Joseph Schembri, St Paul’s Bay
Bring the empty bus back
I write to complain about the Arriva bus service at St Paul’s Bay.
Due to the inefficiences of this bus service, I am arriving late at work every day.
On November 23, I was on the bus stop opposite the Giormina Bakery in St Paul’s Bay at 6.05 a.m. The bus arrived at 6.35 a.m. and I reached my destination in Floriana at 8.
On November 24, I was on the bus stop at 6.07 a.m., the bus arrived at 6.55 and I arrived at work (in Floriana) at 8.10 a.m.
I would like to know the reason why the 6.20 a.m. empty bus at St Paul’s Bay stopped operating after only two days.
This empty bus loaded passengers from opposite the Giormina Bakery in St Paul’s Bay and went to Mosta, Birkirkara, Msida and Valletta.
By the time it arrived at Mosta, this bus was already full up.
So one can only imagine what the situation is like when the late bus arrives at St Paul’s Bay (the bus is already loaded with passengers) and then at Mosta.
My suggestion is to bring back that empty bus at 6.20 a.m. while route number 41 should pass through St Paul’s Bay at 15-minute intervals.
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Joe B Edwards
Nov 27th 2011, 11:30
It is probably due to the traffic during rush hour. I use the buses on the weekend and the service I've been given was very good (no complaints - maybe seats are bit too small, but thats about it).
Mario J Spiteri
Nov 26th 2011, 19:49
That means Reform my friend for Hon Dr. Austin Gatt as the super hero, Mr Manuel Delia the champion of this reform or comedy & the last but not the least Hon PM! We all was complaining about every thing but not about the routes & especially the daily morning service. For example; I live in Sliema & was using to catch transport from formerly Savoy terminus. Now why we have to wait for about minimum of 45 mins to catch bus no 21 or 23! Why we have to walk, rainy days or sunny days to try to catch bus no 32? WE DONT WANT THAT STUPID ROUTES Dr Gatt, Mr Delia & Hon PM. 4 months agony waiting for the bus & after another agony to Valletta when before with formerly bus no 60 we used to spent only 25 mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the task force have to do Hon PM with our money wasted from 1st July till now! TOo wait in Valletta terminus is another story! ALL OF YOU MUST BE ASHAMED FOR THAT PUT OUR MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN, YOU MUST ASK THOSE WHO HAD DONE THAT STUPID & HORRIBLE ROUTES TO RETURN BACK OUR MONEY! THAT MEANS THE BUCK STOPS HERE Hon PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B Borg
Nov 26th 2011, 19:04
In the past I used Arriva Buses a couple of times, when was better if I walked to my destination. This morning I used it again, actually I found it that the service had improved, buses were on the bus stop in few minutes and arrived to my destination in no time. Keep working on, still room for further improvement, yet Arriva is finally on the right track
victor bonello
Nov 28th 2011, 14:02
i just heard one Arriva bus stopped without fuel... and another had to come pick up the passengers.. if ths is true, it is hilarious... imporvment...!!!! lol
maria aquilina
Nov 26th 2011, 17:24
I went to Valletta today. I waited for the busses that come from Rabat for 25 minutes. Then three busses came one after the other. Why not stagger the time so that a bus comes every five minutes. It seems that all the busses from Dingi,Mtarfa and Rabat arrive at the bus stops together . Where is the timing?We are being taken for a ride.
William Spencer
Nov 26th 2011, 14:53
Why does Arriva provide a smashing service on Gozo, and not in Malta.
Could part of the reason be that most of the roads / streets in Malta are gridlocked, due to so many cars / vans parked ( legally & illegally ) on every possible inch of road / street. Also due to the unecessary use of vehicles by people who live within walking distance of their destination.
How about implementing a " Congestion Charge " , and see how many vehicles disappear from the roads / streets ?
John Azzopoardi
Nov 26th 2011, 13:16
Terrible Terrible Terrible. Who is running Malta today. Looks like Arriva in Malta is a big flop. Terrible not for just the Gozitans and Maltese, but also for the vast majority of tourist. I am very surprised that the British media has not picked up this story and warn the British tourist coming to Malta of this situation. Maybe then, the Maltese authorities will take another look at the situation. If I were a maltese or gozitan experiencing this, I would do everything in my power and write letters to make this known. This kind of treatment is not right in the year 2011. Now this is what I call third world after the service has been in place 6 months. As a taxpayers, this is not acceptable.
Joseph Calleja
Nov 26th 2011, 14:47
Like the Man said " The buck stops here" and it seems like it has been stopped ever since.What ever happened to Minister Austin Gatt, the Minister of Transportation? Is he still around? Who is really in charge, He or the Prime Minister? Maybe neither of these two. Mamma Mia, maybe Transport Malta took over.
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 26th 2011, 17:03
@ John Azzoppardi,
I am planning a trip to Scotland next month involving Arriva trains. We have Arriva buses running around the North West of England. I have never heard of anything like the chaos surrounding Arriva that Malta is experiencing.
It is at least 90% Transport Malta's fault- just inability to plan anything in advance.
Michael Lloyd
Nov 27th 2011, 12:31
Mr Tony Gatt - I too live in north-west England and we have Arriva buses which are clean, well-kept and many have recently been repainted into a better livery. They seem to run pretty much to time, although they are not cheap to use. However, friends from elsewhere in the UK say that Arriva is a terrible service provider and they have many problems. I think the difference is that here in the north-west they are in competition with a number of other bus operators, so they have to make a big effort and do the job properly. Where there is no competition they seem happy to let their standards slide. There is no competition in Malta. Perhaps there should be.