system.
If you're a frequent traveller get a 3 month card. Hopefully when users become more frequent and we are confident in the service, one should just swipe the card and get on, like on public transport in many eu countries.
Paul Pace
Sep 10th 2011, 14:01
From the above photo, I wish to ask TM if the old bus terminus is still in operation. I ask this question because since the change over of bus operators this area has been taken over by two taxi/cabs chauffeur driven service operators who park their cars everywhere even double parking. Don't blame Arriva. Tell me how Arriva can keep its schedule time-table.
James Dewar
Sep 10th 2011, 14:00
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but Monday is not September 11th but is September 12th. Was 11th not the promised revised deadline for a "normal" service? Seems as though it has already been extended!!
Luke Spiteri
Sep 10th 2011, 15:07
Take a chill pill dude
Dennis Zammit
Sep 10th 2011, 14:00
Ha Ha Ha !!!!
Yesterday, a 2nd hand, recycled, at least 5 year old, scrapped ex-UK Arriva Bendy Bus broke down under the Sta Venera tunnels and caused massive traffic jams starting from Marsa ex-matches factory, down to Qormi for at least 3 hours. Disgusting! Why did TM approve these scrapped buses.
Today, another 2nd hand, recycled, at least 5 year old, scrapped ex-UK Arriva Bendy Bus broke down near Paola Square with fuel running on the road.
Where is the former preacher Mr Manwel Delia who assured the Maltese people (us Tax payers) that things would be different? He has not been seen on TV since July 3rd!!!
Hibernation in Summer ?
Joseph Fenech
Sep 10th 2011, 13:59
Hopefully !!!! I still have my doubts because till now all they said did not happen. Yesterday I had to wait for bus number 11 for more than 1hr and ths was not the first time. I finish work @5 and arrived home at 7:45 (Mellieha).
C Muscat
Sep 10th 2011, 13:58
Keep on taking us for a ride; naturally my ride is with my own means paying your ride through taxes from my own pocket.
Mr J. Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 13:57
"...............................but the routes were decided by Transport Malta, not Arriva."
Can we common people know who came up with these routes. Can't Minister Gatt see that all these teething problems cam up when transport malta drew up these new routes. It's about time that heads start rolling...But Hey we're in Malta and this culture hasn't been heard off YET!!!!!!
What type of consulting with Local councils was made....was it by just telling them these are the routes that Arriva will be working on and that;s it. Or before coming up with the new routes talks were held with local councils until the final routes were decided upon.
Of course all these problems aren't ARRIVA's but that person or persons who decided to draw up the new routes.
Isn\'t it also against the environmet (Noise Environment) to have buses passig evry 10/15 jminutes in city centres with all that noise being emitted by the bus's aircondition...this happening late at night and early in the mornig.
Where is the Minister of Environment....oh iremember it is summer and he's on holiday!!!!!
Alex Falzon
Sep 10th 2011, 13:56
I am sure everything will be improved and complaints will be reduced too. There will always be complaints as whatever systems are in place one cannot satisfy every body's needs
Anthony Borg
Sep 10th 2011, 13:51
“...Commuters should as from Monday expect buses to turn up according to schedule, the managing director of Arriva Malta, Keith Bastow, said this afternoon.”
I am holding you to your word Mr.Bastow. I can concede 5-10 minutes of waiting at a bus stop but not 20 or more! Schedules displayed at Bus Stops are meant to be respected.
(P.S. Now why do I have more confidence in what this man says rather than in our own Transport minister?)
cettina portelli
Sep 10th 2011, 19:03
they are NOT going to be on time. the bus schedules do not take into account the large amount of early morning passengers going to work who all have to buy tickets plus rush hour traffic (in my case) in marsa! we are still going to be back to square one unless the TIMETABLES are revised and extra buses are used in the early mornings and rush hour afternoons.
i live in bormla near where the old bus terminus used to be. at 6.00am there must be AT LEAST 40people waitng for the 1st bus - which incidentally is ALWAYS late -can you imagine how long it takes for all these people to get tickets?
John Vella
Sep 10th 2011, 13:44
Magic wands, wishful thinking, ostrich's manouvre. Denial such a pleasant defence mechanism.
Please choose the reason of your report below: