Update 3: Bus service revamp - TM monitors report significant improvement

Updated - adds comments by commuters -

Inspectors monitoring the bus service for Transport Malta reported 'significant' improvement this morning, the Authority told timesofmalta.com, even as readers continued to post complaints.

"We have seen significant improvement, and shorter waiting times in problem areas such as St Paul's Bay, Naxxar and Fgura" a TM official said. He added, however that there had been some problems – such as at Zurrieq, Mqabba and Qrendi which are being addressed. There was also a 'problematic' hour in the Fgura area at about 9.30 a.m.

The official said that while more buses had been deployed, the situation also improved thanks to measures taken by the police and Transport Malta officials who were posted in Paola Square and other congested areas and gave traffic priority to the buses.The same measures will be taken in the coming days in the approach roads to the localities behind the Kirkop Tunnels.

Questioned about the fact that timetables had disappeared from the bus stops, the official said timetables would be posted, but it needed to be kept in mind that each of the 1,900 bus stops had its own individual timetable and preparing each of them took time. Commuters can phone Arriva customer care for an update on the schedules.

At the Valletta terminus this morning there was a distinct feeling of Déjà vu at  as most of the old bus routes were restored and more buses returned to parking bays around the Tritons Fountain.

Today is the first test for the biggest change in the route network since the new service was introduced on July 3.

Arriva has deployed more vehicles on the service - including converted King Long vehicles from the old service, newly-imported second-hand buses from Arriva UK (some still carrying the Arriva.co.uk stickers) other buses which still have to be painted in the Arriva colours, and leased coaches.

The Transport Authority has temporarily waived requirements for Euro V engines, bus fleet colours and air-conditioning until May.

With the new Valletta bus terminus still being extended to cater for the additional routes, more temporary bays have been put up around the Tritons Fountain. Operations there appeared to be running smoothly.

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said last Friday that this will be the last big change to the routes network and a period of consolidation will follow, during which the focus of the Transport Malta inspectors will be on ensuring that Arriva respects the published bus schedules.

Initial comments from commuters this morning showed that Arriva has a mountain to climb to achieve confidence in the bus service, with many people - especially from areas such as Senglea, Cospicua, Bir id-deheb and Birzebbuga complaining of long waiting times. At one time Bus 91 from Paola was an hour late, with the delay being blamed by a dispatcher on traffic congestion. "This route is still a disaster' an irate commuter said.

But a dispatcher defended the company. "The problem is the traffic, not the buses," he argued. Another pointed to the closure of major roads such as Garibaldi Street.

A commuter from Paola said she was on the bus stop at 6 am. Three buses drove by full up and she only managed to get on a bus at 6.45 a.m. It then took the bus an hour to get from Paola to Valletta.

Another commuter said he was at the terminus in Zebbug (M) at 6.20 a.m. and the bus arrived at 6.55. He arrived in Valletta at 7.40 a.m.

Some commuters from Naxxar, Qormi and Mosta said they were happy with the service. However other complained of long waits on route 31 (Valletta to Bugibba).

In Fgura, a timesofmalta.com reporter said she had no problem waiting for the bus at 9.30 a.m.