Bus usage figures based on electronic count in each bus - ministry spokesman

Updated Thursday 12.15

A spokesman for the Transport Ministry confirmed today that usage of the bus service is being calculated according to the electronic count in each bus. 

The ministry said yesterday that more than three million passengers used route buses last month, 22 per cent more than in the same month last year.

However many people quickly pointed out that with the introduction of interchanges, a large number of commuters now needed to use more than one bus to get to their destination. 

In its  statement yesterday, the ministry said that the number of users in September was 3,179,027.

In August, the service was used by 27 per cent more passengers than in the same month last year.

The August increase in Malta was 21 per cent, in Gozo 321 per cent and in September the increase was 16 per cent in Malta and 371 per cent in Gozo.

These figures, the ministry said, were an expression of confidence in the service, in spite of its substantial shortcomings which had to be better addressed by the operator.

The figures also clearly showed how more routes and more destinations meant commuters had better public transport opportunities.

This did not in any way mitigate passengers' justified complaints that, especially in the mornings, they were not finding the level of service they expected, the ministry said.

It promised to continue to press the operator (Arriva) to deliver on its obligations by providing bus services according to the promised frequency and schedules. 

It had to be said, however, that neither the operator nor Transport Malta had believed that there would be such an increase in patronage in such a short period, the ministry said.