Updated 8.15 p.m.

 

Arriva Malta relaunched the bus service today, with changes to the route network and more buses on the roads, and while contrasting comments were made by commuters, Arriva managing director Keith Bastow said the day was 'positive'.

"I'm pleased to report a positive day with all buses out, all shifts covered including by the newly added drivers, and a significant increase in the number of journeys provided in addition to the new routes which started yesterday - I am encouraged by the positive reaction from the majority of our passengers,"Mr Bastow told timesofmalta.com.

Some commuters complained that the new Ċirkewwa bus did not turn up on time at the ferry quay this morning, but the new route was welcomed and well patronised. It was especially welcomed by commuters in Fleur-de-Lys, who had been without a service since the old route 71 was discontinued.

The busy Valletta-Bugibba route 31 appeared to have more buses deployed, but a dispatching problem persisted. At one time, at 9.25 a.m., three buses, one of them a bendy bus, were following each other North bound along the Birkirkara Bypass, while across the road, all stages had waiting passengers.

Lija commuters complained bitterly that the route change to their service, No 43, taking the bus up to Giovanni Curmi College in Naxxar, was bypassing the village whereas before it used to drive up Transfiguration Avenue to the belvedere.

In Paola, commuters started using a new route which starts from Sta Lucija. However, at 10.56 a.m. a reader phoned to complain that the bus to Mater Dei was already 30 minutes late.

Tempers flared outside Mater Dei at about 11.15 a.m. when a bus driver reportedly was rude to commuters and at one time told them to take a taxi. There were some 60 people waiting at the bus stop at the time. One of them said the driver was reported to the Arriva office by an Arriva official who was also on the scene.

At nearby Fgura, bus stops were crowded 'like a mass meeting' according to one commuter, with the buses from Zabbar and Marsascala driving past, full up.

There were more than 30 people on one Fgura bus stop and many said they had been waiting for over an hour. One commuter complained that she was supposed to start work at 9.30 but after 45 minutes on the stage at 9.30 she was still stuck there and had to call her boss.

Most were complaining that it was pointless phoning the Arriva customer service: 'they just take note but we re still stuck here'.

At Mqabba, the local council held a press conference to voice the residents' 'frustration'. Mayor Noel Galea said the village was relegated when the new bus route no longer linked the city centre to Valletta. But the situation had now become worse because bus route 72, which previously took commuters from Mqabba to St Vincent de Paule Home has had its route changed and it no longer stopped outside the Home.

At Zejtun, the local council complained that there was no service to the lower part of the town.

Commuters also pointed out that the Arriva website journey planner has still not been updated with the route changes.

Arriva had set today as D-day for improvements to the bus service - two months after taking over the service. Officials on Saturday said an intake of new drivers should make the buses run on time.

Mr Bastow said he wished to remind the travelling public that the new route changes were only phase two - with a further two phases of route changes to come on 2nd and 30th of October, the details of which Transport Malta will announce in due course. (They will include direct services to Mater Dei Hospital from various localities).

"We are fully committed to continued improvement and our teams are working hard behind the scenes around the clock to deliver," Mr Bastow said.

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