Ministry: 90% of bus service working well, passenger numbers up
PL spokesman lists broken promises in Arriva service
The Transport Ministry said this afternoon that 90% of the bus service was functioning as it should, and the number of passengers had over the past year risen by between 9% and 11% compared to the previous year.
The ministry was reacting to comments made by Labour's spokesman on public transport, Joe M. Sammut.
Dr Sammut hit out at Transport Malta, saying it had not delivered on many of the promises made when Arriva took over the scheduled bus service.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the introduction of Arriva in Malta, Dr Sammut said passengers were still suffering delays and timetables were not being followed.
Probably the best remembered picture after Arriva started its bus service in Malta last year.Contrary to what was promised, 70% of the bus fleet was not new and not all the buses were air-conditioned or had euro V engines.
He said Transport Malta had made a bad job of re-drawing the new routes and although these were later changed, more improvement was needed.
Furthermore, although subsidies were meant to decrease, they actually had not when one considered the €2 million which had to be given to Arriva when the route network was revamped again late last year.
Dr Sammut acknowledged there were some positives in the new service, including the night service and the service in Gozo. Drivers were also better trained and smarter, he said.
With reference to the size of the buses, Dr Sammut argued that some of the old buses could have been retained on some routes, particularly for tourist purposes.
He said the new fare structure was good for some people but not for others, and he disagreed that foreigners were charged under a different fare structure.
MINISTRY'S REPLY
In its reaction, the ministry said the Opposition criticised the government and ignored the efforts made by the workers.
It said that under Arriva, patronage had over the past year risen by between 9% and 11% over the previous year. The company now employed 1,200 and the general view was that the service had improved considerably compared to a year ago.
However it seemed that for the Opposition, it meant nothing that Malta now had cleaner air, thanks to a fleet of buses having euro V engines.
It meant nothing for the Oppositon that people now travelled in airconditioned buses, that Arriva made 150,000 stops daily and that Gozo, for the first time, had a proper bus service.
The ministry said beginnings were always difficult, but it had heeded complaints and acted on them. Arriva was fined whenever contractual obligations were not met, with the fines having totalled almost €500,000 since November.
Changes had been made not only to the routes, but also to the fares of the Park and Ride.
The ministry said it acknowledged that further improvement was needed, not least to the Arriva IT system and to punctuality. However everyone admitted that under this government, huge progress had been made in transport,m which also included the coaches, mini busesm taxis, electric cabs and water taxis.
ARRIVA EXPLAINS
Arriva in a separate statement said that 99% of its buses were equipped with air conditioning and that 187 of its 285 buses were approximately one year old.
"Arriva completes 74,000 km per day in Malta and Gozo which is equivalent to 26 million kilometres per year. This offers the most extensive network with many travel options.
"In spite of road works, traffic congestion and badly parked private vehicles, Arriva completes 92% of all its journeys on time. Irrespective of this the company and its employees work hard every day to improve operational performance"
With regard to the routes, Arriva said that following the changes of May 27, including 19 new routes and 42 revised routes, it had satisfied most of the requests received during the past months.
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Anthony Borg
Jul 7th 2012, 13:38
Even "one-time" commuters are finding Arriva unreliable!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120707/letters/Arriva-has-nothing-to-celebrate.427467
Maybe it's time for you to pack up and go somewhere else ARRIVA UK, which brought all this disaster to Arriva Malta Ltd.
P.S. I back everything British (even football ofcourse!) but NEVER ARRIVA UK.
C Cassar
Jul 6th 2012, 19:13
badly parked cars??? i have just lost the 1900 ferry because of you arriva. tell ur drivers not to stop in the middle of the road!! all traffic couldn't pass. now thanks to u i am wasting 1 hour.
Victor Pulis
Jul 4th 2012, 11:25
I have just seen a bus passing through Zabbar Road Fgura with passengers fanning themselves! Must be one ot the two buses without AC!
Franco Abela
Jul 4th 2012, 10:04
BTW... don't forget that in the meantime the bus fare is triple to the old one! Those of us who cannot use the bus due to lack of punctuality it is just not worth it!
B'tal-linja jaqbillek!
Nikhail Karl Spiteri
Jul 4th 2012, 09:39
Zmien il-buzulloti Spicca sena ilu suppost , aktar nahseb li dawn li buzullotti ghadhom ghadejien .
Franco Abela
Jul 4th 2012, 09:38
90% of bus service working well
I would have expected that during the first weeks.... after a year I expect a 100% .... because the people experience the 10% are doing so on a daily basis 100%
B Grech
Jul 4th 2012, 09:26
Its very unfortunate that I always experience the 10% !
D Mifsud
Jul 4th 2012, 09:33
@ B Grech
Probalby we know each other...as I always manage to be on those 10% too!!
roxie mclean
Jul 4th 2012, 08:21
Arriva said that on the 600 comments received by the public only 60 were complaints.
Are you joking???
Anthony Borg
Jul 5th 2012, 08:06
No, not joking.
As with everything "ARRIVA", the commercial management has got the figures mixed up!
Just like when you read their timetables at bus stop - (next bus due in 2,5... minutes) and no bus turns up!
Arriva has become a worse despicable name in the Public Transport.
Alfred Cassar
Jul 5th 2012, 16:49
As it is being said 'ARRIVA CHE NON ARRIVA MAI!'
Alfred Cassar
Jul 5th 2012, 16:55
Hello Miss Mclean,
it could be possible according to the way Arriva does things, .... if you cut 10 comments, and paste them together into 6 complaints, ... and do that for ten times, .... viola, hence ....... .........60 complaints,
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 4th 2012, 07:30
Every hour on the hour we see one of the big buses going down and up Santa Maria Estate,Mellieha,empty both ways. Waste of resources when badly needed elsewhere.
Jonathan Paul Cuschieri
Jul 4th 2012, 01:02
What a farce this government has become. Arriva, MEPA, tal-Gass, an eyesore parliament, an underground tunnel for Gozo...Go on, pull the next one!
U ghad hawn min jahlef li hawn is-serjeta!
What a farce!!!
John Cole Smith
Jul 4th 2012, 00:02
Dear Mr Saliba,
it depends where in Pembroke, if you take a bus from the main road at the lights, u can get X1, 33, most of the time its 1hour 29 minutes waiting in the blazing sun, once as you know they don't stick to the times, you can never plan a journey, it can easily take you over one hour thirty minutes to to cover a destination three minutes away, as in University.
Paceville residents had 667 to travel to University and Hospital, via Regional road, not only where we robbed of that route, but now from University to St.Julians, the 202, 203 have been diverted through the traffic blocked streets of Sliema, so my trip now in 25 minutes longer.
But who cares? Arriva does not mind robbing us time with our kids, it does not cost Arriva anything.
John Cole Smith
Jul 3rd 2012, 23:49
I hope the new PM will send this PR executive and the whole of the Arriva Administration out of our country.
This Company has not only done so much harm to our society, and continues to do so, through their lying through their teeth PR, and sticking their head in the sand, as if all is well, minus some excuses,
But has managed to divide the country, on one side those Unhappy, who save to buy a bus ticket and those happy commuters , who own a third car and go buy a pack of cigarettes down the road boarding a bus. If this is not a reminiscence of Colonial times, I don't know what is. Divide and Rule, in fact not only have they quashed a rebellion by dissatisfied users, but continue to burden us, through paying by our taxes for their incompetence
Remember for every diversion a new bus route takes, the longer the trip of the commuter has become. Arriva, seems continuously as punishing the Maltese just because they are so. I cannot imagine, what happens here happens in Germany.
But the buck does not stop with Arriva. This is why one hopes that the Present Gonzipn must go immediately. Whilst, with so much pomp, on announcing, the arrival of Arriva, it was said this is a new page. In fact it was an old page from an old book. The Ministry for Labour, when the Country then had on its hands, drivers from the old regime, applying for Unemployment benefits, they told them if you do not accept to work with Arriva, that would mean u refused work, and are stricken off the book!, so Arriva then was with some new buses and a lot of old faces.
Furthermore, Once again, even today, Hon. Dr Austin Gatt seem fully, just reads a script, written for him, he is so much cut from reality. It is useless to tell me how many buses have a hump called air conditioning, when the average temperature in 15 degrees higher than what one finds outside, and I am talking of today. So the best thing, is first hand , Dr Gatt should take a bendy to go to work , not a 3 cylinder. It is futile, to ask Dr Gonzi to use public transport, for if Dr Gatt is unaware of so many problems commuters face every day, Dr Gonzi would be in oblivion.
To all drivers who defected from GWU, (of whom I am no fan), go back and withdraw your resignations now, do not let some shark tell you, you'll be getting 60% increase, for if you get that much, there will be a general strike, for every one would want it. The GWU officials have been in this job of negotiating many years. Your strength is in numbers. If the difference between what peanuts you get from Arriva and the difference from Unemployment benefit is minimal, than you know what to do if GWU fails you. Slavery was abolished years ago. Drivers , strange, arrogant, friendly, whatever you may be, you have my full sympathy, fight for your rights, in a legal framework, whereby, your services today are being treated as Essential _ the first step in abrogating your right to strike.
George Attard
Jul 3rd 2012, 23:37
I find Arriva excellent. a short 15 minute walk to Msida (could be less but i need the excersise), followed by a half a minute wait for the bus to St. Julian's and time for a lungo at my favorite coffee stop before work.
bliss.
M Ellul
Jul 3rd 2012, 22:55
I can't wait to get a car and stop using these horrible buses and their services once and for all.
If you think the A/Cs are an improvement I disagree. An arriva bus is a closed box full of people coughing and sneezing in cold used air. It's disgusting. The old buses had huge windows.
Adrian Pavia
Jul 4th 2012, 10:11
nowhere in the world you will find buses with huge windows and with people coughing. And yet, no one died because buses do not have windows...
Joseph Fenech
Jul 3rd 2012, 22:08
Residents of Naxxar need the 21 and 23 route again.Not only the 31.Shame on T.M.
Paul Borg
Jul 3rd 2012, 22:01
90% of bus service going well? 10% of the buses are breaking down every week, so the Ministry is only calculating the breakdowns ?, whatabout skipping routes, being constantly late, A/C failure, higher tariffs, and more !!
Jonathan Barbara
Jul 3rd 2012, 22:00
Today passengers waiting for the 91 route had to wait for over 45 minutes in the 5pm-6pm hour, as two 91s did not leave the Valletta bus terminus. The 94 bus arrived (after the 92 bus did not turn up), with the bus driver claiming he had been waiting for two hours to get a bus to drive.
The 92 bus has been re-routed from the main Zabbar roads to go through the bypass (which is already serviced by route 93), meaning passengers from central Zabbar and tal-Biccieni area have less buses to go by. For sure, the Zabbar passengers are NOT better serviced than the previous transport routes.
Jonathan Barbara
Jul 4th 2012, 17:43
I have to reply to my post to inform as to why there was this delay: a yellow car broke down in the exit from Zabbar which blocked all 91 buses coming out of the town. These had to slowly make a detour around the problem, thus delaying their arrival to Valletta. Foresight by drivers and their communication of this incident with Arriva HQ would help them take actions to rectify the problem by routing cars to cater for the 91 buses leaving Valletta.
A. Mizzi
Jul 3rd 2012, 21:48
..... with no Bus Shelters, and controlled parking with extra high tariffs and WARDENS in every street corner to make our life miserable with hardly any option but to use the ARRIVA monopoly !
Take it or leave it!
Colin Rutledge
Jul 3rd 2012, 21:28
99 % of busses have air conditioning ??? than perhaps I can lay claim to a record...having for my last 10 consecutive trips always managed to catch the remaining 1 % without Air con.( working ) Statistically more chance of wining super 5...or maybe...just maybe Arriva are bending the truth a little, just like their punctuality record. Yes you guessed...non of the last 10 trips arrived on time !!!....A little bit more honesty please and less hype !
francis x caruana
Jul 3rd 2012, 21:22
u hallina sur austin gatt. ask the taxpayers and the people out there for clear answers please
Joseph Bugeja
Jul 3rd 2012, 20:53
If free parking places continues to decline the patronage will be even higher.
But 90% of buses are working well so expect few changes for the better. Just a 10% amelioration will suffice and then they'd be perfect. No wonder ministers are returning their cars and taking public transport instead.
Stop grumbling you ignorant commuters. Dare you contradict the 'oracle'?
A bit more brainwashing and we elect our same leaders again.
Alfred Fenech
Jul 3rd 2012, 21:50
The 10% I am worried about.
Anthony Borg
Jul 3rd 2012, 23:01
The wisdom of George Orwell Mr. Bugeja, and very well put.
Pity is we don't have much choices and things tend to remain as they are.
I especially liked your punch line, which bears repeating:
Quote: " A bit more brainwashing and we elect our same leaders again."
I just heard the commercial manager of Arriva on TVM's evening news and wondered how he could state such facts with a straight face. But then again, how often do we meet these officials on their own bus company?
Lawrence Fenech
Jul 4th 2012, 03:48
The best place to see Arriva at work is in George Borg Olivier Street, Mellieha. Traffic stuck when 2 Arriva busses arrived from both directions, lovely situation in that heat at noon.
John Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 20:51
Can any one explain to me why all this breakdown in buses only yesterday at13.30 I was on one route 93 and broke down at Poala When going to near the Police station to be able to get another one I found another bus parked in cospicua road also with damage
Chrissey Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:39
Can someone PLEASE explain, WHY non Maltese(holiday makers and aliens) have to pay a different fare to Maltese. BUT Maltese over 60,s expect to use their Maltese bus pass in other EU countries??? Totally unfair
You cant have it ALL ways
Lasse Petersen
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:36
Based on my own experience, Arriva's service has gone from being considerably worse than the old one (with the catastrophic start-up) to being on par with it (when routes were adjusted) to being considerably better (with the latest new routes and adjustments). A bus service in Malta will never ever be punctual all the time due to the frequent traffic jams, road works etc.
Some people forget fast. One year ago, not a single bus had A/C , rides were generally uncomfortable, pollution was terrible, evening services were poor or non-existent, there were no night buses etc. Now there are quite frequent services until late, most buses have a/c, rides are generally comfortable etc.
Arriva and everyone else involved should get some credit for turning a catastrophic start into a decent service light years ahead of what we had before.
Ronnie Callus
Jul 3rd 2012, 20:22
@ Lasse Petersen.
The credit mentioned must go to Dr.Gonzi when he took over the work from Austn's Gatt hands. After re-routing the buses we saw improvements ! and not when Arriva's inception when Dr.Austin Gatt hailed that we are going to experience the best transport on the globe. Hoping that the remaining hitches are solved for the benefit of all.
James Dewar
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:34
99% have aircon so why are there so many complaints as with these figures one would have to be somewhat unlucky to be on a bus that doesn't have aircon (2.85 buses out of a fleet of 285 buses according to the Arriva figures) Or is it a case that 99% have aircon but it is not disclosed on how many buses it actually works or is switched on? Of more concern is the fact that 187 buses out of 285 are "approximately one year old. That translates into a figure of 65.61% of the fleet. The amateur mathematician in me suggests that a sizeable 34.39% of the fleet are therefore NOT "approximately one year old" and begs the questions "how old are they and what is the oldest vehicle currently operating?" That hardly squares with the launch promise that the fleet would comprise all new buses! By my reckoning at this stage in the ever flexible Arriva contract they should ALL be "exactly one year old".
Jonathan Barbara
Jul 3rd 2012, 21:56
Apparently it's the white ones which have no A/C, and at least one of them was operating on the 91 route from Marsascala. Passengers were getting off and waiting for the next one after suffering for a couple of stops. Others boarded the bus, took a disgusted look at the inside of the bus, and walked back out...
Can Arriva have mercy on us and spare us these buses please?
Ms. P.M Graham
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:02
I don't know how ARRIVA can be held responsible for punctuality unless of course overnight bus lanes are going to be built. Twice in the past two days my bus left Valletta on time and throughout the journey lost 20 minutes due to the sheer ignorance of certain drivers/construction trucks/delivery vans who think the road belongs to them!!!!!
St Julians is an absolute nightmare right now and to be honest the sooner there are double yellows from pendergardens (who thought up that mess) right through to Spinola, the better and restrict deliveries to certain times of the day from Spinola round to Exiles.
Karl Consiglio
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:50
They've made such a positively big difference.
GL Calleja
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:30
" The Transport Ministry said this afternoon that 90% of the bus service was functioning as it should." ,That is very funny, because most passengers think otherwise. Check comments below. It would be nice if the bus service was 75% efficient.
Gillian Snook
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:23
Glad I live in Paola - we seem to have a better choice of buses than most.
Charles Saliba
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:16
No 13 to Pembroke is timetabled to leave Valletta every 12 minutes. The frequency has improved over the old 30 minute service but does Arriva stick to their timetables? Unexplainably, you often have to wait for 25 minutes in the hot sun with tens of others in front of St Michaels, Sliema before a No 13 arrives. Sometimes it is followed by one or two other No 13 bendies bumper to bumper! On the positive side Pembroke residents can credit Arriva for the introduction of two new excellent half hour services - No 120 takes you to Zabbar via Mater Dei/University and No 205 takes you to Rabat via Mosta and Naxxar. Again, if only they were punctual!
cesco di luigi
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:18
Agree. I know this from experience..the 13 is not at all as frequent as it should be according to the time-table..
J. Borg
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:05
ARRIVA = Noise Polliution
I am perplexed at the amount of noise pollution these relatively new buses make. They also occasionally cause a screaching noise. Is TM monitoring the noise levels being generated? Unfortunately, increasing the number of routes has also meant an increase in noise pollution. From a sustainable development perspective, I think the frequency of a number of routes after 20.00 should decrease as it is a waste of energy and financial resources to regularly see buses with just 3 passengers or even empty. TM please take note.
Maurice Cini
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:03
Transport Malta should note that us the Commuters are not interested in figures given. What is important is that the buses will leave in time for departure from Valletta Bus Station.This is NOT the case in my many occasions from Valletta to our home town especially route no 3.For example today the 12.05 bus has NOT arrived at Valletta.It has arrived at 12.35. A One Hour waiting under the scourcing sun!
I had sent many mails to our Transport Minister,Officials, and even the Prime Minister but nothing happened. Transport Malta Personnel(despachers) should be stationed at the Valletta Bus Station to see the situation themselves. I must say the quality of buses and drivers has improved significantly.However when it comes to times of departure this leaves much to be desired. The General Public needs more action from Transport Malta regarding the Public Transport.
cesco di luigi
Jul 3rd 2012, 19:19
Agree 100% . had the same experience too often with the 21 bus to Sliema. NOT reliable.
Chris Vella
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:57
Keep blaming others for your fail won't save the day everyone knows that road works, traffic congestion and badly parked private vehicles have always been here. The only thing that increased was traffic congestion because of you and your untrained drivers.
what els is left to do to help Arriva? Even the Army has been deployed to help them.
pat muscat
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:57
The figures quoted do not reflect reality..........its even better than that....... Yups!
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:48
Still as a regular commuter I stress that there are more improvement to be done. Even after one year from the arrival of Arriva and after the millions of euros as subsides from the taxpayers money that Arriva is getting from Gonzi Partit Negattiv.
Paul Cassar
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:42
AS USUAL GOVT FLAUNTS A FIGURE 90%, WHICH LOOKS NICE, BUT NO EXPLANATION OF HOW IT CAME TO THAT FIGURE AND OF WHAT.
mark borg
Jul 4th 2012, 07:27
insomma Paul 90 percent (li ma nafx min fejn gabuha) ...sena wara ghadhom risultati disastruzi u mhux accettabli...allura dawn qed jghidulna li bhall ingilterra meta bdew joperaw ma kinux 100 percent wara l-ewwel xhar ? hawnekk gew u abbuzaw min nies ghax l-awtorita taghthom ir rih biex jghamlu hekk !
Adrian Pavia
Jul 4th 2012, 07:56
Naqbel mieghek Mark. Il-problema huma l-awtoritajiet. L-Arriva giet hawn Malta bil-mentalita li kollox jghaddi u sfortunatament kollox l-istees ha jibda anka jekk jinbidlu ghaxar gvernijiet!
Victor Pulis
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:33
The number of passengers increased compared to what? most journeys that used to involve one bus now need two or three changes. Does that count as three passengers? what method is used to count the number of passengers? Statistics are just that.The clean air has been neutralised by the increase of private vehicles that are clearly on the road. Traffic jams have become the order of the day at all times and not just rush hours.Some routes could be more frequent like the number 1 from Senglea. As for time tables it's pointless to try to defend the indefensible. Traffic congestion has always been with us and now it has increased due to Arriva.
cesco di luigi
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:27
I challenge the transport Ministry to turn up at the bus terminus in Valletta sometime around noon and make this declaration on a loud-speaker.
M Cutajar
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:25
....."and that Gozo for the first time has a proper bus service". Does that mean that Gozo s commuters have been totally ignored for the past 25 years?
Lawrence Fenech
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:20
Din nipparaguna mal-finanzi ta' Malta kullox fuq ir-rubini.
M. Grima
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:06
May I add one thing please. They state that buses are late due to traffic congestion, road works and badly parked vehicles.
Then how come my route buses run late or don't even depart before 6am? And on a regular basis! Where is the traffic? I get the FIRST available bus into Valletta and the FIRST available one out on the connecting route! How come these are also late!? You get buses arriving late at Bombi first thing in the morning and that's c.a. 2min out of Valletta!
Give us a break. You have less buses operating and schedules are not correct (witnessed it with my own eyes more than once). Traffic and all the rest do affect. But I'd never expect a bus at 5.55am to be late or never turn up!
Maryanne Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:05
It is Not True that all buses are airconditioned. Going to Valletta and back to Mosta without airconditioned buses is often my daily experience. I have been contacting Arriva about the inadequate bus service of Mosta residents. Most of the time to go to Valletta and back one has to board bus 31 which goes to Naxxar, Iklin and Mater Dei first. Buses 41 and 42 are very scarce.
j brincat
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:47
Before many of GonziPN's apologists come to laud him they better be real commuters, otherwise they would speak differently.
Admittedly the service is better in some places than other parts, especially the South which is the worse!
(jb)
Francesca Abela
Jul 3rd 2012, 20:48
Exactly J Brincat, last week i got on the 91 at 9.05 from Marsascala triq il Qaliet, the bus was half empty, and i settled down to read the paper in comfort, when the bus arrived at the terminus near grabiel we were told to get off and get on another 91 which was full up and i spect the whole journey from M'scala to Valletta standing up. Some service.
mark borg
Jul 4th 2012, 06:53
dak ghax ghadhom ma bdewx lis skejjel jidher li irranga xi ftit ...issa tara fi zmien it traffic u studenti jidhlu l-iskola ! Arriva ma ghandhomx bizzejjed karozi u ghalxejn iduru mal lewza jew xi erba min nies ghal iskopiliet taghhom igibulhom l-iskuzi .....missu jisthi il gvern li lewwel halla lil malta sa 20011 bi karozi tal linja dizastru u tat 3 dinja umbghad wara li ma nafx kemm swewlna flus mit taxxi (50 elf ghall kull bicca imbarazz li kelna) ...iwikina bdin il farsa tas seklu !
M. Grima
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:38
Everyday I wait to get the bus to work. First bus I have to catch in Valletta is at 5.55am. My first bus into Valletta is at 5.45am. Most of the time they arrive between 5.47am and 5.50am. It is not surprising to tell you that on several occasions I have missed the bus to work and arrived late. Yes this is 1 year on!! What's worse. Sometimes I arrive on time for the bus...but I still miss it....it would have never left Valletta! Sent about 6 emails to Arriva, reported this to TM and I also copied in the Ministry.
Guess what....a month and a half passes and still no change.
1 year on....the electronic time table on bus stops is not even connected to the bus GPS system. So it says 68...1min and 91...2 min. In the next 5min bus No.1 and 62 pass....what is going on! The system also states that it is being tested. So do you mean to tell us it has been tested for the past 8 months? Clearly you have not made an improvement.
I pay EUR26 for a monthly ticket....it saves me money...but I want punctuality. Of course you save on petrol but you arrive late all the time. That is a bigger burden to carry I'm afraid.
Shame on the authorities for leaving commuters in the dark. I am fed up an can't wait for my new car to Arrive. Saver Card....into the bin
Steve Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:08
Shame on the authorities for leaving commuters in the dark. I am fed up an can't wait for my new car to Arrive. Saver Card....into the bin
Enjoy getting stuck in traffic and wasting time finding parking then :P I'll be reading a book and listening to music comfortably on the bus :)
M. Grima
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:07
Who said that? I can leave home at 6.20am and arrive at work at 6.45am to start at 7am. Colleagues do it everyday and are never stuck because it beats the traffic. And guess what Steve since you seem to know more than me about my life! We have a car park of our own and everyone always finds parking :) You assumed so much that you forgot that I failed to mention where I work! :)
And please read properly. I said that while its true that using a bus you will save money, arriving late on a regular basis at work is a bigger burden.
To tease another passenger over this shows what an immature person you really are! Seems that you don't have consideration for others who are not served as well as you are with Arriva.
Steve Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 23:32
M Grima don't you have a bit of sense of humour? didn't you notice the ':P' ?
And if you arrive late, its because buses get caught in the traffic, and due to the fact that there are so many cars on are roads we have become overcrowded, buying a car isn't gonna solve the 'bus late' problem at all, you're actually gonna make it worse
Mary Spiteri
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:37
Is-servizz huwa tajjeb illum il-gurnata. ma nafx ghalxiex it-Times Online ghadha qed tuza ritratti tas-sena l-ohra. Ma nahsibx li qed tkunu fair. u nittama li dan il-kumment jidher kollu!!!
Victor Pulis
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:35
Forsi ghax ma setghux isibu karozza minghajr daqqiet brix u tattin biex jehdulha ritratt!
H. Psaila
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:43
@ V. Pulis - taf ghaliex huma kollha daqqiet ghaliex mhux bhall qabel il-karozzi tal-linja kienu taghhom u kienu jibzaw ghalihom, imma issa is-sewwieqa ma jaghtux kaz ghaliex mhux taghhom. Missha l'Arriva taghmel penali ghall minn jahbat tort tieghu jew traskuragni ghaliex veru il-karozzi wara sena biss tal-misthija bid-daqqiet.
Victor Pulis
Jul 4th 2012, 11:29
H. Psaila liema sewwieq jiehu gost jahbat?Qed jahbtu ghax il karozzi kbar wisq ghat toroq Maltin. Meta jiltaqghu zewg karozzi tal Arriva jehlu u jimblukkaw it triq. Mill mina tal isla bilkemm jghaddu per ezempju. Barra minnhekk qed isuqu qieshom indannati biex ilahhqu max schedules.
Francesca Abela
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:27
Dr Sammut, the night service from Paceville to Marsascala which was route no 20 PRE ARRIVA, has not been continued by ARRIVA as the night Bus N91 from Paceville only stops at the terminus leaving us single fem,ales in the Jerma area and St Thomas Bay areas to walk over 20 minutes home alone in the dark late at night. Befdore 3rd July 2011 we had a night bus that dropped us off in Triq il Qaliet, ie the Main road in the Siberia area. SHAME ON ARRIVA!
Henry S Pace
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:21
All in all it is by far better than the previous service before July 2010. However. we do expect that there is a way for improvement.
Whoever did the routes left much to be desired BUT since then Arriva and Transport Malta did combine together to improve the routes.
I do think that more busses should be in daily service. People should be served better.
Traffic management should upgrade considerably.
Andre Fenech
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:17
I just used the Arriva service from Sliema to St Julians, left home at 2:05pm, was at the bus stop next to Preluna at 2:10pm, the bus came at 2:14pm according to my ticket. Did my chores, caught the bus back from the bus stop infront of Wembley's car hire at 3:45pm and I'm at home already reading this article. Please stop complaining and check the schedule on the internet before leaving and buy your tkts beforehand. If you don't believe me I'm willing to meet anyone to show you my ticket. Please stop complaining, most of the delays are indeed due to traffic congestion, bad parking and people not buying their tickets beforehand. Prosit Arriva, I'm definitely seeing a massive improvement since I last used your service.
K Grech
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:24
Do you know that these sites you defined are those sites which have the highest number of buses passing per hour? And there is also something called luck, I bet you next time you will spend more than 20mins waiting :)
Andre Fenech
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:05
Dear K Grech, there's also something called Maltese gemgem, please stop complaining if you've never used the service. My experience thus far has been positive. And if you notice my comment I said that I've noticed a massive improvement since the service first started operating. Trust me, when I tell you that the service has indeed improved and give it a go but check the schedule on their website before leaving :)
Elena Attard
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:37
Sliema to St Julians has is the route with the most frequent buses! Of course it's all fine and dandy for you!! Why don't you actually try going to e.g. Mellieha from Msida and see how long that takes!!
James Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2012, 20:03
Mr Fenech you are lucky because you live in Sliema which has the highest number of routes servicing it. If you are on any bus stop in Msida you will see one bus after the other going in the direction of Sliema. But please before you comment do use other routes to compare whether the service is good or not. Yes yesterday from Msida to Sliema it took me around 25 minutes in all - waiting time and travelling -which is not that bad. However when I tried to board a bus from Msida to Naxxar Road B'Kara I had to wait for over 40 minutes. This morning from Naxxar Road to Msida it took me over 30 minutes to board a bus (no buses passed in that half hour) and this around 7:10 in the morning when people need to get to work on time. So please remember that Sliema is not the centre of the world and Arriva should be delivering good service all over the island and not just your locality. As to other comments by other commentators and the ministry - no it is not acceptable that we need to give the service time to settle down and better its service. This is a SERVICE and as such it should have functioned well from the start. The fact that it did not means that there was lacking of planning and foresight and expertise.
pat muscat
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:05
No more buses for me even though I have to dig deeper in my pockets. Every morning I see crowds of people waiting for hours on end at bus stops in St Paul's Bay, and Mosta.... up to B'kara.
H. Psaila
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:34
Yes you know why because you are a red eyed politician and always see things your political party wants to. The Arriva service is far more better than the old service we had. Nobody every waited for 20minutes on a bus stop with the old service.
Paul Giordimaina
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:52
Big deal if you are not using the service,you wont be happy if TM gives youy a limo to travel because you got red eyes Pat
R. Stivala
Jul 4th 2012, 09:00
Zgur li intom minn xi Tas Sliema jew Bugibba biex qed titkellmu hekk.... intom il hin kollu gejjin l Arriva ara in naha ta isfel specjalment irridu nohorgu xi sija qabel biex naslu fejn irridu imorru fil hin.
U naf x jien nghid ghax jien nuzha KULJUM imqades li jaghddi...
Jigifieri hallikom mir Red Eye ghax f dawn l affarijiet trid tighd kollox !!!!!
Steve Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:00
I don't know why everyone is still complaining about Arriva
The service is much better now
People should stop moaning and start making good use of the interchanges and new routes instead of this obsession that in order to get somewhere one needs to go to Valletta
Those moaning and grumbling either never used the old yellow bus system or don't use Arriva often
In my case I used the old buses up to 6 times a day, and I still do with the Arriva, and yes the service has IMPROVED and is much BETTER and more COMFORTABLE
K Grech
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:21
Everyone has been promised that these "new" Arriva buses will be equipped with A.C. system, and what is still going on after a year? Many of them have no A.C. or else it doesn't work....
No one has denied btw that they have improved, but by saying that they have improved we don't mean that they have the best service.
The routes aren't that bad, but there is still lack of buses which come on time. Thus one just hopes he hasn't missed the bus because only God knows if the next one is going to come in the next 30 mins as stated or else in one hour. :)
Francesca Abela
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:28
If you had to walk 30 mins on your own late at night on high heels and being pestered by men, because ARRIVA decided to STOP a formerly excellent night bus service you would think different Steve!
Steve Zammit
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:50
K Grech, improved so much that no matter how many defects they have, they are still a hundred times better then the old buses. Friend;y drives, comfortable seats, ample of space, new routes, express buses, interchanges, buses stick on time, night buses, reliability, AC, people with mobility problems can use the bus now too, cheaper fares and information accessible to all on bus stops and at the terminus. Of course the service had a bumpy start, but it is on the right track now, it just needs to change and improve some minor bits, besides that I'm really satisfied with the service :)
Francesca don't the night buses work? I always catch the after PV, for just 2.50 I get home in no time, better then the taxi rip offs
cesco di luigi
Jul 3rd 2012, 17:30
The service improved BECAUSE people complained>>>>although from day 1 Minister Gatt proclaimed that everything was OK and we were wrong or daft...how he's had to eat his own words!!!!!
H. Psaila
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:37
@c. de luigi - at least the government had the guts to change what was wrong, but if Labour was in power they wouldn't have made amendments to bus routes and schedules. That is what i call arrogance from the Labour side. They are always complaining because it never came into Labour's mind to change the whole bus system. Some Labourites are saying better the old service but on the other hand they want the buses with air conditioning. Labourites were always lousy hypocrites.
Victor Pulis
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:58
Dr Sammut acknowledged there were some positives in the new service, including the night service and the service in Gozo. Drivers were also better trained and smarter, he said.
What kind of training does it entail to be smart and polite to passengers?! Those assets should be inborn and no special training is needed.
The service in Gozo was so abbysmal that the only way was up and if Arriva had got that wrong as well then it would have really failed big time!
GL Calleja
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:26
Well said.
Ivan Visanich
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:56
With all due respect promising an on time service is something that could never ever be achieved,lets face it,driving to work should take me no more than ten minutes but due to the amount of cars,badly parked ones,traffic,minor bumper to bumper accidents,traffic lights etc etc it takes double and at times ( especially after a rain shower ) it takes triple let alone a big bus on a route ( us motorists can always opt to go through a different route ) having to drive through such madness each day.stopping for a minute would delay the end of the journey by half an hour.so far have only used arriva twice,what i dont like is that the buses ride horribly and the seats are rock hard,the engine and the wheel arches take up valuable interior seat space,the lady advice of each next stop sounds ridiculous especially when she reads out the bus stop names '' next stop tigrija '' '' next stop turkish '' but other than that they came on time and arrived at my destination without and smelly sweaty armpits ...
Angelo Vassallo
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:41
@ Jay Oatmon
"but is anything perfect" YES. - the partit lejburista. hahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eddy Privitera
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:05
Angelo Vassallo & Henry S. Pace: If you enter into a contract with someone and that someone does not abide with all the clauses of the contract, do you say that you are satisfied , and give him more money too ?????
H. Psaila
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:44
@E. Privitera - kieku qatt il-partit laburista fahhar xi haga li ghamel dan il-gvern. Lanqas kieku kien 100 fil 100 tajjeb ma kontu sejrin tajbu kemm huwa tajjeb. Intom dejjem tmaqdru biex tigbdu iktar votanti ghaliex intom mejtin bil-ghatx ghall-poter u xejn izjed. Issa naraw jekk jitla il-partit Laburista kemm sejrin inkunu ahjar bil-wedghiet fierha li qieghed jaghmel JM.
Henry S Pace
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:33
Why not present a motion to parliament against the Trnsport Minister and the ARRIVA MANAGEMENT?????
Mario Mercieca
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:53
They already did that and failed
Jay Oatmon
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:16
I think the old system was much worse unsafe ancient dirty buses puking out fumes everywhere, with arrogant drivers.
The reality is Arriva is much better than the old ramshackle buses, but not perfect, but is anything perfect - no?
GL Calleja
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:31
Arriva could be a good thing if the proper authorities took charge and fix the problems but they seem to be incompetent and cannot come up to the plate. The PM has to stick to his word and make the buck stop here. Right now the PM has a lot on his plate and cannot handle all the problems he is facing. Let's face it, maybe it is time to import somebody from outside that is experienced and knows what they are doing since our incompetent TM does not. The program seems to be working for Air Malta, who knows it might work for Arriva.
A. Mizzi
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:32
Better? With the Bendy Buses not even wanted in London? At least our buses were made for the maltese roads and had character!
Why were the Bendy Buses scrapped from London, not good enough…but good enough for Malta?
Since the new Bulky Arriva Buses came on the roads, I have never seen so many break-downs and so many traffic jams!
These buses are just too big for the roads! As for cleanliness and arrogance in the old service , why wasn't there enforcement?
At lease with the old service we had the luxury of time frames , with Arriva , it's just a mystery tour ... a mystery when the bus arrives and a further mystery when one arrives at work and returns home!
And why were Arriva given control over parking areas on Malta Land, like the Park and Ride and imposed heavy tariffs on a service that was free?
They are imposing tariffs on parking so one has no option but to use their buses...which I for one am not using as my time is precious and not to waste!
In using Arriva my working day was transformed from 9 hours to over 10 hours.... that is regression and not improvement....what we call in Maltese - BUZZULOTTI, just look up that word!
And by the way us tax-payers are also paying MILLIONS in subsidies to Arriva…. Il-BUZZOLOTTI JKOMPLU!
Nikolai Mifsud
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:45
@ A Mizzi
bendy buses are used all around Europe and there is no problem with them, only locals don't get it! the worst problem is our countrymen who don't obey driving rules and park where they want obstructing buses passage, I think Arriva is A LOT BETTER than the medieval buses we been using a year ago - still long way to go though
Leon Mercieca
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:47
@ A. Mizzi, Do some research before you start going on about a load of rubbish, Bendy buses were removed from london because the current mayor didn't want them as they were not traditional london buses, therefore they were replaced with new double deckers. They are good for malta's roads because they corner better than 12 metre buses and they carry a lot more people. Now they go past all the time full up, if we didn't have the bendy buses then where the hell would these people all stay??? and the other buses are only 1 metre (slightly less) longer than the old ones, and EXACTLY the same width. The problem in the begining was the routes and the ignorance of car drivers, nobody in this country can spare 2 seconds to allow a bus or large vehicle to come through, whether you're driving a bus, coach, lorry, people never give you priority, it's not because you WANT to its because you NEED to get through and that's the only way you can!!!
GL Calleja
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:35
Bendy buses are good if used on the right routes. Like Cirkewwa to Valletta or Cirkewwa to the Airport etc. No detours or scenic routes on the way They can also use the coastal road and go through St Julians etc.. Sometimes finding common sense is hard to find. TM please note.
H. Psaila
Jul 3rd 2012, 18:41
@A. Mizzi now you want back the old service and the Labour party is insisting that most buses do not have air conditioner installed. Well you forgot the old buses never had an a/c installed apart from being noisy, fuming and arrogant drivers. Is that what you want back?
John Scerri
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:14
Arriva started on the wrong foot when the old drivers decided not to do their duty, Local councils approved wrong routes , TM designed wrong routes and many more deficiencies which made most of the public annoyed, diappointed and frustrated , many even today.
During this 1 Year 'Arriva' are monitoring daily to improve and I believe they are improving .
I must say on the other hand after over 50 YEARS the old buses and their drivers never improved and became the so called KINGS of the roads ......filling us with exhaust fumes, slapping mops and buckets in our faces , smoking , stereos, stopping the service whenever they felt like , diverting routes to their liking.
voicing foul language and more.
Where was Dr.Sammut more than a year ago ?
John J Borg
Jul 3rd 2012, 15:59
you forget the state of art service promised and the hefty sum given to arriva from our pockets, a reduction of exhaust fumes was expected also from private cars , with passengers opting to use the arriva service.........improving daily ....but not yet there after one year. or should we give them 2 or 3 years time to sort things out , paying fares as everything was right is an insult .....WE WANT WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR AND WEW WANT IT NOW
GL Calleja
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:44
Dr Sammut it is so simple to bring up all the problems of Arriva, fair enough. But I have one question for you. How would you correct the situation if you were in charge? It has been proven many times that purposely or not, Austin Gatt sold his soul to the devil when he imported this new Public Transportation System and I am sure he is very aware of that fact, but the problem remains, even though the PM took over and said and I quote, " The buck stops here." The buck stopped because very little has improved with Arriva and TM. Honestly the PM should have replaced the people responsible for the fiasco but of course he did nothing of the sort. The Minister responsible went into hiding and the same incompetent people are still running our transportation system. To add insult to injury some very smart person approved the two lane road from Marfa to it-Tela ta l-Ahrax near the Madonna. That new road must be turned into a four lane road or it is going to create nothing but headaches and traffic backlogs. One stall on that road and everything stops. It happened today already, and that proves that a two lane road does not fit the program. We built a road for 1960's traffic and not for 2012 traffic. So Mr Sammut if you want to do something worthwhile fight and insist that that piece of road at Marfa be turned into a four lane road to accommodate the flow of traffic and to conform to the rest of the road from Cirkewwa to the Mellieha Bypass.
Michael Camileri
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:40
All in all.. Arriva is better...
They just need to sort out their timing and communication
J Cachia
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:39
We need a service where timetables as met! Arriva failed in this respect. Why should we wait for for a bus that never comes? Or comes not late, but VERY late? What service? My foot!
Francesca Abela
Jul 3rd 2012, 16:30
Well said, or what about the buses we had before Arriva decided to take them away?
James Dewar
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:36
At last an observation that agrees with the travelling public but probably doesn't go far enough."Some of the old buses could have been retained on some routes..." perhaps that should read SHOULD have been retained.
Joseph E Briffa
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:31
A good report on the whole...Joe Sammut acknowledges the success of the service and highlights some issues which need to be addressed. But reading between the lines the message is that on the whole the new service has been a success.
Anthony Pace
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:30
At last the PL is speaking out on the public service provided. Please keep up the rhetoric PL. We need all the help possible to get the routes ans bus system running again.
eg is the Attard to Valletta route - one every hour when before it ran every 15 minutes - now it runs through B'kara and St Venera in the hope that it arrives full in Valletta or Attard and generate more income. We need frequency, punctuality and speed in getting to our destinations.
Lucienne Dimech
Jul 3rd 2012, 14:25
When will we have a decent public transport system? Is not obvious that we all want our private means the moment we turn 18. Shame it Akers longe in Malta to immune a short distance than it takes to over a longer one abroad. This is not a political issue this is cultural we can't give a service full stop.
Please choose the reason of your report below: