Update2 - Arriva says 99% of buses have airconditioning

Jennifer Cosaitis

Jun 27th 2012, 21:37

How many buses have air-conditioning units is one thing, how many on the other hand have FUNCTIONING air-conditioning units is another matter altogether.

Shifukato Arikatakizuka

Jun 27th 2012, 01:49

You can't comment if you haven't tried the service yourself, basic rule of thumb (:

Alfred Cassar

Jun 26th 2012, 23:23

Dear Mr. Angus Black,

Again I stand by the facts as they happened, Mintoff relinquished Power in 1987, not 1981, you could have had a chat with who negotiated the package, for the handover, but unfortunately, this great statesman, has passed away.

Back to today, this government would be lucky if he is still hanging onto, these thin threads of power in the next 25 days, let alone years, what is he running on ?, with ten possible defectors?, probably you should get the facts right, by for example reading this news paper, it is very educational.

A Caruana

Jun 26th 2012, 22:30

303 comments - the majority against Arriva - Austin the infallible - the message is clear from commuters, your revolution is not working! Arriva go home.

A.f Ellul

Jun 26th 2012, 21:06

They say that all the arriva busses have aircondition,but they use the aircondition?What I know is that when I use the transport two months ago,It was so hot that I think that I am not going to reach the next destination.I did'nt use the transport again.Those closed windows are not accepted in out country according to our weather.The old busses were better.

Giov DeMartino

Jun 26th 2012, 18:48

IZJED MINN 300 KUMMENT.....mhux ghax haw l-ghaks, imma ghax hemm xi karozzi tal-linja li ma ghandhomx airconditioners! Fi zmien il-lejber anqsa x'nieklu ma konna nsibu ahseb u ara A/Cs fil-karozzi. Nixtieqw naf kemm minn dawn il-kummentaturi juraw l-Arriva. Anqas Eddy Privitera ma jirkibhom ghax ghandu tieghu. Lili jinjorani ghax, qalli darba, ikun qed isegwi l-futboll

John Spiteri

Jun 26th 2012, 12:19

I catch the number 12 bendy bus mondays to friday after work. None of them have AC! The buses are overcrowded and people are overheating!

Anthony Arpa

Jun 26th 2012, 11:42

Jiena nara li sewwa li qed jaghmlu ix-xufiera jipretendu li ix-xarabank li jkunu qed isuqu tkun bl-aria inkundijonata. Jien ukoll nipretendi li ahna il passigieri ghana nipretendu li L-Arriva jtuna dak kollhu li weghduna li se jtuna ...
Pero xorta dwar dan il fatt jien nara li jekk ir-risposta tal l-Arriva dik li 99% tax xarabanks taghha huma kollha bl-arja ikkundizjonata hija li jekk din hi il-verita tal fatti ,ghalura jien naghra l -Azzjoni tal GWU hija bhala wahda bla sens ....

R. Vella.

Jun 26th 2012, 10:19

yesterday afternoon bus 42 (from Valletta to Cirkewwa) had the AC set on 33 degrees ! - a pleasant journey indeed.
Arriva please stop fooling us !

Andrew Holland

Jun 26th 2012, 08:51

According to wikipedia (so it must be true!), the Arriva Malta operation comprises of around 264 buses. So 1% of those lacks air con? That would be no more than 3 buses then. So, everyone, go out today and note the registration plate of every bus you find WITHOUT air con fitted and post on here perhaps and lets see if it really is 3 buses.. I have a feeling it would be rather more than that!

Rocco Camilleri

Jun 26th 2012, 08:10

To make more sense Arriva better tell us 99 % out of what number, because the 1 % difference could make quite a lot. 1 % out of 100 is just 1 but out of a larger number is another story.

ANTHONY PAVIA

Jun 26th 2012, 08:09

Dear Maltese voter/citizen/taxpayer, insist very strongly on competition in all sectors. Never accept monopoly as the only way forward. Wake up and be counted.

John Scerri

Jun 26th 2012, 07:28

''Arriva says 99% of buses have airconditioning''. This excuse is not acceptable.

The 100% complete should state that Arriva have 100% of buses with air conditioning and all 100% have their AC functioning.

One commuter boarding a bus without AC taking 30 mins to 1hour to reach a destination in this heat is not acceptable.
Commuters pay good money and expect a 100% good service , no questions asked.

A private vehicle has opening windows just in case the AC malfunctions ..........Arriva Buses don't.

Paul Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 23:02

Mela li nara jien 20 darba kulljum huma dawk il 1%

X Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 21:18

OK 99% of buses have AC, great. Lets hope it will be 100% very soon.

In the meantime ensure that the 99% have effective AC and that their AC is in operation 100% of the time when on routes or waiting at terminals.

James Dewar

Jun 25th 2012, 20:23

Yes cannot beat Arriva for stirring up hot debate!! They score every time but sadly it's always an "own goal" !

Colin Rutledge

Jun 25th 2012, 20:20

All i have to say is X3.........yes X3......a disaster !!!!!!!

Kevin Muller

Jun 25th 2012, 20:03

Up to now I am quite happy using Arriva even it's not perfect. On Malta we can not expect a service like we experience in more advanced counties like UK or Germany, cos that needs something so called discipline, which still does not exists on our islands. So whatever company tries to run a good public transport system on Malta must fail just because nobody has to face the consequences.

effie stafrace

Jun 25th 2012, 19:40

i am a commuter who who uses regularly the arriva transport bus number 43 from naxxar to valletta and vice versa and i am 100 per cent satisfied with these service.arriva has made giants step in only a year its had been here in malta and i think it will improve its service in the coming years.but complaints such as buses with no air condition should be tackled immediately in this blistering heat so drivers and passengers should not suffer while using arriva service.in this article i read that disciplinary action will be taken against drivers not using buses with no ac.may i ask why no action was taken against that bus driver who did not turn up for work in the mscala route and left passengers waiting for 2 hours?

Maria Vassallo

Jun 25th 2012, 19:31

Last Friday, I boarded the 83 bus for Santa Lucija.
That was from Floriana and the time was just after 5.15 p.m.
The driver was a young lad.
That afternoon it was very hot both waiting for the bus and inside it.
When we arrived in Aldo Moro Street, an elderly gentleman went up to the driver and politely invited him to switch on the AC.
The driver answered him that it was full on: A BLATANT LIE!
A few seconds after the AC was on because I went up to the said driver and told him that I would report the fact.
THIS IS THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
More discipline please: we might be heading to square one.
AND, PLEASE, GWU NOTE!

Victor Calleja

Jun 25th 2012, 19:29

I seldom use them but when I do I usually find one of those 1%. Perhaps I am unlucky.

Louis Craus

Jun 25th 2012, 19:19

Fis 02.45pm wasalt lura minn Ghawdex,u kien hemm xi ghoxrin karozza tal- Arriva pparkjati ghax qalu li m'ghandomx Aircondition. Qbadt in-Number 42 ta-ftit qabel it-03.00pm ghal Belt Valletta u wkoll ma kelliex
Aircondition. Kif wasalna il- Mellieha, tela' l-inspector u talabna nuruh il- biljett tat transport. Wara li urejtu il- biljett ghedtlu biex ikun ahjar biex jixelilna l-Aircondition. Qalli issa nghid lid-driver jghollilu.
Mhux talli ma qal xejn lid-driver, imma nizel mill- karozza sparat il- barra. Vera arroganza at it's best.
Sakemm wasalt il-Belt, wara siegha w nofs f'tal- linja ,sirt skuzi "zibel " ghax inzertajt f'seat li kien in -naha tax-xemx.....in-naha tad-driver.
Basta il- Kbir Austin Gatt kien qal,li zmien il- buzullotti spicca. Nahseb li b'din l-arroganza ghadhom ser jibdew il- buzullotti, ghax ahna l-popolin ma ghandniex karozza bid-driver u l-aircondition bhallma ghandu hu. Imma ma jimporta xejn,iz-zmien jasal ghal kullhadd.

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 18:57

Dear Mr. Busutill,

The Representative Government's job, is to see that what he contracted in my name, not as a delegate but a representative, that is to the best of his ability, not been told what to do, by either you or me, ... is carried out to the letter.

An Authority was established, it failed, everyone seems to have failed his job, so that trust between the Legislator and the Authority ought top have been lost. Either we go on this way or have the Authority people that have to do with Public Transport fired.

But in view that Hon Austin Gatt (to which I still do not understand why the PM had to back him with the whole government), should have resigned long time ago, but it is not within our culture. Definitely, the Transport Authority people are not immune to this disease, and wont resign either.

So where does it stop?, it stops back at the Top.

The PM and the Cabinet are on my payroll as much as they are on everyone's, that contributes in taxes and in turn awaits protection.

I know as mush as you do, if you commit a very minor detail in breaking some little contravention, the State uses all its powers, and at times even permits that in some cases you are not entitled to a Fair Hearing, and literally comes down on you like a tonne of bricks.

Why should who ever should take responsibility, does not bear the brunt? And who ever is there to create a deterrent and a punishment, does not do so?

In Criminal Law, if I personally take you as a hostage for a limited time, regardless how small, I am sentenced harshly, Arriva does it to the whole population every single day. For if the bus is making you sick and you have no other means but to hang on to that miserable service, then there is something of an illegality in it, that if not specified by law, is specified in a moral of natural sense.

Two elements in this country that bear little or no importance.

C Falzon

Jun 25th 2012, 18:41

Ara veru ma ghandniex problemi f'dan il-pajjiz biex xi erba' karozzi tal-linja bla air conditioning holqu daqhekk interess. Mitejn u hamsin kumment fi ftit sieghat - ara veru ma ghandniex fuq xiex ingergru!

Dunstan Crockford

Jun 25th 2012, 18:28

Contract stated 100%! Please comply! Arriva has/had so many shortcomings!and created a fuss about Bisazza Street..Remember?

Anthony Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 18:24

"......Dear ARRIVA, soon it will be your first birthday!
My best wishes for you on this occasion is that you pack up and go!

Not that the Maltese commuter wants ATP (the former bus system) back .... but perhaps, just perhaps, some new and more serious Bus company will tender again.

We paid good money for your to operate ... you pay us back with hours of waiting in vain at bus-stops and termini. Excuses galore: now it's the traffic, then lack of drivers, then accidents on the road, then break-down of buses.... ask the commuters at bus-stops what they think ... send out some of your reps and gather some feedback!

Do us a favour ... call it a day ... and close shop! We will love you for it!

Victor Pulis

Jun 25th 2012, 17:44

The 239 comments on this issue should show the authorities that the Arriva saga is anything but gone. Some time ago Arriva announced that they are getting less complaints and theycame to the conclusion that the public is now satisfied with their service(!) The public is NOT satisfied but is resigned to his fate and knows that any complaints fall on deaf ears since Arriva has a monopoly. Whoever is responsible for this will have his answer soon.

Reuben D. Spiteri

Jun 25th 2012, 17:41

I feel that the GWU is nitpicking on everything it can as to damage the government's reputation as heavily as possible. A PL scheme I think. Not saying that the Arriva is perfect (far from it) but it's getting tedious listening to all this crying all over the place. Try working in a laboratory without an AC unit while handling samples to and from a 800 degree oven!

Victor Pulis

Jun 25th 2012, 17:24

How many buses are without AC? Number please not percentages. If the number is small then Arriva need not worry as it would not affect the smooth(!) running of the service. What about the passengers who are making use of that 1% without AC? Are they being charged less?

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 17:18

It is the Arrival of Arriva, that will be the main issue in the next General Election, regardless what the PN will try to do to patch up the un-patchable. The PN is fed up of Governing the Country, as was Mintoff in 1987. They shall be returning the favour to the MLP. They are just handing over the country to people that have never respected Human Rights in Malta. But believe it or not the ones who suffered so much under Labour, and know the Country will to some extent suffer one kind of violence or another, after being in the opposition for so long, know that this administration has failed in many respects. When it comes to violating the Body of a Natural Person, be it by hunger or enforced time in a closed environment in a temperature not regulated as the law or regulation establishes, then that would be the last straw on the camels back.

One would have to say, and soon, Au Revoir Démocratie.

Lawrence Gonzi, no one else, should put Police to the Job. Full Stop.

Maria Grech

Jun 25th 2012, 17:03

I catch the bus three or four times a week and I have started to dread it. I catch the Mgarr bus, number 44 and many a time the 17.40 bus does not turn up. A case in point was last Friday, I was at the bus terminus at 17.22 ( time of ticket) and did not board a bus before 18.42. Two buses did not turn up and after three calls to the Arriva customer care with all types of excuses, a bus finally turned up. There were many foreigners going to Ghajn Tuffieha, all with children and some had to call a taxi because they could not wait any longer in the sun. There is no shade and all the benches are in the sun. Please make an effort to get the buses at the Valetta Terminus on time because if this problem is solved even the problems on the way are eased.

saviour ebejer

Jun 25th 2012, 17:00

jien ghamilt gurnata nigri il-bierah bl-arriva minn mscala al mxlokk al belt u bugibba u tas- sliema u il buses kollha kienu air conditioned u dan kollu al 50cents.good value.u la kien hemm bramel u xkupi taht is-seat u lanqas toqob fis seat u alla jbierek kollha packed kienu il buses.

J Cachia

Jun 25th 2012, 16:53

Up till time of writing there are 218 comments about Arriva, 99% against it. Does the Prime Minister, or Austin Gatt, or Transport Malta and Arriva realize how fed up and disgusted we are about the sorry state of the public transport? The bad service offered by the government elicits the most comments in the Times of Malta site. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING FED UP AND HURT! But nobody seems to listen to these complaints. If I were anyone of them and face so much criticism I would go and hide myself in the l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha. Shame on you all!

Doris Farrugia

Jun 25th 2012, 16:42

here we go again.This morning I had a hospital appointment and decided to use Arriva no 135.I was on the bus stop at 11.10 and the bus usually arrives for 15-20 afterwards but at 11.50 I decided to take out my car cause the bus did not show up.The place is triq ghellejjel Gudja.Arriva-NON Arriva!

Giov DeMartino

Jun 25th 2012, 16:39

Taraw kemm ghandna standard of living gholi taht il-PN. Qabel anqas dawl fid-djar ma kien ikollna ahseb u ara A/C fil-karozzi.

Glen Cutteridge

Jun 25th 2012, 16:39

It's incredible how short some people's memories are. No, Arriva is nowhere near perfect and I had to wait for 45 minutes in Naxxar for Bus No. 225 that's supposed to arrive every 20 minutes. Needless to say that when it DID finally arrive it was followed by another 225 close at its tail. That being said, I haven't forgotten the old service, their extremely inconsistent times (I remember waiting a whole hour for one ATP bus last year), and of course the immense heat experienced inside them in summer. My last ever journey on an ATP bus was in the middle of a hot summer's day. I had opened that little window crack but there was no breeze at all, the bus was so crowded that I could literally barely breathe, and I remember dying for the new Arriva service to start operating. I haven't changed my mind.

Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO

Jun 25th 2012, 16:33

Bus commuters must reflect on Arriva's global motto "Constantly better service" and then ask how long are we going to continue being taken for a ride.

Malcolm Mifsud

Jun 25th 2012, 16:09

If you want to cut this issue short just get some inspectors to board buses randomly and we'll see if 99% of the buses you (Arriva) are saying are equipped with, are operated. Something tells me there's some sort of order circulating to switch on airconditioning the least possible. At least that's the impression I get when I board from Fgura every morning, it either is not on and you have to open windows, or if it is on you pray to God that you arrive to your destination before you turn into an ice cube. It's the two extremes that are most common, as usual.

Edgar S. Galea

Jun 25th 2012, 15:53

A year seems to be an aeon: everyone forgot the kind of service we had in the past. Has anyone ever been comfortable with workable air conditioned buses! Arriva's service is much better than the service we then had to endure. It is needless to make comparisons.

Roy Schembri

Jun 25th 2012, 15:49

Now nearly a year since we enjoyed the benefits of a proper bus service operated by ourselves but taken away from us by Minister Gatt and his transport team. They chose Arriva then ran away when it got hot in the kitchen. Aside from the Government the GWU were also led along the garden path by Arriva and into 'agreements' that they're now finding were not worth the paper scribbled on. Amazing what 'tea and scones' can do to Mr Zarb and Co.

Can Dr Muscat and his transport mannie (whoever that is) now come out from hiding and state that on the return of a Labour government Arriva will be sacked with their bags, buses, bendy's, king 'loons' and all other rubbish they've demped here sent back to where they came from. That promise Dr Muscat (and backed up by action) will ensure your success in any forthcoming election.

Tonio Farrugia

Jun 25th 2012, 15:39

anything short of "100% fully functioning and effective airconditioned buses, working 24x7" is totally unacceptable!

let us not forget what this reform has cost to the tax payers!

Eddy Privitera

Jun 25th 2012, 15:32

I note "lawyers speak" in Arriva's statement. I understand that the GWU directive says that drivers should not drive busse unless yhe airconditioning system is working, or am I wrong ? Having airconditioning installed but out of order is just like not having any airconditioning system at all !

Sarah Agius Bezzina

Jun 25th 2012, 15:30

Everything about Arriva is faulty and they have not realised it yet. The colour of the bus is not uniform, people are left out in the sun waiting for endless hours in all weathers without having adequate shade and without knowing whether a bus is ever turning up, airconditioning is not functioning in almost all buses (this constitutes the 1%!!!).

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 15:26

Is the GWU being discriminatory, here?, Is the action being taken , because the Drivers have no air con on their head , or that the drivers are fed up with the complaints of the public?, what is really the issue , here?

Does the GWU, not have the majority of Arriva bus users, as members of her Union?, So, is it not true, that this Union should, not only beat the drums on something that could seem trivial as to the bigger picture , of the whole population of users?

So, if for the sake of a few drivers, we now have an indefinite strike, what shall we expect, if the GWU decides to speak in the name of the thousands upon thousands of her members who suffer on the way to work and back?, ..... as it should do?

Joe Tabone

Jun 25th 2012, 15:17

The GWU should that notice of hundreds of workers who use the public transport on a daily basis to travel to and from their workplace. They should sit down with the management and find solutions, and not try to impress Arriva workers after they threatened to set their own union!

ANTHONY PAVIA

Jun 25th 2012, 15:17

I say that 99% of Arriva'a buses are far nosier to other road and pavement users than the previous bangers.

Robert Grixti

Jun 25th 2012, 15:16

how unlucky, it seems that the lines serving naxxar and gharghur lie within the 1% then

Mrs Wendy Hall-Jennings

Jun 25th 2012, 15:13

Last Thursday evening, my husband was waiting for a bus from 5:45pm to bring him home from work. The one bus that did turn up said that he couldnt get on it because it was full, although 6 people had got off the bus? He was told that buses had been taken off the route by Arriva due to faults with air conditioning. My husband then ended up having to go in the opposite direction into Valletta, to get a bus home. He finally made it back to Qawra at 8:50pm! This is absolutely disgusting service. When he rang the Arriva Customer Services to complain and ask why, they hung up on him. The service provided by Arriva is shocking, and cannot see any improvement since it started almost a year ago.

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 15:03

It is high time, commuters start using alternative transportation than 'Meals on Wheels', where the only item on the Menu, is us Users. If there is consensus amongst the general public that they are better off with walking than suffocating, then so be it. This Bad attitude by these PR officials should fought back.

What happens when these high earning dwindle?, . like any other commercial Company, they move on and of course, out of our Country.

Buses are not only used by Locals but by Tourists, who we all know lose so much precious and expensive time waiting for Buses, when then they board the Oven, they pay dearer tolls, and suffer double we do , especially if they are Nordic.

What a good name for Malta, ... where is Hon De Marco?, has he not just signed a contract with them on carrying Passengers to and fro to Concerts, fine, did he go into the High Temperature issue, ... I don't think so, ..... seem fully there is always someone else to address the issue,

then who better than the Transport Authority?, when they themselves , stick their own head in the sand?,

Where is the Police Commissioner and his army, that in their Police Stations, whenever someone who is a victim , files a report on Arriva, that trips are diverted, not carried out at all, or any other grievance that is a crime created by the relative law, enacted through our own parliaments against abuses by the buses owners or operators?

These victims are ridiculed. Seem fully, even the Police , for so long they have not arraigned anyone on this law we have, that they say there are no laws in this respect. So therefore since this law, has not been abrogated , and is still in vigore, then Arriva is having special treatment, at our expense, both morally and financially.

James Dewar

Jun 25th 2012, 14:59

"This process will be complete in the coming weeks"! Yet another open-ended comittment! 99% of buses have AC ? Well even if true and they are all functioning properly that is not what Arriva promised and there are obviously a number of buses without the facility . Somewhat unfortunate if you happen to be travelling on the 1% that don't comply! The drivers are absolutely right to take action and illustrate the point and they should be supported.

C Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 14:58

The GWU are making it easier for Arriva to slowly replace the trouble making Maltese drivers who have no work ethic with those from other EU countries where having a job is a priviledge and respected. I hope Arriva uses these opportunity to 'cleanse' it's workforce of these people who have no intention of delivery a service beyond their minim contract (often much less).

Time to move on and recruit those from other EU countries.

Emma Xerri

Jun 25th 2012, 14:58

But.... in buses that are in reality glass cages, the A/C percentage should be 100.

Arriva please take note, a 1% non airconditioned bus takes in hundreds of people a day who have to suffer the hour journeys that most of your routes take. There are laws against keeping dogs in hot cars in the sun, so why is it OK if it is for people?

C Baldacchino

Jun 25th 2012, 14:56

Ok so who's to blame??

Fran Abela

Jun 25th 2012, 14:50

Commuters please let us stick to the issue now which is buses without airconditioning. I do agree of course that buses should have airconditioning and this was supposed to have been one of the conditions of the new bus operator contract with Transport Malta. So the pertinent question to ask why is Transport Malta so silent on this issue. That is the question. I do not care if the bus operator is fined for not supplying buses with airconditioning - we want airconditioned buses full stop. If the new bus operator are having problems with airconditioning the buses - it seems this is happening mostly on the bendy buses - well that is their problem and they have to solve it.

Joey Tribbiani

Jun 25th 2012, 14:46

Arriva says 99% of buses have airconditioning - Apart from the fact that 100% of the buses should have a/c, are the ones installed all fully functional?

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 14:46

Yes very good updates, go on , bury your head in the sand, as if all is ok.

Of course we all know the address of these officials, with such truthful statements, they are reachable, as follows: 'Good PR House', Wrong Way, A Moon, Revolving Round Planet 7X8CVCB52GFDF.

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 14:42

So they should make the extra effort for that 1% more.

Arriva is not here for a social benefit but for profitable gains, like any commercial enterprise (and some subsidy here and there).



(jb)

M. Calleja

Jun 25th 2012, 14:41

How many buses constituted the alleged 1% of the total Arriva fleet?

I would like to point out, as a frequent Arriva user, that, in their majority, buses destined to the Three Cities ie Routes 1,2 and 3 are non-airconditioned, making the 10-15 minutes trip 'hell on wheels' particularly in the afternoon, not to mention the level of stench from sweating patrons! Not their fault definitely! Travelling to the Three Cities is like driving yourself home smelling your own armpits all the way.

Can something please be done to have our route buses airconditioned please? I don't even know why I should have to ask for this. Our tickets are not any cheaper just because the promised ariconditioning does not work. If we are to pay for the fare we should be able to enjoy the same pleasant ride, as people travelling to other areas of Malta.

I hate to say this, but people of the South of Malta seem to be considered "Children of a Lesser God".

Malcolm Farrugia

Jun 25th 2012, 14:41

And the remaining 1% is without A/C, so the drivers who are unfortunate to have to drive these busses have all the right to refuse to drive them!

Steven Smith

Jun 25th 2012, 14:39

they may have a/c fitted but they do not work!

Carmel Zammit

Jun 25th 2012, 14:33

What happened to Dr. Austin Gatt's pledge to have air-conditioning installed and functional on all Ariiva buses by May??

When will the much vaunted IT system functioning? I year into Arriva negative experience and the public is still awaiting delivery. Shame!!!

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 14:23

Why are you complaining?

You can have a sauna in a non air-conditioned bus and for free (only the bus fare)!



(jb)

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 14:20

Arriva buses were meant for cold climates and not Malta unless they are fully air-conditioned!


(jb)

mario salnitro

Jun 25th 2012, 14:19

Bravi ghandkom ragiun 100%

John Spiteri

Jun 25th 2012, 14:17

Not all the old buses have been painted white. Some of the old buses are painted turquoise too. The bendy buses are the worst offenders for having no AC and we have narrow slits for open windows. The air is actually cooler outside the bus, even since the heat wave. It is a relief when the doors open at each bus stop! I feel sorry for the bus drivers and have witness complaints being directed at them because of overheating on the bus.

Lucienne Dimech

Jun 25th 2012, 14:16

It is inhuman to expect anybody to spend a whole day driving in our sweltering heat without an airconditioner. Many were the complaints about heat on the old buses in that case nothing could be done but these buses are meant to be equipped with an Ac so why in the world would it be left off? maybe to consume some less diesel? Who cares if need be put up the price of the ticket but to expect a long journey in a bus loaded with sweaty passengers and no Ac is inhuman and unheard of in this day and age. Sometimes it feels like we live in a third world country.

Adrian Grech

Jun 25th 2012, 14:11

sewwa jamlu id drivers.

GL Calleja

Jun 25th 2012, 14:10

Air Conditioning on a bus in Malta should be mandatory. When you see the passengers on a bus without A/C you can hear the sighs and the moaning coming out of these passengers. The people who make the rules are sitting in their offices with A/C or a fan aiming at them. Once you get on that non A/C bus you become a prisoner of the system and why in this day and age? The more we progress, the more we regress. As we can see, the buck did not stop anywhere to be seen, and neither did the incompetence of Arriva and TM. Public transportation is losing faith, both in the air and on the ground, but it seems nobody gives a damn.

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 14:04

And to think that the 'zmien tal- buzzulotti' were to be a thing of the past.

They are still with us. And how!


(jb)

Joseph Mifsud

Jun 25th 2012, 14:03

The government brought Arriva to give the impression that the old bus drivers were a bunch of awful 'Hamalli' people. Now Arriva is obliging the drivers to wear the tie in Malta's summer , not even in Norway the police wear a tie, so that they make us think that we live somewhere in northern Europe.
The unions must issue a directive to the drivers so they take of the tie.

Joe B Edwards

Jun 25th 2012, 14:01

I am behind the bus drivers 100% on this issue, which must be resolved asap.
These windowless buses are not meant to be driven without AC, especially in summer with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius.

A Caruana

Jun 25th 2012, 14:00

Arriva will soon celebrate it's infamous 1st anniversary in Malta, a year which has caused nothing but upheavels and problems for commuters in all parts of the Island, see today's letters in the Times. As the English say same s*** - different day. After nearly one year of suffering Arriva and Transport Malta's incompetence it is very clear, Arriva is not delivering and must go. Residents want a service that gets them from A to B in the fastest possible time with the least possible interchanges and stress. Transport Malta ignores suggestions from residents who know what they need in their towns and accepts idiotic ideas from foreign consultants who have no idea how Malta operates Yet the Minister does not admit any blame in this fiasco. We Maltese are treated like a lot of idiots who do not know anything. The message is clear, not much has changed or improved over the old Bus service which was tatty but at least we had a service that people needed and we got to work and school on reasob=nable time, nowadays with all the detours and sightseeing tours we are subjected to and with the lost routes we are indeed worse off then before 3rd July 2011. We do not blame the drivers who were promised miracles, the public was misled in believing that Arriva was going to change the transport system in Malta - well it did but for the worse. Whoever created this mess should shoulder responsibility and resign and get someone who can do a good job. In other countries when they changed the bus provider they kept the same routes and numbers, here we changed everything and added to the confusion. The air conditioning issue is just one of many issues with Arriva we commuters are having to go through. Thanks to the knoww it alls who decided they know better then us lesser mortals.

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 13:57

@Charles Muscat

"This is getting a little bit too much now. How many of you writers use an air-conditioner at home?
Non of the old buses had one anyway. A tip for passengers, buy a portable fan and the environment
will thank you for it."

What is your argument really?

Please let me remind you that we were promised 'state of the art' Euro 5 buses which had obviously to be fully air-conditioned. The Hon Minster said nothing about reconditioned buses and neither do I remember him mentioning bendy buses which were baned from the streets of London.

And remember for this 'state of the art' "service" we are paying through our teeth twofold - increased bus fares and government subsidy (even if this was supposed to be a thing of the PAST)!

So if little things pleases you buy the fan yourself!




(jb)

Claire Busuttil

Jun 25th 2012, 13:55

have the heads of ARRIVA, ever been in summer on one of their busues (which have only small windows) without A/C .....??? IT IS A NIGHTMARE!!!! One can get sick easily.

E. Azzopardi

Jun 25th 2012, 13:54

I cannot comprehend why this cropped up, because before ARRIVA arrived, we were promised, AMONGST MANY OTHER THINGS, that ALL buses will be air conditioned. I boarded three buses without A/C, and I do not use them much, because I find certain routes (especially 225) very very unreliable. It is useless having a website with all timings, if you cannot keep at them. I always maintained that in this country, buses will never be on time. I still cannot understand why we get tickets on the buses, with all that waste of time. Anyway, I still have all the paper cuttings with all that was going to change with ARRIVA, but I am afraid, that a year after ( that is, three times the "honeymoon period") we are far from many of those promises.
NEVER, NEVER MAKE A PROMISE YOU CANNOT KEEP. I have the strong feeling that in two years time, we will be back to square one, from what I can see. ARRIVA must really pull its sock up. We are not there.

N. Agius

Jun 25th 2012, 13:47

Arriva is the worst company we could have gone for. Apart from this air conditioning problem.. they replaced the 232 bus from Mater dei to Mellieha which took 30 minutes by a new route 37 which takes over 1 hour! The X1 service was supposed to be more frequent but this did not happen!

Shame on you Arriva.

John Scerri

Jun 25th 2012, 13:43

The buses are in a horrible state. dents, near misses, super noisey and all.

Some drivers now drive worse than the old drivers, no indicators , over speeding , and all.

This so called Bus 'Service?' is in serious need of a review, repair, replace.

Just only 1 year ago we were promised everything except what we have now .

The time to amend and adjust is over .

What we see today will be what we will have in the coming years and the picture is far from a bus 'SERVICE'

Charles Muscat

Jun 25th 2012, 13:25

This is getting a little bit too much now. How many of you writers use an air-conditioner at home?
Non of the old buses had one anyway. A tip for passengers, buy a portable fan and the environment
will thank you for it.

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 13:24

The first thing , the then Honourable Joseph as the then future PM, is the public trusts him with a mandate, should not be IVF, but sending Arriva as an operator home. The contract with Arriva has been violated, raped and murdered by this company.

What really is ironic, is the news from the Law Courts, ... 30 months for a miserable driver? what he stole or misappropriated was quantified.

What Arriva stole from this country, in productive man hours, ..... the death penalty should be reintroduced?

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 13:19

Oh dear you can go on and on, This week from University roundabout, around 23 passengers left stranded for 90 minutes in the blazing sun, driver just did not bother to stop. The punishment could be: 1) Retaining, or 2) Dismissal.

As if these guys care?, no fine?, kick me out?,. after they as drivers, taste the way Arriva treats them, they know they are better off signing off, for social assistance. So at the end of the day drivers do benefit, those punished remain and will always be, the bus users.

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 13:18

@Giov DeMartino

"We have ALWAYS been used to airconditioned buses"

Of course not Mr DeMartino! But then Mr Gatt promised us Euro 5 buses (saying nothing about reconditioned ones) which were supposed to be fully air-conditioned. Neither did he say anything about bendy buses which were removed from the streets of London. And remember that we are paying extra for their 'service'.

Seems that the 'buzzullotti' are still with us!



(jb)

Peter Kennedy

Jun 25th 2012, 13:06

The GWU is quite correct to take this action, if Arriva promised and were contracted to supply buses with air conditioning then they have a duty to supply them, they are also in breach of their 10 year contract until they DO supply them, the bendy buses that came off the streets of London would not have had AC in that theatre but surely it is not rocket science to install it.
The 'King Long' buses built in China should have been delivered with AC, you should also be aware that the bus will use roughly 10% more fuel with AC running...no small potatoes with the price of fuel these days.
Arriva was a decent company before it was taken over by Deutsche Bahn, the next time you see your GWU driver you should give him a pat on the back for standing up for Your rights.

Victor Pulis

Jun 25th 2012, 13:00

Apat from the AC the routes are still a mess. last Saturday I waited for the number 1 bustoSenglea for one and a half hours at the Valletta terminus. Unless and until the routes are back to what they were before the new disservice was introduced we will still not be properly served.

Antoine Ferrito

Jun 25th 2012, 12:58

Promises promises...."zmien il-buzullotti spicca."..u nitqannaw b'servizz medjokri u karozzi li kienu ghar-rimi u ddubbajna bihom ahna...bhas-soltu. Pajjiz tat-tilqit, weghdi fl-arja u l-poplu jbaxxi rasu ghar-rieda tal-mexxejja sinjuri li ghandna. L-aqwa li huma bil BMW u bil-helicopter u bil-Jet u b'hames mitt ewro fil-gimgha pocket money.

Giovanni Rizzo

Jun 25th 2012, 12:56

F'sitwazzjoni bhal din mhux ta' b'xejn li terga tuza l-karoza tieghek. Certu rotot jiehdu l-fuq minn siegha u kwart.

Alfred Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 12:48

The GWU, of whom I am not a fan, has taken action on the Arriva Drivers situation relating to Air-conditioning, wow.

Many, too many have suffered at the hands of this company, which does not, I repeat, does not have, at heart the interest of the general commuter.

Having said that, neither do the politicians, of one side or the other. This problem of air-conditioning has been know since day one, these junk buses from foreign and local scrapyards have been dumped on the Island.

In Winter it was hell on earth to travel in a closed bus big, small, or Bendy, with the heaters on, even in the coldest of days. Passengers have fallen ill, even in winter.

Now, that a nine / ten month summer is here, Arriva has the nerve to say things are improving, whilst every one knows, Bendy Buses DO NOT HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING, they have head ripping noisy blowers, with no fresh air at all, and to add insult to injury, the engines on all these buses emit internally intense amount of heat.

That is not all. For those who want to be candidates for lung cancer, then they should definitely use Arriva. On every Arriva bus, one finds fine carbon exhaust particles throughout these buses. One only has to pass his finger anywhere or look at the openings of these air ducts, they are filthy with carbon. At times air is unbreathable.

Also, with the blackening of windows, since Arriva all of a sudden is not using adhesive plastic that is reflecting the suns rays, the suns rays are entrapped, serving the commuters as if they were tomatoes in a glass house.

But having mentioned vegetables, one should not leave out animals. Some get fined tens of thousands for animal cruelty, Arriva gets away with murder. And secondly, I think there comes a time, whereby Politicians stop playing with their toys and look at the real suffering of people. They are treated worst than animals.

For any one in the house of representatives that says we are looking into things, and the Transport authority, meets every six months to review things, Six Months?, ... In my life I have seen , so many six months , that 50 years had passed, to see a change in the transport system. Only to have a window at my seat , taken away from me, for the sake of aesthetics, or for how nice a bus may look?, or for some European Union regulation or Directive?, Hell with the EU, then.

There seems to be oppression from all angles. The whole country, with the exception of that 3 or 4 % that earn the equivalent of the rest of us all together, have been thrown in Poverty, and now not only are they suffocating financially, but even physically.

joe vella

Jun 25th 2012, 12:47

Remember Austin Gatt claiming that all the newly saddled in buses will be fitted out with the proper Eur engines, Arriva livery and colours and fitted with airconditioning plus other amenities by MAY 2012

well austiin another of your famous promises on the rocks!!

L. Thomas

Jun 25th 2012, 12:28

Remember, it was said that ALL Arriva buses would have airconditioning installed by summer when the extra white buses were introduced into the service. Another lie...... One fully understands that drivers would not want to drive buses without A/C in such hot weather. And what about the poor passengers??........ Nobody cares, as usual.

Arthur Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 12:27

Fellow readers and bus commuters. I have noticed that certain routes are being threated by Arriva as not being so important and that anything will do. Route 54 example is served only by busses which have been taken over from the old bus fleet and like all the rest of the old busses they still dont have any AC apart from all the rattling and vibration created whilst driving.

If we where promised by Arriva that the bus services will have AC as a standard then how about spending a week noting down which buses have no airconditioning including timing, bus route number and bus number plate and then at the end of the week all of us present a complaint at the Consumer Affairs department in St. Venera against Arriva? I think that will get Arriva management off their behinds and start to take concrete action!

Fred Vella

Jun 25th 2012, 12:25

Yes, good for them. Look at the buses all broken and the noise they are doing.

John L Galea

Jun 25th 2012, 12:22

Well done by these drivers. Last week I went back home using a bus without airconditioning and it was like a hell trip.

Mr Lawrence Mifsud

Jun 25th 2012, 12:15

Bad service all around.
Arriva was to have air conditioned buses set at 23celcius: this is repeated 'ad nausiam' by its rep on a local radio station phone-in programme.
Drivers and commuters are paying for it and they must get it.
After saying that, is it the right decision by the Union? Transport is already inadequate; the protest makes it worse. Can another way be found? PLEASE!

Anthony Arpa

Jun 25th 2012, 12:14

Kulhadd huwa lest li jisma l-ilmenti tac Cittadini
Imma hadd jew ftit li wisq huma dawk li jaghtu kaz ta l-ilmenti tac Cittadini .
Paroli Si Fatti No

Anthony Pace

Jun 25th 2012, 12:14

Good for the GWU.

These buses should have all been air-conditioned by the end of May with new engiines. Instead I see some of the older buses painted in white or the Gozitan buses which were newer painted in grey still. The state of the art transport system which doesn't seem to want to function should have been up and running smoothly by now. (A bit like the state of the art hospital!!! - not yet fully functional after 5/6 years)

Austin Gatt should have told the bus drivers to get the new buses themselves and give them a deadline by which to acquire them. We would have got value for money such as European buses instead of Chinese ones that do not break down so much. Now we are saddled with Arriva till the next election when hopefully the buses will be nationalised again and the junk buses such as dangerous bendy ones thrown out of the island.

John Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 12:11

To all complaining about these actions, be sincere, how many of you are regular bus commuters or better than this how many of you ever boarded one of these buses???

Carmen Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 12:04

mela karozzi bhal dawk tista toqghod fihom minghajr air conditioning. l-aktar meta tkun mimlija sa ruh ommha. anqas naqra nifs ma tista tiehu.

Michael Camileri

Jun 25th 2012, 12:01

not to complain about the great idea of air-conditioning, because I welcome them... but, the temperatures are near freezing when the air conditioning is turned on... which is at times worse than being too hot

josephine CACHIA

Jun 25th 2012, 12:00

Grazzi,w zommu sod..Arriva bla AC ,iggibna f sitwazzjoni ferm ghar milli konna qabel ,ax bla twieqi ukoll..plus li qed nhallsu izjed ghal servizz ahjar suppost...

josephine CACHIA

Jun 25th 2012, 11:56

Grazzi,u zommu sod..Arriva bla AC ,iggibna f sitwazzjoni ferm ghar milli konna qabel ,ax bla twieqi ukoll..

Isola Danti

Jun 25th 2012, 11:52

Of course the drivers have all the right to act, GWU or not, it's an issue of working condition. Not to mention the passengers also suffer a great deal in those very much closed buses without AC. Being a big multinational public transport company, Arriva should be obliged to equip every bus with AC in Malta.

Beppe Pisani

Jun 25th 2012, 11:42

Froga ohra ta' Austin Gatt!.........bilkemm kien hawn xi hadd darba li qal li super Austin biex ikun xi CEO ta' xi multinational!
Bidillu forsi!

James Dewar

Jun 25th 2012, 11:39

Inconvenient for travellers but the drivers are well justified. Yet another deadline comes and goes and more broken promises from Arriva who made such grand pre-launch statements that were, from the outset, virtually impossible to honour. They bid for the contract and gave binding assurances in doing so and one year on they have still failed to fully deliver. Not good.

C Busuttil

Jun 25th 2012, 11:37

Euro u 50 cents imma suppost inkluz l-aircondition.... suppost

Adrian Pavia

Jun 25th 2012, 11:37

Ma jistax ikun nibqghu sejrin b'dal-kummiedji bl-arriva. Hemm bzonn li xi hadd jurijom li hawnhekk nixtiequ servizz sejru kif konna mwieghda. Jien ma nemminx li l problema enormi tas sistema ta l-IT ma jistawx isibu tarfa. Il-problema hija li ma jridux jonfqu flus ghax il kumpanija ga falluta wara sena. Ezempju car huma l karozzi gravi li gabu malta.

J Cachia

Jun 25th 2012, 11:26

Ghandhom ragun ix-xufiera ma jsuqux bla airconditioners. Anki l-passiggieri jbatu! U tinsewx, ahna konna mwieghda l-airconditioners ... u bla buzullotti wkoll!Kulhadd jaf jordna mill-ufficcju tieghu frisk bhal hassa ghax hu ghandu l-arja kundizzjonata.

Sarah Agius Bezzina

Jun 25th 2012, 11:25

Vetturi minghajr aircondition fil-gurnata tal-llum misshom lanqas biss jersqud lejn pajjizna!!

Victor Buhagiar

Jun 25th 2012, 11:25

Where is Dr AUstin Gatt now or as usual all his pompous talk is just smoke (to be polite)?

laura anderson

Jun 25th 2012, 11:22

Thanks to the drivers having the guts to strike over this. Its like an oven on those buses without tha AC. Hope it all gets resolved quickly.

Frank Abela

Jun 25th 2012, 11:17

As far as I know, way back in November when some old busses were addded to the network and these busses did not have the A/C, Euro V engines and official Arriva colours, it was promised that by end of May 2012 all these points would have been tackled ON ALL BUSSES. Is this another ARRIVA promise broken?

Joseph Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 11:11

Hang on why on earth should Arriva operate buses WITHOUT Air con???!!!! Wasn't this supposed to be state of the art Austin Gatt.

It is the public that should refuse to board buses without air con at the price they have to pay!!!!!

M Zammit

Jun 25th 2012, 11:08

I think the drivers are doing the right thing,by putting there foot down! i catch buses daily from sliema, ive seen too many people feel sick,panic attacks and so on.A full bus without any windows open and no a/c is madness in this heat.
Very true we did not have A/c's with the old buses ,but at least back then they used to keep them well ventilated! now we are paying more for a better service which should include a/c.

Joe Fenech

Jun 25th 2012, 10:58

What? Because the junk you drove 2 years ago had AC? Buffoons !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anthony Grech

Jun 25th 2012, 10:58

Thank You General Workers' Union. Thank You Drivers. It is Hell to travel in these buses without air condition, but ofcourse the BIGHEADS AT CASTILLE do not know what it means.

B Grech

Jun 25th 2012, 10:56

For those of you commenting that the drivers were happy to work without aircon on the old buses clearly never rode on a bus. The old buses had windows, the new ones don't. Riding on an Arriva bus without aircon during the summer is inhumane, let alone driving one all day long!

P BORG

Jun 25th 2012, 10:55

Madoffi x'gharukaza.... XI karrozzi tal-linja m'ghandhom "er-kondixin"!!!!!
F'hiex gabuna .... bl-"er-kondixin" fuq ix-xarabank...
Sewwa jghidu kemm konna ahjar meta konna aghar..... (ghax vera konna aghar!!!)

J Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 10:55

Finally some action has been taken...I hope arriva fixes this problem immediately.Hardly any excuses are left about these teething problems are there?

V. Cauchi

Jun 25th 2012, 10:53

Let us be realistic: there are no windows to open, unless the driver opts to drive with an open door if this is not against the law. Even so, passengers at the far end inside would not be able to get a breath of fresh air.

We tried reinventing the wheel, but one year on we might have only learnt the old mill-stone with sliding windows was mason cut for Malta!

Ramon Casha

Jun 25th 2012, 10:52

The drivers are right. I wouldn't want to spend the entire day in a hot bus without air conditioning or windows.

Victor Pulis

Jun 25th 2012, 10:49

One of the boasts with the new system was that buses were to be equipped with AC. So i don't see why the usual boot lickers are complaining because drivers refuse to operate buses without AC. After all it is to our benefit that the AC works. The argument that the old buses had no AC is stupid. Arriva stareted on the wrong footing and problems will never go awawy unless it's scrapped and sterted from scratch with proper and sensible planning meaning TM left out of the project.

T.F. Busuttil

Jun 25th 2012, 10:45

What about the consumers who are paying full fair for an air-conditioned bus? where are the consumers rights?

donald borg

Jun 25th 2012, 10:43

I assume that the contract with Arriva stipulate that buses are to be airconditioned.Then the buses are to be airconditioned full stop.It seems that some maltese people are prepared to accept conditions which exist in third world coiuntries.Thanks to the government for the change in the quality of life that buses are to be airconditioned and its up to transport malta that they take action that Arriva abides with the contract. It seems that the Honourable Prime Minister has to intervene so that things start moving. I trust that Transport Malta will expedite the neccessary action with Arriva.

Mr phil sam

Jun 25th 2012, 10:40

" passengers had been taken ill ". could this not also be caused, by the time spent on the buses.

Sarah Agius Bezzina

Jun 25th 2012, 10:40

sewwa qed jaghmlu x-xufiera tal-Arriva li jistrakjaw!

Il-pakkett li gie imwieghed minn Arriva mhux qieghed jigi moghti lill-pubbliku u ahna mhux sa naccettaw u nbaxxu rasna ghal servizz medjokri.

Etienne Galea

Jun 25th 2012, 10:39

I confirm that numerous buses either do not have AC at all or not functioning, or at least that is what I am told when I ask. If the AC is not functioning the buses should not be put into service, minimum!

j brincat

Jun 25th 2012, 10:37

Isn't air conditioning on Arriva buses supposed to be the norm?

What changed?



(jb)

G Mangion

Jun 25th 2012, 10:36

Arriva drivers refuse to drive buses without airconditioning:

Agree. But the Drivers should NOT have left the faulty a c's without reporting them to be fixed by Summer,

They had all Winter to do so and not leave it for the last second and cause kaos to the Passengers ! Who's fault it realy is ??? I Wonder..............!

G. Mangion.

Joseph Cauchi Senior

Jun 25th 2012, 10:32

It is a fact that passengers and drivers cannot use these buses unless the air-conditioning is operative especially when these buses do not have open windows.

It is impossible to work under these conditions during the day in our hot summers in Malta.

However, what I disapprove of is the fact that the GWU should be more reasonable and discuss with the management these problems, rather than taking industrial action which will undoubtedly harm the passengers, the employees and the company in question.

Militancy and strike actions should be measures of last resort!

“Bil-kelma ‘t-tajjba, toħroġ il-ġurdien mit-toqba”.

JC.

Victor Pulis

Jun 25th 2012, 10:30

One of the boasts with the new system was that buses were to be equipped with AC. So i don't see why the usual boot lickers are complaining because drivers refuse to operate buses without AC. After all it is to our benefit that the AC works. The argument that the old buses had no AC is stupid. Arriva stareted on the wrong footing and problems will never go awawy unless it's scrapped and sterted from scratch with proper and sensible planning meaning TM left out of the project.

Edward Curmi

Jun 25th 2012, 10:28

smells of GWU again...give us a break!!!

David Mangion

Jun 25th 2012, 10:28

Kont, ghadni, u nibqa nghidha..........

L-aqwa progett kapitali li seta jaghmel il-gvern ta GonziPN ma kellux ikun il-progett ta Bieb il-Belt, IMMA L-BINI TA SISTEMA TA UNDERGROUND TRANSPORT bhal tal-ibliet ewlenin tal-Ewropa.

Ahna ninsabu fl-istat tal-biki, fejn qed nahsbu biex nghamlu underground bejn Malta u Ghawdex......imma lanqas ghadna bdejna nahsbu kif se naghmlu sistema ta underground ghal Malta.

Underground transport system ghandna dawn il-vantaggi.
1- Trains always on time. (m'hemmx skuza ta traffic jams).
2- L-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni tibqa ghaddejja ghal tul ta snin, minghajr ma tkompli tifqa' Malta bil-bini.
3-Jonqos it-traffiku mit-toroq.
4-Elementi klimatici ma jeffettwawx hafna, f'sistema ta underground.
5-Jizdiedu l-impiegi, u n-negozji li joperaw fl-istazzjonijiet tal-undergroung.

WE DON'T HAVE TO RE-INVENT THE WHEEL......IF IT WORKS IN THE MAJOR CITIES WORLDWIDE, THEN IT IS PROBABLY FEASIBLE EVEN IN MALTA.

simon ellul sullivan

Jun 25th 2012, 10:26

Wow they finally found a valid reason to strike... It was bound to happen eventually

Andrew Azzopardi

Jun 25th 2012, 10:25

The bendy buses on routes 12 and 13 are like mobile saunas. They are packed to the rafters, no air conditiong, and windows that do not open.

Kevin Camilleri

Jun 25th 2012, 10:21

Being a daily Arriva commuter, I must say that the service has improved drastically! However, I cannot not comment on how, a year on, the electronic displays are not working both on Bus Stops and on the Buses themselves and on how we still have buses without air conditioning.

X Borg

Jun 25th 2012, 10:21

Arriva, this is Malta, this is summer and its very hot. You don't need to be an expert to realise this.

After all we are paying a fare that should have factored in these requirements or have we been cutting corners with old Arriva buses from UK.

A Dimech

Jun 25th 2012, 10:21

I'm sorry but I cannot but fail to understand home some people still blame GWU and the unions for this. What is next? Blame the worker? Buses were PROMISED and GUARANTEED they they are all WITH AC. We were promised that they are of a certain high level even if they are of the old system.

Promises, promises, promises. . .people that blame the GWU should be ashamed of themselves. Put yourself in the driver's shoes for once!

Francesca Abela

Jun 25th 2012, 10:16

Ok so when the great Austin launched his 'revol;ution' in the Public transport we were told that ' Now the buses will be brand new -( not) , the buses will be airconditioned ( not), the drivers will be in uniform (ok) the buses will run on time (not) Malta will have a better public transport system ( not) so WHAT EXACTLY HAS IMPROVED? Before 3rd July what passengers complained about is still happening in spite of all the wasted thousands on route changes which were changed back and now no aircondition as well in this heatwave1 Le le Austin should ESIGN - he is responsible for this mess, and what has become of the transport task force chaired by the PM??/ or are they all having a nap??

D. A . Agius

Jun 25th 2012, 10:16

"She said drivers had told her that their colleagues were not driving buses without airconditioning because a number of passengers had been taken ill as the temperatures soared and airconditioning was not used."

The old buses had windows which you could open and open doors to let air circulate. These buses do not.

I suspect as well these issues are mainly related to the buses which had been brought here "temporarily" and which we were assured should meet all standards of service by May or be taken out.

Now if anyone of you shooting down this action want to ride around in a sauna in June/July's Maltese weather, with shade temperatures hitting 32 degrees, let alone a bus staying in the sun all day long with people crammed inside contributing to the heat, then that person is either mad or suicidal.

K. Vella

Jun 25th 2012, 10:14

@ Sur Micallef

These are purely operational problems, why are you trying to motivate such issues politically.

Furthermore, I do agree to protest as customers we were promised that all buses are air-conditioned, and I hope that the union will continue to excercise such pressure.

W Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 10:13

So much for state of the art... we were promised buses with AC, as usual its not exactly true!

Joseph Micallef

Jun 25th 2012, 10:08

My goodness gracious... still problems with Arriva? A year on and STILL with such as disgusting service? And yet we were promised by Austin that we're going to have an excellent service second to none!!! So first we had and still have the route problems, than the lack of time schedule keeping and we were told to show patience due to teething problems, but hey, I can't accept buses without having a functional a/c now!!! They made such a big fuzz about the new comfortable temperature!!!! with the exact, precision guided temperature being guaranteed!!!

And now? And yet, the minister responsible for all this fiasco is still there (part-time due to the other part-time job at the GonziPN HQ)

Mario Tabone

Jun 25th 2012, 10:06

More disruption by the GWU !!!
Correct me if I am wrong but these are the same buses that people with a political view on their agenda have said are better than the new arriva buses . Cannot have it both ways !!!!

Albert Farrugia

Jun 25th 2012, 10:06

One must remember that having air-conditioning on buses was one of the main pillars on which the new system rested. Infact, last year, during the extreme confusion which reigned during the first months of operation of the service, much was made by one government apologist after another that "at least the buses are air-conditioned, not like before". The idea was, ok, the new service has let us down, but, hey, stop moaning because at least you are comfortable on the buses. And now?

C Cassar

Jun 25th 2012, 10:05

This is hilarious. Firstly, many of these drivers worked on the wrecks of the old 'system' which never had air conditioning anyway. Secondly, the passengers travelling today also never had any airconditioning on the old 'system'.

The conditions on the new Arriva system are light years ahead of anything Malta has seen before and yet the unions as usual are greedy and unrealistic.

The government should put in place measures to dismantle and scrap all unions as they consistently work against the long term interests of their members and damagae the Maltese economy year in year out.

C Sant

Jun 25th 2012, 10:05

On this point I am all square behind the drivers. As a private company, Arriva should have seen that all buses have AC, and TM should see that Arriva is truly and definetly fined for each bus without AC - they knew the conditions when they applied for the job, now they have to lump them - but the government and all of us, accept a decent service.

TM do not be afraid to take action even if Arriva Malta is partly owned by Arrivs international and a very well known local business group!

Peter Murray

Jun 25th 2012, 10:05

Why not hire some unemployed and supply them with huge fans to accompany the drivers to waft cooling air on them whilst driving and plently of tissues to mop up any perspirant emanating from the drivers when patting dry their foreheads?

Joe Naudi

Jun 25th 2012, 10:01

Hi All,

The Old buses did not have any airconditioning, so why all this fuss with the drivers now, shows that they are not interested to work. They all have better working conditions plus a uniform since they started working for Arriva.

anthony sultana

Jun 25th 2012, 10:00

Definitly one can"t use the bus without the aircondition,because they are without windows,I hate buses without windows, I rather use a bicycle,or don"t go enywhere at all.

Tonio Farrugia

Jun 25th 2012, 10:00

back to square 1... no a/cs!!!

Mr Ilja Albrecht

Jun 25th 2012, 09:55

It is really astounding how buses that came on this island just over a year ago can already be in such a condition....

Paul Caruana

Jun 25th 2012, 09:53

Unless Arriva is planning to suspend the service between 11.00 am to 5.00pm, air conditioning is definitely required on the new buses with no open windows

Giov DeMartino

Jun 25th 2012, 09:49

We have ALWAYS been used to airconditioned buses.