Claudia Calleja
‘I would not like Gatt to go’
Arriva chief executive says Transport Minister has vision and the service is improving
The public transport reform may have started on the wrong foot but Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s vision remains a good one and it would be a pity to see him resign, Arriva plc chief executive David Martin believes.
“The minister has a vision for the public transport change on this island... There’s a public transport system to be proud of so... yes, I would actually be sorry (if Dr Gatt had to resign), not that I know him very well,” Mr Martin said during a press conference held to update the media about the progress made by Arriva.
He added that although the bus service had problems at the beginning there were several positive aspects to it – such as the low-emission vehicles and the range of ticketing options – that had brought Malta’s transport system into the 21st century.
“Everybody, as part of this, has made mistakes since it’s such a big and complicated project. We’ve certainly not been perfect. If you had to contemplate having a new service on an island with 185 drivers short, it’s what nightmares are made of,” he said referring to the driver no-show on Arriva’s first day of operation.
Mr Martin met Dr Gatt earlier yesterday to discuss the new public transport system, which Arriva started operating on July 3.
“We underestimated the amount of congestion on the island... and will be hounding Transport Malta to deliver more bus priority lanes to cope,” he said.
Mr Martin gave the example of Paola where the traffic in the square was so bad that it took a bus 20 minutes to get from one bus stop to another three minutes walk away.
Despite the problems faced by Arriva, he said, he was proud to say the company had pulled through and there were huge improvements even though there was still room for more.
Under the contract signed with Transport Malta, the plan was to revise the routes after six months of operation. But public opinion forced an earlier review that led to redesign or change of some 80 per cent of services, he said. The number of routes had been increased by 10 per cent, to 94. The complete set of new routes, which will link all villages to Valletta and Mater Dei, should be in place on Sunday.
This unexpected revision has put a strain on the company and it has had to bring in more buses, planning to increase the size of the fleet from 264 to 302 by next May.
More drivers had to be recruited. In July Arriva started off with less than 500 drivers and the final target was of 800.
Statistics released yesterday by the Transport Ministry showed that the number of people using the Arriva bus service increased to 3,213,433 in October from 2,971,587 the previous month. The figure also meant a 21 per cent rise in October over the same month last year.
Meanwhile, as the country prepares to welcome the improved routes, complaints about Arriva keep trickling in. The Paola local council said it would be filing a judicial protest against Arriva over the transport system and the Żejtun council has written to the Prime Minister complaining about the routes that service the locality. The Communist Party of Malta expressed its solidarity will all those facing difficulties to make use of public transport and said it would be joining today’s protest in Valletta being held to complain about the inefficient system.
What direction now?
Is the infrastructure in place to allow every village to have a direct link to Valletta and Mater Dei Hospital by Sunday?
• Arriva Malta managing director Keith Bastow believes all is in place. Network changes introduced a month ago already cater for most of these routes. This Sunday will see the rest of those being implemented, he said.
Transport Malta is to start fining Arriva for long waiting times. How will the company deal with this?
• The transport contact gives Arriva a four-month grace period on fines starting on the date of route introduction. This means that Sunday’s new routes can only be fined in four months’ time. Mr Martin said Arriva was “perfectly ready to pay any penalties for failings that are totally down to us. But at the end of the day there has to be a sensible dialogue in getting to that position”.
How will the buses get to their destination on time given the congested roads, especially in peak hours?
• Arriva Malta director Piers Marlow said Arriva was in negotiations with Transport Malta to increase the number of bus priority lanes. Some localities had been shortlisted and the option of dedicating the inside lanes to buses was being explored, but he could not reveal where these areas were. Mr Martin said Arriva was “hounding” Transport Malta to make these lanes available.
How much more in government subsidies, over and above the €4 million a year, will Arriva need to cover the cost of the changes?
• “We’re in discussion with Transport Malta in the context of the additional resources that need to be deployed. There will be an open dialogue over the coming weeks,” Mr Martin said. When asked to elaborate on this Mr Bastow added he could not divulge quantities saying: “I guess you’ll find out in due course.”
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carlos ellul
Nov 5th 2011, 08:17
I won't be surprised if routes are changed every 4 months so that Arrivederci would always enjoy its grace period. All for the good of the customer.....of course.
There's only 2 ways to arrive to work on time either by car or by walk.
Ray Cassar
Nov 7th 2011, 12:27
@Carlos Ellul. The Minister and TM are responsible for the routes so the operator couldn't keep changing them to avoid fines. Nice idea though.
francis caruana
Nov 4th 2011, 16:56
Simply bullshit. What right has this man got to defend and publicly quote those words. No wonder christ said i have created something better then me................money.
Ray Cassar
Nov 7th 2011, 12:28
Can you be specific Mr Caruna? And refrain from cursing, it not big or clever and you make yourself look ignorant and rude reflection on our nation.
Francesca Abela
Nov 4th 2011, 15:22
Mein gott! They even got the bigwig in Malta to put on a last ditch effort to save Austin's skin!! The teleserial has just taken a very interersting turn1 Now who has paid for this guy to come to Malta eh?? Answers please.Is it Arriva because they are scared they will be booted out if Austin Goes and another Minister takes his place? Or is Austin's lackey who is scared he will lose his powerful job?
j dough
Nov 4th 2011, 14:40
and once again the long-suffering residents of the greater part of marsascala have been ignored with the whole siberia/jerma/st tumas area NOT having a bus to valletta.
why is it so difficult for the no. 91 bus to drive up the hill in qaliet street round st thomas bay and back to the stage near grabiel as it had done for so many years??
incidentally the trip from m'scala to valletta has become incredibly long often taking one and a half hours during the rush hour. why isn't the new bypass made use of??
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 4th 2011, 18:12
Once aain we Marsascala Siberians have been left out in the cold!
Charles DeMicoli
Nov 4th 2011, 14:26
Reading David Martin's comments, I get the impression of Arriva and TM passing the buck. Arriva failed miserably in implementing a new and refined transportation system. How much time was spent preparing for the change-over? Didn't Arriva have anyone on the island checking traffic patterns, road conditions, etc.??? If TM presented a screwed up plan, why didn't Arriva, with all their hullabalooed experience step in and make recommendations? David, you and your outfit failed miserably, on all accounts. The first step to fix a broken system is to admit your mistakes, not to pass the buck back and forth.
R. Cilia
Nov 4th 2011, 14:13
The public transport reform may have started on the wrong foot but Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s vision remains a good one and it would be a pity to see him resign, Arriva plc chief executive David Martin believes.
You see Mr.Martin , the public is not interested in "Gatt's visions" but practicability.If 80% of routes were changed in the first four months,than Gatt's vision was myopic! Needless to say this cost the maltese dearly .
carlos ellul
Nov 5th 2011, 08:18
And that had awarded them another 4 months of 'grace' period ie no fines.
Alfred Fenech
Nov 4th 2011, 13:51
You change drivers dont you..... So whats new about a minister who Gonzi cannot afford to let go.
Arriva Arriva some new face is needed. David you got the contract now sit and wait or better still go drive a bus.
Ronald Cauchi
Nov 4th 2011, 10:43
David Martin should keep his nose out of local politics. Of course he likes Minister Gatt. He gave him a profitable contract that satisfies no one else but him.
Peter Murray
Nov 4th 2011, 10:25
We under-estimated the levels of incompetency and inefficiency of Arriva and failure to adhere to contract criteria signed with their staff.
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 4th 2011, 11:14
@ Peter Murray,
Many people are saying Transport Malta must share some of the blame, though.
Samuel Camilleri
Nov 4th 2011, 12:36
I disagree with SOME TM should be held for MOST problems. Arriva was given the job by TM it did not force anyone so it goes without saying that TM is responsiable for everything
Ray Cassar
Nov 7th 2011, 12:32
Didn't TM write the contract so sure they must at some time or other speak up to take some share of blame to?
Ramon Casha
Nov 4th 2011, 10:24
Of course he wouldn't. If someone takes over from Gatt he might not be so accommodating.
Peter Murray
Nov 4th 2011, 10:23
Who cares what you'd like pal-WE;D LIKE YOU TO GO!
Mr J Xerri
Nov 4th 2011, 10:22
Who is David Martin to tell us about Dr Gatt's future. This is a political issue that has to be settled by the Maltese people and the Maltese Parliament. Mr Martin has enough on his hands to solve the problems faced by his company in running the public transport system. He'll better concentrate on the administrative side rather than the political.
Phil Humphries
Nov 4th 2011, 10:09
"We underestimated the amount of congestion on the island... and will be hounding Transport Malta to deliver more bus priority lanes to cope,” David Martin said.
Every time I'm stuck in a queue of traffic behind a bus I will reflect on those reassuring words and thank God for Arriva and Austin Gatt.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 4th 2011, 09:45
As the saying goes, "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"
Victor Vella
Nov 4th 2011, 09:25
If Gatt had a vision it was like the vision of a baby looking at his/her parents reading some fairy tales before he/she goes to bed to have a good sound lovely night. But, the mission of the parents failed miserably because the baby kept day and night crying to take the bottle, It transpires that the bottle was empty. To get rid of the baby and bottle the parents threw the baby out of the window. The baby was lucky enough to land on a mustang leaving a university student. chewing her tongue who happened to wait for a xarabank at that time.A bully who happened to be the boss of the mustang told the student that there is no problem for the baby, but the student loose her sticky tongue and sent the boss to go to ................................ .
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 09:05
...of course Martin does not want gatt to go...of course.....wink..wink...nudge..nudge...say no more !!1
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 10:14
Do all Charles Sammuts think the same way? Seems so.
Another Charles Sammut
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 11:19
I think so as well...keep up the good thinking Charles...
..and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....
Ramon Curmi
Nov 4th 2011, 08:55
since Arriva started it has been a very common occurance that my partner leaves for work only to call me half an hour later to drive her to work cause ARRIVA either didnt come or the 2 that passed were both full up..... we live in Luqa.
So after varousi complaints by the Luqa people that they were being left stranded by Arriva, Arriva decides to make a bus just for Luqa. So far in the past week or so since this bus was created by partner called me twice so that I can drive her work cause the bus never materlized.
Arriva underestimated thecongestion??? When u pullout a main artery one has to assume taht traffic will increase (the Luqa/Stlucia bypass).
Also Arriva has been sooooo bad that people stopped relaying on the new bus system and started to use more their car.... and hence why the extra congestion. Ive been driving for the past 15 years and tarffic has NEVER been this bad.
As for theminister denying that triaffic didnt increase.... what do u expect when u have 2 traffic police cars shooing off everyone infront of you when u pass???? IMO the minister is detached from the relaty that plagues us plebians.
So please Dr Gatt do the right thing and go down as a man. Either way you are the minister that will go down in History as the Arriva Fiasco minister
Patrick Zammit
Nov 4th 2011, 08:52
Of course Arriva should be happy with their contract.
They get compensation from the taxpayer from the very start (like they did with regards to Bisazza str) but they themselves are only liable after months of bad service.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 4th 2011, 08:46
As the saying goes. "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 4th 2011, 08:44
"We underestimated the amount of congestion on the island.."
That has to be the understatement of the year. Surely it could have been forseen and more priority buslanes put in before July.
When the Irish government gave the go-ahead for the re-introduction of trams in Dublin, provisions were made for them to have priority at traffic lights because the trams actually changed the lights to green in their favour.
This was done electronically. Sadly, this would not be practical for buses, as it wouldn't take long in Malta for everyone to install one of those gadgets in their car. That would be fun!