Sarah Carabott
Bendy buses to the rescue
Bendy buses cannot always cope with streets on the island. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Nearly half of the 36 vehicles that will be added to the existing Arriva fleet will be bendy buses that can accommodate up to 150 passengers and some will fall short of the Euro V emissions standard.
Following an agreement between the Transport Ministry, Transport Malta and Arriva, the new buses will cater for the latest changes in the routes network, which will be launched on November 6.
Commuters have greeted the news of an additional 17 bendy buses with mixed reactions. Some said these were a “godsend” as they rarely left people stranded on bus stops. However, the controversial introduction of articulated buses has also stirred criticism from those who witnessed traffic accidents and who insist bendy buses congest Maltese roads.
An Arriva Malta spokesman said the company thoroughly tested all the routes on the network to check the designated buses were adequate on many levels.
“While it is true that there have been instances where articulated buses have been caught in traffic congestions, it is worthy of note that few, if any, of these are directly attributable to the type of vehicle,” he said.
In many instances, traffic congestions and the resultant aggravations had been caused by external factors, such as illegal or double parking, he added.
Although bendy buses have also been criticised in London as allegedly leading to traffic accidents, a report published earlier this month about the gradual demise of such buses by December 11 highlighted mixed reactions.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Edwards said that while some bendy buses ended up in Leicester and Malta, “not everyone is happy to see them go” because this could result in fewer seats on certain routes.
The Arriva Malta spokesman said that because of their higher carrying capacity, bendy buses would “help more commuters get to their destinations in more comfort and on time by reducing those instances where passengers are not able to board a bus because the vehicle is full”.
The Transport Ministry said the increase in the number of buses should also meet the demand on popular routes during morning rush hours. Eight buses will join the fleet on Monday and the rest will be introduced gradually until the end of November. The operators will also commission contractors to support the service on some of the new routes. Nineteen of the 36 buses will be 12 metres long and will be able to take up to 70 passengers each.
The ministry said that for the increase to be implemented without delay the government was also temporarily suspending the aesthetic and equipment requirements, including air conditioning on some buses. However, all specifications will be met by May.
Some engines will range between Euro III and IV instead of Euro V, which is the fleet’s standard. Transport Malta and Arriva are discussing measures that would grant buses priority on Maltese roads as traffic congestion was causing schedule difficulties.
Labour transport spokesman Joseph Sammut said after the most expensive public transport reform failed, the government was insulting everybody when it unilaterally decided that the public would have to make do with environmentally-unfriendly vehicles not equipped as promised.
The public transport saga continued, he said, and not only were Maltese consumers not getting a better service but they were going to be provided with an inferior service for the same price.
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James Wightman
Oct 29th 2011, 18:40
I understand the need for greater capacity but have you ever been overtaken by one of these. They just go on and on and on.. Worse on a bicycle. Even worse trying to overtake one they seem flipping endless.
Anthony Pace
Oct 29th 2011, 15:39
Why offload the rubbish tried in the UK unsuccessfully on to the streets of Malta which are not built or designed for such trucks or even modern cars!!!
I fail to see the logic in it. It would be better to order 72 new buses or 100 new small buses to convey passengers from A to B speedily, effectively and in a safe method or carrier.
The minister and Arriva are meddling with fire here.
Joseph Calleja
Oct 29th 2011, 15:15
If Bendy Buses are part of the problem, why are we getting more of them? I guess Arriva and Transport Malta think I am kidding when I say, " Five litres of water do not fit in a one litre can". First of all the Bendy Buses are not fit to operate in the inner cities and should only be used on long runs, like for instance. Between Valletta and Cirkewwa, Valletta and the Airport and of course one main route for these Bendy Buses should be between the Airport and Cirkewwa. Wake up Transport Malta and Arriva, you can do it if you tried. Listen to what the people are trying to tell you and please do away with the two tier fare. Band Aids are only a temporary solution. By the way, tonight try to get the Marchers to their destination on time. Maybe it is time for Minister Gatt to start chopping some irresponsible heads at Transport Malta.
Mario H Calleja
Oct 29th 2011, 14:21
I guess it is another age old problem, which comes first? The chicken or the egg? Punctuality of Arriva buses is directly related to the density of our roads. Over 300,000 cars we have been told are on our roads and this is in my opiion is a bit too much. I heard a lot of stories of the lengths parents go through to take their children to school every morning and then everyone expects Arriva buses to be on time. The first X1 journey from the Airport gets to Mater Dei in 15 minutes. The second X1 journey from the Airport arrives at Mater Dei in 40 mins. I see this whole matter as a struggle between car users and bus users and at this point both are loosers. Our roads are at saturation point, at least during rush hours.
Godfrey Camilleri
Oct 29th 2011, 12:11
Quotes from the above:"could result in fewer seats on certain routes" and "in more comfort". As far as I know there are only a few seats available from the 150 capacity (36 I think?) so that it's not seats that are less available but transport capacity. Also having to stand up in these bendy buses cannot be termed as comfortable. On the other hand, if we need more people to use public transport, we must get used to the same systems available abroad when during rush hour, most travelling has to be done standing and often crammed. This is the only solution to move hundreds of people around, fast.
Freeing lanes to overcome buses becoming stuck in traffic congestion is a must. If this does not succeed, we will then have to go for the tram.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 29th 2011, 11:57
Never make a promise you cannot keep! Are we getting inferior buses now?
James Tyrrell
Oct 29th 2011, 10:41
Oh that is happy news for all of Malta. You are getting more bendy busses! When are these people going to wake up and smell the coffee? These stupid busses are not suitable for Malta.
A bianchi
Oct 29th 2011, 09:57
What could be more insulting than putting polluting buses on our streets? This is the result you get from incompetent people negotiating innovative reform systems. Is the government seriously encouraging people to throw them off the driving seat?
Chris Sammut
Oct 29th 2011, 12:07
It s happening all over again. We are taking all the rubbish as happened in the past. What the UK wanted to get rid of, ended on the MALTESE islands. Such as the london buses and then followed by the ex UK coaches reaching the Maltese islands in the 80s. Now same happening with the bendy buses were London Mayor Borris Johnson want to get rid of them and poor Malta is taking them!!! in Maltese we say: 'nilaqu kollox'
Michael Lloyd
Oct 29th 2011, 14:16
Well, Mr Bianchi, since you are apparently an expert, please inform us all of the differences in emissions levels between Euro 3, 4 and 5 standards. You seem to be very worried about a small number of buses which are already Euro 3 or 4 compliant, which is iteself excellent. Many, many vehicles throughout Europe are not Euro 5 compliant - this is a recently-introduced standard. Would you prefer to put up with far too few buses for many months while the Chinese build you some more nice new Euro 5 King Longs, or will you admit that this "pollution" is pretty much of a red herring when it applies to so few vehicles?