Attard residents lose bus option
Before Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s dream of an excellent public transport service turned into a nightmare (for commuters, that is) almost a year ago, Attard residents enjoyed the option of travelling to Valletta via Msida on route 40, or via Ħamrun on one of the Rabat buses, which also passed through Attard.
Since July 3, 2011, this option has been lost, as route 54 to Valletta, which was introduced in one of the many changes since that ill-fated day, and was supposed to replace route 40, is taking the same route as the Rabat buses.
After the cold shower the minister got on his visit to the University campus, he seemed to have realised that things did not turn out the way he had hoped, and declared that since the people did not like the change, the routes will go back to what they were before. In spite of this declaration months ago, and in spite of other changes since then, we are still where we were then.
Balzan, Lija and Attard, which have always been known as the Three Villages and linked by a common bus route, have lost this natural connection. Lija is connected to several other villages but not to Attard. How absurd. How irrational. How inconvenient!
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Francesca Abela
Jun 21st 2012, 12:01
Are Arriva serious?? So they can provide for Isle of MTV but they cannot provide a basic night bus from Paceville to the Jerma area as used to be the case with Bus no 20 before Arriva cocked up the bus service in Marsascala! Todate Marsascala residents young and old have no option but to walk over 15 - 30 minutes to get to the Jerma siberia area as the night bus N91 only stops at the terminus instead of going up to Triq Il Qaliet and San Tumas areas, Immma Bis serjeta dal pajjiz?? Jekk tkun bint xi hadd li tigi aggredita - min ser jerfa ir responsabilita?? Austin Ga
tt qum mir raqda tieghek please! Fejnhom Pawlu Borg Oliver u Simon Busutill? jew dawn mhux affarijiet importanti li il partit taghkom jara 'xi jridu in nies'??
Fran Abela
Jun 18th 2012, 11:29
Mr. or Ms. Caruana - No, I do not work with the new bus operator nor do I have any vested interest like their Maltese shareholders. However, having gone through almost 40 years of a supposedly bus 'service' I can tell the difference. Of course there are still problems that have to be sorted out but it is useless complaining without a group of people getting together and airing their complaints to the Local Councils who, I understand, were part of the reform. I do not think it is 'pika maghna' - it is pika against the new bus operator, Transport Malta of people who never wanted a reform. Unfortunately the buzzword of the other political party is go on complaining ad eternum because after all we did not think of this reform ourselves, so put as many spokes in the wheels as much as possible. Believe it or not there are still people who board buses and who do nothing but complain in a loud voice - I think these may be people who are chosen to push on a certain political party's agenda. You chose to end your comment by insulting me 'oraklu' well, I am certainly no oracle nor do I pretend that I have all the solutions however, it may be good to try and be a bit optimistic. I too had problems with certain bus routes but I tried alternative routes - you know it would be a good thing if people tried to find solutions themselves for a change.
A Caruana
Jun 18th 2012, 10:20
Well said Ms Grima, here in Marsaskala we have been robbed of a service to Valletta for over 10 months before we got it back, then we had a night Bus to Paceville from the Siberia area, and we have also been robbed of that as now the N91 does not go to the siberia and sant tomas areas but only stops at the terminus - hekk sew Sur gharef Austin Gatt??
Fran Abela
Jun 18th 2012, 09:59
Ms. Grima - as far as I know the latest changes in bus routes were the results of talks between the new bus operator, Transport Malta and the Local Councils. So in this case, if you have already complained to Transport Malta I suggest you should also bring up the matter with your local council.
A Caruana
Jun 18th 2012, 10:23
Fran abela i wonder if you work with Transport Malta as you are always finding excuses. Maybe you will anser this ' why has the N91 bus to Marsascala from Paceville not been extended like the 91 to the siberia area?? BEFORE ARRIVA up to 2nd July there was a night bus no 20 which went from Paceville to the siberia area. People have complained to the council, to the Ministry, to Arriva, to Transport Malta and even to the media. Mhux pika din maghna - x'tahseb oraklu??
Saviour Sam Agius
Jun 17th 2012, 19:24
It's pretty close. I live in Ħal Lija, and I've never caught the bus to go to Ħ'Attard. It's not even worth the ticket. I either walk or go by bicycle.
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