Video: Updated - Labour jumps on the 'bend(y)wagon'

Joe Busuttil

Nov 4th 2012, 17:27

Although the new bus system in Malta, overall, is better than the one we used to have before, the busses chosen for Malta are not
Considering the streets of Malta, and the scenic roadways all over the island, busses similar to the Routemaster would have been a much better choice. Just picture these buses in our traditional yellow with Orange stripes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=TWckXHojurM

Daniel Frendo

Oct 11th 2012, 13:07

Whilst many EU States continue to struggle... as people riot in the streets... as unemployment in the EU soars... here in Malta we can afford the luxury of discussing bendy-buses :) whilst tourist arrivals hit record numbers, employment figures continue to be encouraging, etc etc etc... The mayor of London and his PM would be more productive if they looked at Malta and learn the way to success...

Mr Stefan Kottmann-Soler

Oct 10th 2012, 18:50

Who cares what the mayor of London thinks or said? Why are so many people giving him so much importance? Someone said that this mayor humiliated Malta. Well, I do not feel humiliated, as much as I would not feel humiliated had he poked fun at the Germans, because the Germans are self-assured enough to take a comment from an Englishman, drop it on the floor and step on it. And Malta should too.

Chris Spiteri

Oct 10th 2012, 17:56

Another point which Mr. Johnson should be aware of is that MOST drivers of Arriva have NO clue how to drive such wide and long vehicles. EVERY private vehicle owner here in Malta keep out of the way of most buses and preferably NOT drive next to any buses, saving oneself from unnecessary collisions!!

Fran Abela

Oct 10th 2012, 15:29

Brian Gatt - Local Councils and the public in general were asked to contribute with their suggestions. I did make one or two suggestions so I think you are quite wrong in saying what you did. Besides what has this got to do with freedom of speech. We have lots of that in Malta I can assure you.

Joe Vella - were you by any chance a bus driver/owner ?

Paul Ellul

Oct 10th 2012, 15:21

430 comments.....

Definitely a record breaker. Congrats Dr. Gatt, your Public Transport Reform still draws the crowds!!

Joseph Cauchi Senior

Oct 10th 2012, 13:14

Why do we also have to politicize everything under the sun, even the Transport System?

What really irks some is the fact that the local media does not help in this situation but continues to stoke the fire!

Only in Malta, of course!

JC.

James Vella

Oct 10th 2012, 12:54

Mr.M.Borg (slm)

No may I correct you it's no as you are saying. "Ezatt , qisu thalli Airbus A380 jinzel fl'airport ta' Malta". because the Airbus A380 has already landed in Malta airport, and besides that the Malta airport airstrip is long enough.

Damian Testa

Oct 10th 2012, 12:53

I must be luckiest man in Malta. I've been using Arriva's service from day one, making four trips a day, sometimes six. Apart from some delay during the first couple of weeks, I've always got to work and back home on time. Perhaps my fellow countrymen commenting here were all born under an unlucky (red) star.

Joseph Cauchi Senior

Oct 10th 2012, 12:49

While posting my comment, the list has just hit the 419 mark!

If these bendy-buses manufactured by the world famous vehicle manufacturer (Mercedes of Germany) are such a priority for the Maltese as a matter of concern and to ridicule; then no wonder we must be enjoying one of the highest standard of living in the world!

JC.

James Vella

Oct 10th 2012, 12:49

One thing i would like to know.

What is Malta Labour party going to do about them (bendy-buses) once he is in power?

Jon Vercellono

Oct 10th 2012, 12:38

Personally, when push comes to shove, I do think - in a manner of reform - that TM should ban the grossly inefficient, road clogging SUV's, BMW's, Mercedes, et. al. These are what are holding up the buses, and block the roads; these cars were not designed for Maltese roads, and are designed for open terrain and countryside. God forbid an accident happens, these cars are so big that they would crumple those who use more efficient cars which are more suited to our roads (or a pedestrian). TM please pay heed.

John Azzopoardi

Oct 10th 2012, 12:29

What a story...........Bendy buses should have never been brought to Malta. Malta's roads are not like those of London, and other major cities like New York , Los Angeles, etc. IF London roads couldn't take these buses, how could malta's do. Malta's roads are bendy themselves and they create a lot of traffic in many localities. Insomma, what would labour do now if they were to be elected given the fact that maltese are now ok with the service. Do away with them the same way they said they would with VAT when they got elected in 1996.

m. borg (slm)

Oct 10th 2012, 12:19

Normally arrogant people are brought down by humour. They become the joke that they really are and are a constant object of ridicule.

What's just is that they deserve it.

Mark Borg

Oct 10th 2012, 12:01

Yet another FROGA from Agostino Gatt. He is becoming amusing isn't he? A bit of joker God bless him!.

Joseph Borg

Oct 10th 2012, 11:45

Iktar mill bendybusses hija l-infrastrittura li mhix mahsuba ghall dawn il-busses. Hafna mill bus stops bays huma zghar biex jakkomodaw dawn il-busses u ghalekk joholqu hafna traffic u l-kongestjoni warajhom.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Oct 10th 2012, 11:38

Perhaps we should startm widening Malta's roads to allow the Bendy buses to drive around with ease. Let's start with widening Herbert Ganado Street in Pieta.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Oct 10th 2012, 11:35

PN incompetence at its best (or worst). Even the British PM had a laugh at the expense of Malta!

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Oct 10th 2012, 11:32

PN incompetence at its best (or worst). Even the British PM had a laugh at the expense of Malta!

Mark. Galea

Oct 10th 2012, 11:01

Does this mean that a PL government will remove Bendy Busses?

Francesca Abela

Oct 10th 2012, 10:54

The answer is so very simple - Austin Gatt is a total failure despite his bragging and never admitting a mistake! The bus service in the south of Malta is even worse with Arriva then it was with the old buses. Here in Marsascala we have lost the night bus from Paceville on Saturday night to the old Jerma area, as it now stops only at the terminus leaving us with 20 mins walk alone at night come rain or shine, it took us over 10 months to get the bus 91 to Valletta again from the Jerma siberia area to Valletta, we had to walk over 20 mins in the summer heat and winter rain, it takes people hours to get to Mater Dei and to University, Junior college and MCAST Paola students have to hop on and off the buses as the old 300 is now replaced with the 204 which no longer passes near these areas and which is marked as arriving at University at 5 mins past the hour ( when it makes the trip on time) and lectures start on the hour! So please do tell us exactly what we have gained?? Even the x5 bendy buses are without air conditioning most of the time, the only improvement is that bus drivers are in uniform and maybe a little more polite. We were better off when we were worse off!! FIRE AUSTIN GATT AND HIS TEAM OF TWITS who have totally mucked up the bus service. It also seems the Local council is sitting on it's bottom and not paying attention to residents' complaints as they do not use the buses like we do and the Labour Party needs to kick up a big fuss to amend the situation in some localities.What people want are: Faster routes to their destinations not a round Malta sightseeing tour!

Fran Abela

Oct 10th 2012, 10:40

The majority of the Maltese commuters who had been having a rough deal with the previous bus transport system were all unanimous that Malta needed a new modern bus transport service. When the reform was announced, various entities including the PL, Local Councils, and commuters themselves were requested to discuss and send it their various suggestions. It is noted that as with so many other reforms, the PL did not even participate in the discussions and now they are continuously denigrating the system. OK the billboard seems to be funny but is that all the PL could contribute ? It is very well to sit back and denigrate the system now. I would also take into consideration that Arriva are employing over 1000 persons and the Maltese might do well to consider not jeopardising their employment by derogatory remarks on Arriva. By this I do not mean that we have to put up with a service that is not good but that depends on the way one looks at it. I know that the system is not working 100% - no bus system over the world works 100% efficiently but we are slowly getting there. We have to learn to be patient in the rush hours when more cars are on the road. It is the same the world over, during rush hours buses are packed to capacity and if it were not for bendy buses most commuters would be left stranded. It is a fact that private cars are always on the increase and they are also contributing to traffic jams. I am not saying that we should not have more private cars on the roads, but surely one can see that Malta's size is what it is, and the roads cannot take more cars unless we decide to build bridges to ease the flow of traffic. As to bendy buses, I find they sure came in handy because especially during summer when we had a huge influx of tourists, they used the buses frequently.

Mr John Doneo

Oct 10th 2012, 10:25

@ Mr W Cammilleri
1st They are not Londonderry bendy busses ( Londonderry is in Northern Ireland)
2nd. Boris Johnson did not send these busses to Malta
3rd They were sold by Arriva which is a german company
4th Malta taught in their wisdom that they were getting something on the cheap.

Mr Tony Gatt

Oct 10th 2012, 10:21

You can tell Boris has had a classical education by his use of 'diplodocus' meaning a double-jointed dinosaur. He may act the buffoon, but he is far from being one.

Stefano Briffa

Oct 10th 2012, 10:13

I cannot see were the statistics related to traffic congestion came from. it takes me over 50 minutes to get from Mtarfa to Blata l-Bajda in the morning at 7AM!!!!

R ferriggi

Oct 10th 2012, 09:55

THIS EPISODE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LABOUR.

I AM NOT LABOURITE,,, BUT I AM STILL SEETHING ABOUT THIS TREACHERY AGAINST THE MALTESE PEOPLE.

I REPEAT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, GET THESE BENDY BUSES OFF OUR ROADS,,,,,, NOW!!!!

Jon Vercellono

Oct 10th 2012, 09:49

If one conducts a media analysis of the responses listed here, its really almost shocking that they all seem scripted, as though there is a handbook somewhere for writing these responses "bendy buses are totally unsuitable", et. al. Again, I say, the people writing these negative responses are: not bus passengers, and are being urged to write negative responses. The pro Arriva responses however exhibit lots of original thought, and appear to be original concepts. Just food for thought. (I'm sure Arriva and TM are aware of this as well).....

Paul Caruana

Oct 10th 2012, 09:33

Pre electoral shenanigans aside, what we need to concentrate upon is to ensure that the service runs on time, all of the time....bendy buses or not!

Julien Cachia

Oct 10th 2012, 09:25

Is therefore PL saying that once they are in government they will remove bendy-buses ? Oh come on..Stop messing us about !!

Ms D. Borg

Oct 10th 2012, 09:24

In situations like these, the least the PL can do is side with Malta, mhux inkomplu indahqu l-barranin bina. Ma tinbidlu qatt.

John Dee

Oct 10th 2012, 09:19

" this must be the first time in living memory that the MLP has found anything useful to repeat from the British Conservatives"
Ha Ha Ha Haaaaa !
Such sophistication here!

Joseph E Briffa

Oct 10th 2012, 09:17

The Maltese are a lucky lot. While other people in the EU are struggling with lack of jobs, reduced wages and pensions, the Maltese are focused on petty things like bendy buses and parking lots.

J Degabriele

Oct 10th 2012, 08:55

"By our mathematics that is considerably less congestion" To the man (I suppose it was a man) who said this. Are you out of your mind? Have you really ever seen a bendy bus going round a street corner in Malta? Have you seen them trying to round the Saqajja hill, stopping all cars and other buses, going on the pavement, inches away from the buildings? It's a terrifying spectacle. Poor drivers!

Joseph Barbara

Oct 10th 2012, 08:39

Boris Johnson looks and speaks like a cartoon character. It is easy to mock someone when you are on home ground a speaking to your own. I do agree however that the bendy buses are too big for some routes but are certainly very useful on the longer routes say Valletta - Cirkewwa especially in the Summer months. Boris did not mention that fares on his buses are almost as costly as hiring a taxi. If you are holidaying in London and happen to make the 'mistake' of staying in a cheaper hotel away from the centre, then you will find out that your travelling expenses exceed the difference you would have paid for a central hotel. Such is the cost of using public transport in London. In Malta a seven day pass costs less than a sandwich and a soft drink in London.

Gianfrancesco Buttigieg

Oct 10th 2012, 07:38

I use both my car and the buses depending on my destination.

I must say I notice such a huge amount of illegal parking on bus stops, double parking, even parking on roundabouts - plus the mentality that to go round the corner to buy bread you go by car, that it is somehow "shameful" to use public transport, etc - that it really isn't surprising it takes so long to get anywhere.

As for the bendy buses - we NEED them - we may not like them (I'm certainly with you there), but they do replace 3 buses and I'll wager those who complain about them have never had to wait in the sun while two full buses to Cirkewwa whizz past... Please don't think only of your position as a driver. Think about the person waiting for ages for a bus.

As far as the argument of them being too large for our streets - have a look around in medieval cities in so many places in Europe with streets narrower than ours and you'll find them.

It is interesting to note Boris replaced these buses with "double" buses (on top rather than at the back), not single ones - the latter would be unthinkable, and I'm pretty sure there is a great deal of "patriotism" in the choice or reintroducing Routemasters rather than simple pragmatism...

Steve Pace

Oct 10th 2012, 07:26

"By our mathematics that is considerably less congestion, rather than more" - Hilarious or sad ? ... unlike Franco Debono, the minister's maths results in stage 1 must have been very poor !

The congestion brought about by these buses is singular. Take a trip to Balzan area and see a bendy bus trying to go past the little traffic island in valley road. The minister might also take a trip on one of these buses and see what it feels like when one of them stops with a mechanical failure or out of fuel in a busy single lane road ... Labour's poster of Gonzi with his hands on his eyes and ears really hits the nail on the head ... !

Joseph Mamo

Oct 10th 2012, 07:10

So let the Btitish make fun of us for accepting the bendy busses. They have every right to as we deserve it. It is quite clear that these busses are totally unsuitable for our narrow raods but is the boss decided that they're not then who are we to argue as after all we're only Maltese and it is expected of us to accept everything they throw at us. Living in Demorratic Malta means that whoever decides to do something will do it regardless of our opinion. The British always called us Maltese gemgem because we moan about something and after a while we accept everything. So let the minister do what he wants because we deserve him.

J.Mamo Zabbar

Wilfred Camilleri

Oct 10th 2012, 07:10

Boris Johnson is a bigger joke than his joke about Malta getting Londonderry bendy busses! And those who fell for his joke are not much better!

Joseph Farrugia

Oct 10th 2012, 06:14

Whatever the comfort, econimical, etc, potential of these buses which I doubt, the most important point is being missed.

The narrow, curvy congested roads in Malta forces the drivers, even expert ones, to break the rules of the road all the time since they HAVE to continuously cross over to the other side of our roads to manouveur. Crossing double lines is a question of how many per day not if.

This constitutes a fine for normal people but what about Arriva. Are Arriva above the Law?

David Magro

Oct 10th 2012, 06:09

Certifikat moghti min shabu l-Konservattivi. Is-sabiha tara li Prim Ministru Ingliz Cameroon jidhak u jiehu pjacir. Tghid GonziPN ser jiehu pjacir meta jiltaqa mieghu? Waqajna fil-bassezzi u anke l-Ewropej jidhku bina saru, isthu ta GonziPN, gibtuna pajjiz tal-miky mouse.

Anthony A. Mifsud

Oct 10th 2012, 03:04

London mayor Boris Johnson today took a dig at Arriva’s “jack-knifed diplodocus” bendy buses, which, he said, were now “clogging up the streets of Malta.
Can any one denies this statement?
Hence, how is right, and who is bluffing?
Your answer is mine.....
Ninu

John Azzopoardi

Oct 10th 2012, 02:55

Bendy buses should have never been brought to Malta. Malta's roads are not like those of London, NY, LA, etc. Malta's roads are bendy themselves and they create a lot of traffic in many localities.

Joseph Barbara

Oct 10th 2012, 02:32

Did Minister Gatt or any other Minister ever travel standing in a bendy bus carrying 90 standing passengers, without air conditioning or an air cond. not working properly from Valletta to Cirkewwa, a journey which takes one and and a half hours due to detours in Mellieha, Ghadira and Marfa and stops at umpteen bus stops? I don't drive and use Arriva all the time so I know, I have been. I guess the Minister goes in style and comfort to Gozo.

Jamie Cutajar

Oct 10th 2012, 00:13

Austin Gatt is responsible for this internationally public embarrassment of Malta. There is collective responsibility in cabinet - so just leave - pack your bags and leave. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED with the way Austin Gatt and the oligarchy have arrogantly determined the course of our future for the worse.

Norman Shaw

Oct 9th 2012, 23:57

Whoever thinks that bendy buses in Malta are a good thing must be living in a parallel universe to Malta where the roads are at least 4 times as wide. The Transport ministry is insulting every man, woman and child in Malta by stating the contrary what Boris Johnson is saying.... are they for REAL!

Peter Xuereb

Oct 9th 2012, 23:56

Tories making fun of the Nationalist administration? Amusing. I wouldn't blame Boris patting himself on the back for selling ice to eskimos: sending bendy buses to a nation with narrower roads than London itself.

Matthew Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 23:48

Dear Ministry it's been clear by now that you spend all your time in the comfort of your luscious offices during rush hours and don't care whatsoever about the drivers that have to constantly avoid your monumental buses!! They have clogged Maltese and how! Just send this mayor a video clip showing a Maltese Central main Street in the morning on a weekday and he laughs at you and your gimmicks!

L Magrin

Oct 9th 2012, 23:39

Sur Austin,

Il-matematika tajjeb li tagħmilha iżda l-prattika kollox. Xħin ma tkunx trid titla t-telgħa u kullħadd ikun ser imut bin-nifsijiet ta' xulxin għax l-aircondition ma jaħdimx u t-twieqi magħluqin aħna konna inkunu u mhux xi gallinar tat-tiġieġ.

Li hu żgur li qabel karozza tal-linja ma setgħetx tabbi aktar min 10 persuni bil-wieqfa, issa tista ittella sa 30 persuna (l-istess karozzi li baqgħu jintużaw) u dan sar b'detriment għaċ-ċittadin u bi gwadan għal kumpanija. Il-bendy busses jekk mhux qed niżbalja jitgħu itelgħu bil-wieqfa sa massimu ta 90 ruħ, kulħadd ippakjat fuq xulxin biex ma insemmix il-ħin li jinħela sakemm jinżel u jitla xi ħadd!

Bil-bendy busses l-ħin tat-travelling bit-trasport pubbliku mar il-baħar għal fejn kien qabel. Jekk insejt time is money. L-ekonomija effiċjenza trid u mhux intoppi bħal dawn li setgħu jiġu evitati b'naqra ħsieb. Grazzi.

A Bezzina

Oct 9th 2012, 23:35

Quoting Boris Johnson ... PATHETIC!!!! Is it possible that the PL can't find a more learned voice to inspire them?!?!?!

R. Vella.

Oct 9th 2012, 23:13

- " we assure Mayor Johnston that passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of articulated buses..."

as a regular passenger I dont enjoy the bendy buses since:
1 AC does not function on most of them (or else its too weak)
2 They break down more easily
3 They are very noisy especially when they bend
4 Although they carry more passengers, the majority are standing

Malcolm Agius

Oct 9th 2012, 23:09

British commuters and tax payers are being fooled and robbed. All this falls under insane and mismanaged politics.

In the UK the reason to remove these buses is purely political, in Malta the state of our road infrastructure make modern vehicles inadequate.

G Hoare

Oct 9th 2012, 23:07

ALOT OF PEOPLE KNOW BORIS JOHNSTON AS A COMEDIAN so anything he talks about i take it with a pinch of SALT .HE WAS ,IS AND WILL BE THE COMMON MAN of the TORY PARTY.Plain Stupid,

Paul Ellul

Oct 9th 2012, 23:04

300 Comments...

Congratulations Dr. Austin Gatt.

Just out of curiosity, does the TOM have an annual award for the personality that attracts the highest number of comments for whatever reason?

Mr G Caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 22:54

While driving on Gzira seafront I heard a screeching sound and thought a vehicle was about to slam into me from the side or back. By the time I soiled my trousers I realized it was a bendy bus slowing down on the inner lane.

carlos ellul

Oct 9th 2012, 22:48

We take a big share of immigrants and make sure they remain here, we bail Greece out and we also take London's rejects. What a great colony have we become.

Nghidu iva ghal kollox u dejjem!

Joe aquilina

Oct 9th 2012, 22:29

MELA AHNA XQEDIN NAMLU DR GATT MUX INHALSU IT TAXXA ZEJDA HABBA FIK L EWWEL WIHED

Nicola Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 22:20

" passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of articulated buses as they comfortably carry in a single bus journey what used to take 3 to 4 buses before."

1) appreciate the comfort?! just this morning i had to sit down on a luggage rack because it was too crowded to stand up
2)comfortably carry?!?!?!?!?!?! bis serjeta???
3) that "single bus journey" often takes 3 bloody hours! i can get to london in less time that it takes to reach the university in the mornings

VIVA AUSTIN!

Raymond Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 22:08

Ahna l-Maltin ma nitghallmu qatt! Kemm inhobbu inpaxxu l-barranin bil-kummenti taghna!

Joe Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 21:47

Emm, sorry ta,

but...

1) Bendy busses cant get round the roads in london, which has roads which are similar or wider than the ones in Malta... i. e. they are not good for Malta, as they weren't good for london.

2) Bendy busses consume less fuel per passenger than the regular busses WHEN THEY ARE FULL and GENERALLY they AREN'T. So they consume more fuel per km. ( I would also like to know whether these busses have Euro 5 engines, since they were shipped over as second hand)

3) Bendy busses have more moving parts which means they break down more easily

4) They only cost ARRIVA less because they have to employ less drivers. I don't care about arriva's business, I want to arrive at work on time.

5) Bendy busses require training to drive, which is far stricter than the regular busses is this training being given to arriva drivers, because the only training busses I have seen are from the old service AND THOSE WERE NOT BENDY. If this is not Happening, then bendy busses also become a health issue to the Maltese Public.

Joseph Mifsud

Oct 9th 2012, 21:41

The PN made us Maltese the laughing stock of Europe, I felt insulted not by the Mayor of London but by the incompetent Austin Gatt.

mark borg

Oct 9th 2012, 21:07

Din aqwa min ta L-RJ 70

Joe Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 21:05

i do not use Arriva .... but as a car driver I can see that these buses increase congestion and as a bike driver these buses increase danger with the suction created when driving beside one of these buses!

Alfred Falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 20:58

The world is a stage and our two major political parties are excellent prima donnas!

Yes, indeed, both are infallible, both are perfect, and both are in a mood to celebrate...their insatiable thirst for power!..

By clutching at every straw!

Alfred A. Falzon

Godwin Dalli

Oct 9th 2012, 20:58

Boris is saying that bendy buses are clogging up the streets of Malta, while Austin boasted that "Zmien il-buzollotti ghadda"? Who is saying the truth because now I am confused.
Last Saturday while I was a passenger on a bendy bus no 12 going to Bugibba, at around 4pm the driver stopped the bus because of smoke.

M Grima

Oct 9th 2012, 20:44

Austin Powers is again in the limelight for the wrong reasons!!!

M Grima

Oct 9th 2012, 20:42

Dr. Gatt resembles a voodoo doll with several pins coming from all sides.

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Oct 9th 2012, 20:40

Boris Johnson is absolutely wrong. Our bendy buses are brand new ! If this is not so, then Boris Johnson must have been part of a "buzullotta". Everyone knows, including the thousands of tourists who came on liners, (the vast majority), know that Malta has only new buses. That was the commitment.

As to comfort, I have to say that during Summer, I boarded a bendy bus to go to Gozo ! A real pleasure and a treat. Unfortunately the airconditioner (also promised) did not function, and we were thanking the heavens when the doors opened at some bus stop.

Boris Johnson is envious of our comfort ! That comfort does not stop with commuters, but also extends to car drivers, especially when the bendy buses break down.

Joseph Bugeja

Oct 9th 2012, 20:30

Mela mhux Mintoff biss gab is-'second hand' li hadd ma ried (stowger). Issa hadna l-'bendy buses'. L-aqwa li zmien il-buzullotti issa spicca! Ghandna zmien il-buffi arroganti!

Mr Albert Dimech

Oct 9th 2012, 20:25

Oh my, we are now laughing stock for the Tories, when you thought it couldn't get any worse. Epic fail!

M Grima

Oct 9th 2012, 20:22

Dr. Gatt, you were the centre of the best joke provided by Boris Johnson during the British Conservative Party's conference.

But Mr. 'No Buzillotti' tried to sugar the whole issue by making a bold statement that the Maltese public appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of these bendy buses. Dr. Gatt must be really cut off from reality to make such a silly and misleading statement. But, what do you expect more; he is always right and everyone else is wrong. I call this arrogance personified!!!

m. borg (slm)

Oct 9th 2012, 20:16

Gonzi has criticised PL that in the past PL/MLP settled for second hand telephone and a second hand power station.

He went on to say that second hand is not in his vocabulary, yet he approved transport reform with second hand buses and as prime minister for almost 9 years is still making use of the Marsa power station.

Zmien il-buzullotti spicca.

Noel Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 20:11

Watching the live broadcast of Boris Jonhson on SKY News ridiculing Malta after having accepted the dumping on its streets of the bendy buses and hearing Austin Gatt’s reply to all this, made me realise how arrogant this Minister is. I am no fan of GonziPn but I honestly believe that the PN, which after all is an integral part of Malta’s glorious history deserves much much better. Dr Gatt do us all a favour, leave because this country does not need anyone with the like of you. If you do, you would be doing your party and our country a great big favour.

Lara Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 20:11

Austin buzullotti Gatt ghandu jigi imwaqqaf milli jkompli jibbuzullottja!

Philip Grech

Oct 9th 2012, 20:09

Dear Major Johnston,
The man in charge of this fiasco, Mr. Manuel Delia, is being paid for his work in organizing student protests during the last Labour government in order to topple the government He, together with his mentor (minister Gatt) know nothing about transport even after they went to China to inspect the new buses. So when you needed to get rid of the bendies you had a very easy prey.

Lara Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 20:07

Kemm se jdum jirhalla AUstin Gatt iwaqqalna wiccna l-art? PM pls take action!

Francis Attard

Oct 9th 2012, 20:05

The bendy buses are so comfortable that the number of standing passengers is more than twice that of the seated ones. My trips as a standing passenger are, by far, greater in number than those I used to take before Arriva took over.

Roy Schembri

Oct 9th 2012, 20:00

Malta does not require these dangerous buses, rather it requires a leader of Mayor Johnson's qualities. Someone who stands by their word and not afraid to face up to responsibilities and make positive decisions when needed. In simple terms . . a proper leader! Unfortunately no-one of that calibre exists in this Government or in the Opposition. Gatt and Gonzi have hid from Arriva but can anyone seriously imagine Joseph standing up to Arriva ?

Had Mayor Johnson been the transport supremo here, Mr Delia would have been kicked firmly out to graze by the end of Arriva's disastrous first week and Arriva's bags packed and their entourage dumped on the next flight back.

Joe Busuttil

Oct 9th 2012, 19:57

Can't you get anything right Mr. Agostino Pio Gatt ? It's Johnson,not Johnston.

Joe Morana

Oct 9th 2012, 19:39

Apparently the Transport Ministry is still in a state of denial ....

ANTHONY PAVIA

Oct 9th 2012, 19:37

This blatant arrogance has destroyed the PN. Let there be elections so the right people will regenerate the PN. As an unbiased citizen I feel that a strong PN would be vital for real democracy in Malta.

M Mallia

Oct 9th 2012, 19:37

Who the hell has actually said that he appreciated the bendy buses!?!?!?!? BTW just today the driver instructed us to get out of the bus so as to re-fuel at the Marsa park and ride. There is such a lack of buses due to the fact that not enough buses were committed to the fleet and that there are daily mechanical failures that they do not have time to re-fuel. I heard this from the mouths of drivers, who themselves have to face the passengers every day.

Jimmy Ventura

Oct 9th 2012, 19:36

Proset matematition Austin, x'wiehed bellghulek shabek il-konservattivi Nglizi. Dnub li hallasna ghalihom ahna u mhux INT.
Jalla taghmel il-matematika tal-elezzjoni li jmiss kif ghamilt ta' l-arriva.

Steve M. Engerer

Oct 9th 2012, 19:36

Whilst other European countries priorities are to control loss of jobs, uncontrolable deficits & so many other major problems.. here in Malta we are discussing car parks & bendy buses as a major fallout for the government..

The oppostion even believes that bendy buses & car parks are of a higher priority than the budget & should be discussed before the budget!!!


Viva Malta!!!

Charles Micallef

Oct 9th 2012, 19:27

Recently i was in York and parked at the Park & Ride car park which is situated some few miles out of the city centre, where they operating the brand new version of the Mercedes Bendy Bus. I stuck conversation and asked the driver why they are so bumpy when riding in the back, his reply was that the one's exported to Malta from London are the very first original model and are 15/18 years old, and that the latest models were as smooth riding in the back as the front, well I sat in the back and the driver was right, it was equally as comfortable, and the ones in Malta are too old to be on the road.

Kieron O'connor

Oct 9th 2012, 19:24

Firstly for the Ministry to respond to the jokes made abroad is unprofessional and calls into question who prepared and authorized the response and there ability to carry out there job without ridiculing the nation.

Secondly the content of the response is unprofessional and laughable which again calls into question who's child prepared the response and who authorized it.

Charles Massa

Oct 9th 2012, 19:22

Issa ufficjali ghax anki is sindku ta Londra qieghed jikkonferma li l Arriva f Malta kienu fjask bil karozzi li gabu.

pat muscat

Oct 9th 2012, 19:17

Li tizbalja hu uman; li tkompli tippersisti, tridt tkun Austin Gatt

David Pace

Oct 9th 2012, 19:05

wow people here really dont like Arrive do they ..............well in Arriva's defence if parking regulations where improved and enforced (same old story im afraid) then most bottlenecks would NOT be bottlenecks and traffic could flow smoother than it is.

It's no good blaming traffic on any vehicle that cant pass because some selfish idiot has blocked its right of way................and its not just bus's that get held up its also other larger vehicles all because of selfish drivers and the lack of enforcment from the relavant Authorities !! However the enforcers need to be educated and qualified to do so which is another problem over here as future enforcers would have been trained by the previous and present..................gawd help us.

Dave Alan Caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 19:02

Mathematics? I thought Mathematics was an exact science, not some wishy washy term used to bend the truth.. less congestion? pull the other one!

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 18:57

As Julian Clary would say, I feel a motion of no confidence coming on.

carmel cassar

Oct 9th 2012, 18:55

Mr boris johnson has certified and stamped austin gatt's failures. It is the last nail in the coffin.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 18:41

Whoever drafted this reply (and from the tone I would not be surprised if is Dr Gatt himself) has obviously never ridden on a bendy bus, never tried to catch a bus and does not know anyone who uses the bus service. Life is much more different, dear Minister, than your cosy world of chauffeur driven cars and mathematics worked in the comfort of your office. Sometimes I wonder, does the Minister ever read the letter pages of the Times?

Maurice Cini

Oct 9th 2012, 18:31

Please note that the passengers making use of public transport in Malta DO NOT APPRECIATE the comfort of the Bendy buses as the Ministry of Transport Malta had reported. Besides After MORE THAN 15 months in operation,Arriva Malta is still NOT giving the Maltese PUBLIC the so called promised service regarding times.

Times of Departure/Arrival are NOT BEING RESPECTED TILL THIS VERY DAY. This is because NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE IF THE BUS LEAVES VALLETTA BUS STATION IN TIME OR NOT. THIS IS EXCLUSIVELY TO ARRIVA DISCRETION. NO ONE FROM THE TRANSPORT MINISTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPARTURE or ARRIVAL OF TIMES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

I have contacted several times ARRIVA,TRANSPORT MALTA, THE MINISTRY and EVEN THE PRIME MINISTER regarding this issue. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN.This is especially re:Route no 3. You JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN AND IF THE BUS IS COMING OR NOT. One should note that the service had already been reduced on Sunday and public holidays to one bus every hour!!! IS THIS THE WAY PEOPLE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT ARE TO BE TREATED?

Alfred Falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 18:30

Whoever said that transport and car parks are not a priority for us commoners, need only read the comments attached to this article.

Thomas Rubicon

Oct 9th 2012, 18:28

Fellow commentators, please reserve your comments in English.

I have a mind to send a link of this page to the honourable gentleman in the UK.

"....we assure Mayor Johnston that passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort ..."

Comfort!!!???? What comfort - it show that NO ONE from the Malta Transport Ministry has ever boarded an articulated bus, "lovingly" called "bendy"! The sheer noise and clatter of this ride, apart from the danger of falling parts from the ceiling, is beyond belief. I have seen Arriva drivers lumping these parts onto the luggage cage behind the cabin. It's shake, rattle and roll all over.

But wait hey, let's be fair - it's NOT all the fault of the dear bendy ...it's the atrocious condition of our roads that must be giving these Mercedes type buses a very bad name.

P.S. Did you notice how quick was our Transport Ministry to react to this news?
Not so with the deluge of daily complaints, both written and phoned, since Arriva took over public transport in Malta.

GL Calleja

Oct 9th 2012, 18:26

Why can't the Maltese government and especially Austin Gatt admit that they made a mistake. I think that would solve half of the problem and more. Don't worry the Mayor of London has a lot more problems to solve than getting rid of Bendy Buses. That is the least of his problems but he doesn't want to talk about that. On the other hand like one other commentator wrote below. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. So Government and Mr Gatt keep that in mind when it comes to London mayor Boris Johnson being fooled. He will surely get his turn.

Shaun Anthony Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 18:26

Less constitution? Don't they use a larger engine? Also do they operate in other major cities? I don't think so! I have problems on the narrow roads with a mini car. Truth is the Ministry of transport is finding an excuse to justify their blindness to the obvious - they tried to be clever but once again they failed!

Alfred Falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 18:21

To the Ministry of Transport: You say it best when you say nothing at all. By the press statement you show that you are living in cuckoo world.

Joseph Fava

Oct 9th 2012, 18:10

This latest controvrsy about Austin Gatt's disasterous choice foe 'new buses' for Malta reflects the poor state of journalism here. I cannot understand, and all those who read Jason Micallef's blog cannot understan either the reason why no journalsit cared to note that it was Labour Shadow Minister Dr Helena Dalli who first quoted the comments made by the fiery Mayor of London. On Jason Micallef's blog it was clearly stated that they had gotten their news from Helena Dalli's Blog. But in malta who cares about serious journalism ?

George Cassar

Oct 9th 2012, 18:07

As a Maltese citizen I feel humiliated and angry that the standards of my government are so low that it accepts our great nation becomes a dumping ground for unwanted British buses and ambulances. Shame for this colonial and servile mentality. Who is going to bear responsibility?! SHAME!!

Joe Fenech

Oct 9th 2012, 18:02

Well done to language grasp of whoever wrote on behalf of the ministry!

NO, BENDY BUSES ARE NOT TO BE FOUND ALL ROUND EUROPE!

Ronald Zammit

Oct 9th 2012, 18:01

"we assure Mayor Johnston that passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of articulated buses as they comfortably carry in a single bus journey what used to take 3 to 4 buses before." LIKE HELL WE DO !!!!!!!!!!! These Bendy buses are causing kaos in our streets all over the Island! If only our roundabouts could speak!!!!!!! I have personally seen Bendy buses damaging our roundabouts and sharp corners more than any other vehicle on our roads!! "Qabza fil qwalita u il Buzullotti kienu spiccaw kien qalinna il Bravu Ministru Gatt!!! Jekk(zgur li le!) kien hemm bzon ta konferma ohra fil falliment ta dan il ministru...tghajina l Major ta' Londra Johnston. Il Qabza fil qwalita hija it tilqit li ma jridx haddiehor!! Tal MISTHIJA Sur Austin Gatt u la bella klikka ta' GonziPaNic !!!!!!!!

Lawrence Fenech

Oct 9th 2012, 17:59

First of all one has to take into consideration the roads in other cities in Europe certainly not the minute size of Malta and our roads.

Secondly London wanted to get rid of these second hand buses and malta took the bait.

They were brought to Malta by someone who is an expert on buses.

Jonathan Scerri

Oct 9th 2012, 17:54

The least The Transport Ministry could do was to pretend to ignore Mayor Johnston's comments for the simple reason that he is right and no excuse could justify having second hand bendy buses here on this tinier than London country.

K Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 17:50

Hon. Gatt seems to be the only one that appreciates these buses.

Less congestion? Have you ever seen one going through Mellieha?

Alfred Cremona

Oct 9th 2012, 17:47

Rather than blindly believing London mayor Boris Johnson or the MITC i prefer to see some commuters reviews:

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews68070.html

m piscopo

Oct 9th 2012, 17:43

Taf x misskhom tghidu x qal Ed miliband f intervista li ta qabel il kungres tal partit laburista ingliz.Dan qal li jekk ikun fil gvern il partit laburista ingliz irid jaghti kaz li fil pajjiz ma jkunx hemm l istudenti li jiggradwaw mill universita u warajhom il bahh izda jrid jara li jkun hemm istituzzjonijiet edukattivi biex jaghtu tahrig lil studenti f hiliet vokazzjonali. Dan hawn malta ilu snin li qed isir bl MCAST,u l inlizi qed jahsbu biex jaghmluh fil futur. Bir rispett kollu dan tridu ggibu mela battuta ta membru tal konservattivi Inglizi fuq l arriva.U din l ahbar ta erba t ijiem ilu possibli ma ra hadd mit tmexxija tal partit nazzjonalista ghax jekk mhux certifikat tajjeb dan ghal partit nazzjonalista mela jien ma nafx x irid ikun.

Victor Pulis

Oct 9th 2012, 17:42

we assure Mayor Johnston that passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of articulated buses as they comfortably carry in a single bus journey what used to take 3 to 4 buses before.
Vox populi it certainly isn't!

C Busuttil

Oct 9th 2012, 17:41

Dawn bis-serjeta ? PUDINA WARA L-OHRA

FRANCO "Bring it on"
I say this as a nationalist, as this government is detached from reality. People suffer daily through this disaster on wheels and cheeky enough instead of admitting they made a mistake, which would have been a honourable thing to do, they issue a statement that offends our intelligence. SHAME ON YOU

RESIGN and call an election, I've had enough, this latest statement is the straw that broke the camel's back, I can't continue defending the undefendable, I will not vote labour, but all my doubts about not voting have ended with this statement. Go on the opposition benches as you deserve it and its all your making. TAL-MISTHIJA kliem bhal dak

Anthony Attard

Oct 9th 2012, 17:40

It would be interesting to know whether Mayor Johnson, when speaking of/joking on the removal of bendy buses spoke also of a decrease on London roads of:
1. Arriva coaches to provide a better service to passengers;
2. noise pollution to the benefit of residents and passers-by;
3. the number of drivers who are paid from sale of Arriva tickets.
Will passengers have to pay more in future to make up for the increase in costs, including maintenance costs? Who is expected to pay?
If the removal of bendy buses does not mean an increase in the price of tickets, let's remove them because truly bendy buses (really "long vehicles" without such notice) do increase obstructions on roads whether it's in Malta or abroad.

Maria Vassallo

Oct 9th 2012, 17:39

My dear Lord Mayor of London Town,
why don't you mind your own business.
You have many bendy realities to deal with in London!

John Edwards

Oct 9th 2012, 17:38

All I know is that when I left Malta in 2009, there was a very poor Bus Service. My wife and I returned to reside this year and we found an excellent Bus Service.

Boris Johnson is a Buffoon, he likes to attract attention with silly statements, ignore him.

Andre Grech

Oct 9th 2012, 17:34

Its incredibile how the Maltese people are against everything.

Paul Bajada

Oct 9th 2012, 17:33

The Transport Ministry, again and as always, gets it all wrong! First the bendy buses need to make it to their destination before even contemplating using them instead of 3 to 4 "bespoke" buses.

Such a ridiculous statement. It really shows the Transport Ministry is living on a different island we do.

Malcolm Seychell

Oct 9th 2012, 17:32

Mayor Johnson you are right. The absolute majority of the Maltese do not want this rubbish. However he ministry is happy. They are so happy that the guy who managed this disaster is now a PN candidate.....

Good Luck Mayor. You did the best for your people. You managed to throw your rubbish in Malta and we paid for it

Charles Micallef

Oct 9th 2012, 17:31

Conservatives, we assure Mayor Johnston that passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort and the sheer capacity of articulated buses as they comfortably carry in a single bus journey what used to take 3 to 4 buses before..................they are far too arrogant to accept that Bendy Buses are not built for Maltese Roads!
As Boris said they clogged the streets of London and they are now causing congestion in Malta, and please drop politics from the issue to try and defend the indefensible!

M Cassar

Oct 9th 2012, 17:26

How time changes us all. Minister Gatt used to taunt the PL with the Strouger telphone exchange and the second hand turbines bought from Sicily in the seventies.

Now we are the laughing stock of Europe when we buy buses that nobody wants. The bendy buses and Arriva will be the legacy that the smart know-it-all Minister Gatt will leave to future generations.

Victor Laiviera

Oct 9th 2012, 17:24

"They operate in just about every other city in Europe with high bus passenger numbers."

What about the width of the roads in these cities?

Joe A. Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 17:22

Dear Major Johnston,

Don't believe a word that was said by Hon. Gatt. He is only the minister that is facing a vote of no confidence presented by his fellow parliamentarians because of his failures!

Keep up the good work.

Just Joe.

Dorothy Fenech

Oct 9th 2012, 17:22

and it is precisely the defensive attitude presented by the ministry which were mere mortals find so infuriating! passengers in Malta do not appreciate the comfort of these bendy buses especially when they arebeing driven 4 or 5 in a row/ not fitting into bus bays or worse still being driven recklessly considering our roads. they have NOT reduced congestion and judging by all the scratches and bumps many of them already carry they will not last long!
the London Mayor was right!

cesco di luigi

Oct 9th 2012, 17:19

Dear Mr Johnson

the Ministry might have got full marks in Maths, but please excuse it for spelling your name Johnston instead of Johnson.

If you want the real opinion of the Maltese public, come and visit us and spend some time at Valletta bus station, where transport Ministry officials are conspicuous by their absence, probably bust devising some other devious scheme.

Yours

Going round the bend

Mr Joseph Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 17:17

maaaaa how embarrassing

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Oct 9th 2012, 17:16

Is the transport ministry seriously defending the use of articulated buses in Malta? With our narrow roads double deckers would have been a far better alternative.

Can the minister provide proof of who opted for bendy buses?

WAS IT THE MINISTRY OR DID ARRIVA DUMP THEM IN MALTA AS IS BEING STATED?

victor caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 17:14

Austin gatt will be asked to organise the next olympic games, as boris had, obviously helped by wizard delia....any bets

J. Debono

Oct 9th 2012, 17:14

I suppose London bendy buses were replaced by double deckers. So capacity remained on the same levels as with bendy buses, with the difference that passangers have to climb a storey of stairs to take their seat.

pat muscat

Oct 9th 2012, 17:10

Kemm kienu jghidu li Mintoff tas-second hand: qed nitkellmu 40 sena ilu meta konna ghandna kemm bdejn
nimxu; illum,fil-2012, ergajna koppi: nibilghu r-rejects ta haddiehor u' to add insult to injury', jiddiehku bina !
Sintendi, taht GonziPN , hadd ma jirrezenja, u jekk jitkecca mill-bieb, jerga iddahluh mit-tieqa!
Dik umilta , serjeta u trasparenza!

John B. Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 17:09

The Ministry's press release speaks of less congestion" thanks to the introduction of bendy-buses. This is of course not taking into account the congestions caused when one of these buses breaks down in the middle of a busy narrow street. Can the Ministry tell us how many break downs have been recorded since Arriva started operations in July last year?

Chris Finch

Oct 9th 2012, 17:09

Dear Mr Gatt, teh passengers on them might appreciate them, but other road users certainly don't. What with them not fitting into bus bays, blocking junctions and being driven as if they are F1 cars.

J Busuttil

Oct 9th 2012, 17:09

Prosit Austin you could not have said it better.

Victor Laiviera

Oct 9th 2012, 17:08

To err is human. To persist in error is diabolical.

A Galea

Oct 9th 2012, 17:05

Anyone else find it interesting that the second hand buses from London are Mercedes while the new buses ordered specifically for Malta are all made in China?

J Martinelli

Oct 9th 2012, 17:05

Same names, same old gripes, same Party.

C Abdilla

Oct 9th 2012, 17:04

"Passengers in Malta appreciate the comfort ". Unfortunately I use them everyday they are without air-condition. Can anyone imagine during the last heatwave the comfort we experienced with closed windows???????

ANTHONY PAVIA

Oct 9th 2012, 17:04

Ehhhh? How clever our Transport minister and his collaborators are? They have put Boris in the shadow and are now planning offering their expertise to Londoners.

Manuel Briffa

Oct 9th 2012, 17:03

Did the Ministry actually address the mayor as Johnston (twice) or is it a Times typo?

Brian Gatt

Oct 9th 2012, 17:00

Konna u ghadna nghixu f' pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse.....

Patrick Rossi

Oct 9th 2012, 16:58

MITC: It's not the comfort of being a passenger that's the issue - these articulated buses are just not practical in our existing road infrastructure.. not at all comfortable driving next to one that's for sure.. a single bendy bus attempting a roundabout turn is enough to cause a congestion..

Doreen Gatt

Oct 9th 2012, 16:55

"By our mathematics that is considerably less congestion, rather than more..." bis-serjeta????

Are they actually living in Malta???? less congestion my foot....especially when they either get stuck somewhere or the driver decides to drive in the middle of two lanes blocking the whole road!!!! Maaaaaaa TM, Transport Ministry wake up pleaaasssssseeeeee!!!!!!!!!

ray vassallo

Oct 9th 2012, 16:54

Din kien jonqsu Wistin miskin. Ara veru l hmar il maghkus idur ghalih id dubbien!

joanne pace

Oct 9th 2012, 16:54

Malta got offended ! as usual we are the centre of the universe, Why did we order the bues then.

ray vassallo

Oct 9th 2012, 16:52

"they comfortably carry in a single bus journey what used to take 3 to 4 buses before"
Where were these guys in the ministry living? Are they trying to take us for a ride? Can they tell us which destination took 3 or 4 buses? The maximum to every destination were 2 buses! And above all, it took less time to take 2 buses and arrive at your destination then one trip on a bendy bus which takes you all around the island before getting there. The only part who made profit out of the bendy buses is Arriva. Less fuel, less drivers to pay, more time to arrive at your destination. Now that is simple matthematics!

Charles Zammit

Oct 9th 2012, 16:52

Many a true word is spoken in jest !!

R. Balzan

Oct 9th 2012, 16:50

The Transport Ministry's reaction is puerile and borders on stupid. But now we're used to such stupidity from anything concerning Austin Gatt's ministry. Why doesn't he do all of Malta a huge favour and just vanish from the political scene?!

M. Debono

Oct 9th 2012, 16:49

Arriva was a farce from the get go, Austin Gatt should have resigned a long time ago, let just hope he does now!! The simple fact that he hasn’t still is all the more proof we live in an autocracy!!! I would like nothing more than to see Arriva out and the old system in, apart from a few are conditioned buses Arriva has done nothing but cause major traffic congestion as their buses in fact look worse than the old Maltese buses, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise those buses would take a beating trying to navigate such narrow and congested roads.... Arriva buses were involved in 1300 accidents up until June this year... the figure speaks for itself!!!!!!

A Dimech

Oct 9th 2012, 16:48

This episode alone, is enough fo Austin to resign, if we were a decent country were people are held accountable. But we are not..... we are just GonziPN!

Frans Aguis

Oct 9th 2012, 16:47

If one goes on the roundabout next to baystreet saint julians on Google Earth we could also see an Arriva bus stuck there

Mr Clyde Ellul

Oct 9th 2012, 16:46

The new public transport system may have been a fiasco, but 10 points for Gatt's reply. :P

E. Azzopardi

Oct 9th 2012, 16:46

Less congestion? Are we living in the clouds?

The PL has nothing to do with it. "Listen" to what the PEOPLE are saying. Listening is said to be an art, which many of us seem not to have. They only listen to themselves and to what they want to listen.

It has definitely not the reform we were promised. Apart from the clean, more comfortable buses and the better behaved drivers, the rest seems to have been forgotten. For goodness sake, let us face facts.

mark johnson

Oct 9th 2012, 16:41

I think you will find that a lot of MLP and Tories have a desire to be out of the EU in common.

E. Azzopardi

Oct 9th 2012, 16:34

There we have it.

It is very sad that the transport reform has been a failure except for one thing. The buses are much cleaner.
Their was not the improvement that we were promised beforehand. Far from it. The other main reason for this reform was to decrease the traffic from our roads. It has not worked.

One has see this from the traffic jams in the mornings and evenings and most of the day. These are facts.
Every car has one person, the driver and many of them are going towards one direction, Valletta. We are even unable to car-pool let alone use the buses.

This was a big failure having spent all those millions. Those responsible should have gone long ago or given the kick. But it does not happen here. So, there we are. We are lumped.

Eddy Privitera

Oct 9th 2012, 16:32

Will Dr. Gonzi also consider Boris Johnson's comment as a boost for tourism because he has put Malta on the 'IDIOTS' Map ?

silvio loporto

Oct 9th 2012, 16:32

So now we have to admit that Franco Debono is right,at least on the Arriva issue.
I hope that now, some Know It All, will stop insinuating and writing on her blog,that Franco is among other things BANANAS
If the word decency, means anything, to this person, I expect her to at least let us have her comments on the statment of the London Lord Mayor,of course if she doesn't think that he is collaborating with Franco..

Eddy Privitera

Oct 9th 2012, 16:28

E.-Gatt: This certificate should find itself on a PL Billboard, I suggest ! On this alone.let alone the numerous other fiascoes , Dr. Austin Gatt should resign from parliament, let alone from minister !

Louis Craus

Oct 9th 2012, 16:25

Dejjem nibilghu l- kanen ta' haddiehor u nghidu " grazzi "

E Bonnici

Oct 9th 2012, 16:25

Viva l-Inglizi u mbaghad nohorgu inpaqpqulhom. U dan kwazi qed iwaqqghana ghac-cajt ghall-kanna li blajna (jew li bellghawlna). Kemm ahna boloh!

m. borg (slm)

Oct 9th 2012, 16:23

No more excuses

AUSTIN GATT MUST RESIGN.

E Gatt

Oct 9th 2012, 16:18

The public buses reform was disappointing in certain areas - and yes the jack-knifed diplodocus” bendy buses was probably the biggest disappointment – but there were many positive points that are sometimes forgotten ever since we got rid of the xarabanosaurus buses.
• Less pollution
• More civilised drivers
• Air conditioned transport
• No more bone-shaking rides.

C.E.M. Delia

Oct 9th 2012, 16:13

Standard bus turning circle 20 meters
Bendy bus turning circle 23 meters.

Malta bend radius?

See http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Lifting/Transport.html

G G Debono

Oct 9th 2012, 16:13

Hey Guys

Lets sell them to North Korea !

Victor Pulis

Oct 9th 2012, 16:13

Who knows what agreement was reached between the seller and the buyer? A well known maltese politician used to say that nothing happens by coincidence.\Xejn ma jigri b'kumbinazzjoni.

P Sciberras

Oct 9th 2012, 16:11

AZZURE AIR+RJ70+BENDY BUSSES.

mark johnson

Oct 9th 2012, 16:11

Malta always ends up with the out-of-date clapped-out useless crap that London doesn't want any more.

Why do you think I'm here :-)

C Busuttil

Oct 9th 2012, 16:11

Lawrence Gonzi wants people to believe that European leaders consult with him about the problems the EU is facing, this is the guy who's government managed to do the impossible that is to screw the worst service we had with one that is even worse. You must be a genius to achieve something like this, while your people get paid thousands of euros for their "consultancy".
No wonder hundreds of nationalists are sick of oligarchy governing this country. I could not understand how fellow nationalists felt but I came to realize this and they are bloody right.

Alfred Falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 16:09

Rt Hon Johnson, Thank you for you enlightening comment on Arriva's bendy buses. Pls note that it is not only the bendy buses that has clogged our roads but the whole system has failed. In the recent past, we had our bone-shakers, we had "arrogant" drivers but they all worked hard to got us to our destination on time. And that they did. The average traveling time was 30 minutes. Now, we have Arriva, we have air conditioned buses but we have no guarantee that we will reach our destination on time. We have to wait and wait and hope that somehow, some time we will eventually reach our destination.

m. borg (slm)

Oct 9th 2012, 16:08

No need for a parliamentary motion , AUSTIN GATT must resign he has embarassed Malta, gonzipn and himself.

Delia should be struck off gonzipn's candidates' list.

Mark Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 16:00

And all thanks are due to the one and only Austin Gatt and "the brains" behind the public transport reform Mr Manwel Delia. They do Malta proud!

ALBERT FENECH

Oct 9th 2012, 15:55

This comment will not bother Dr Austin Pio (or is it now "pipi") Gatt. He never loses any sleep over people complaints because people are always complaining. Besides , who is this Boris Johnson guy - well, he is only the Mayor of London and an aspiring replacement for British PM David Cameron. That won't bother Dr Gatt either. As Sir Alf Ramsey said when England won the World Cup in 1966 - let them all come! We are the Gatt/CC/DCG/Gonzi-PN country and we can take on the whole world. "Flimkien kollox possibli".

ALBERT FENECH

Jon Vercellono

Oct 9th 2012, 15:54

@Stephen Mifsud - I do not think you ever used the old bus system which you are nostalgically praising. Whatever the faults , this system is 100 times better and more professional than anything which we had before (and for all of those praising the old system's punctuality - remember, we could and were held hostage by drivers whenever it fancied them). Being sworn at, being told contrary information at the terminal, always travelling before 10 as the system shut down, give me a bloody break sir, this system is 100 times better. There is work to do, but its a much better system, and has forced a standard on those who drive buses.

Dan Atkinson (LLD)

Oct 9th 2012, 15:54

is soltu hawn Malta, nitwekkew bl-imbarazz ta hadd iehor.

Patrina Avellino

Oct 9th 2012, 15:41

When a few months ago I read the article in one of the Highways Magazine that London were scrapping the last 12 bendy buses in London, I had a very strong feeling that these would be heading to Malta! Localised Transport Planners/Engineers should have analysed at Consultation Stage that Bendy Buses are not suitable for the narrowed roads of the town and villages in Malta.

Marie Roberts

Oct 9th 2012, 15:35

I think we got a bargain, don't you lol.

GL Calleja

Oct 9th 2012, 15:29

When you are handed a lemon you will try to make lemonade. Good or bad the bendy buses are here and one way or another we are stuck with them, it does not matter whose fault it is. So what to do? Bendy buses can work. Transport Malta and Arriva have to keep these monster buses exclusively on long and direct runs only. Example use them on direct routes like from Cirkewwa to the Airport,Cirkewwa to Valletta and so on and so forth. Take them off local city routes because that is where the congestion is. You cannot fit five litres of water in a one litre can. Get it together TM. True that Austin Gatt committed a big snafu but Transport Malta has to take the cake for incompetence. What amazes me is how on earth the government never even thought of replacing this incompetent management who created this maze in the fist place.

R. Balzan

Oct 9th 2012, 15:29

Kapolavur iehor ta' Agostino Pio! Min qal li dan haqqu jigi ccensurat mill-Parlament?

Austin Vella

Oct 9th 2012, 15:29

Dr. Franco DeBono, bring it on!

A. Mizzi

Oct 9th 2012, 15:26

Bendy Buses just drive anyone round the bend just driving on the same roads , even if there is no bends!

Who was that Maltese "ċuċ " that brought them over and gotoff Scot free and ARRIVA are still getting millions in Government Grants?

Min hu bhal GONZI & CO.?

Jonathan Grech

Oct 9th 2012, 15:21

we dont have a single bus stop that fits a bendy bus

Charles Mangion

Oct 9th 2012, 15:17

Mr Delia take notice if u are going to be the next transport minister

Mark Fleri

Oct 9th 2012, 15:17

When will we see the first bendy bus to burst into flames?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ_FjpHnBOw

Alexander Pace Gouder.

Oct 9th 2012, 15:07

Quite True. These Bandy Buses are a disaster on our roads especially I can speak for where I live: St.Julians Seafront Streets. Traffic Jam galore especially when we have three even 5 buses sometimes behind each other 2 No 12, 2 No13plus X1 and so on. Worst when they stop on the Bus Stops ( coming from VallettaSliema side Bustops both in Main Street, Near Plaza Hotel,near Maridian Hotel, Borg Olivier Street by NP Club. Spinola and St.Georges Rd., and all bus stops coming down from St.Andrews up to the whole of Tower Rd., Sliema.They do not fit. Not even the Normal Ones do.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - All this THANKS to the BRAVU AUSTIN (PIO) GATT.

Fran Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 15:04

As far as I know there are three or more bus operators in London, and not only Arriva operated bendy buses so this is discriminating against Arriva.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 15:04

Yesterday I predicted that PBS wil be excusing the purchase by government of the 100 parking places. This evening, PBS will be excusing the purchase of the bendy buses. Any bets?

Fran Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 15:03

There goes the anti-Arriva brigade ably helped by the Times of Malta. Do you have to report every negative news about our new bus system. Admittedly we could have done away with bendy buses but then we would have had more buses on the road. So take your choice and decide.

Lawrence Fenech

Oct 9th 2012, 15:00

U dan wara li il-buses li kelna kien qed iduruhom u gabhuhom goddha u biex jehles minnhom u il-buzullotti ta' mohhu sewh 40,000,000 euro. Hudlu b'idejn Gonz lil Austin.

Fran Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 15:00

Wow thanks Mr. Johnson. Very diplomatic of you but then it has to be a Tory.

C. Bartoli

Oct 9th 2012, 14:57

Jista jghidilna Joseph Muscat x'se jghamel bil-public transport jekk jitla fil-gvern?

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 14:55

Malta - the butt of jokes at the general conference of the British Conservative party. Fhiex gabuna.

C. Bartoli

Oct 9th 2012, 14:54

Arriva u il-bravi partners Tumas group li gabu il-bendy busses u il-buses made in china li dejjem bil-hsara

Victor Pulis

Oct 9th 2012, 14:53

When the bendy buses were introdeuced in Malta I commented that Boris was laughing his head off not believing his luck at finding such suckers. As Manuel Delia used to say. the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We ate the pudding and it stuck in our throats.

Joseph Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 14:52

Nonfqu il miljuni biex nixtru l-iscrape ta haddiehor. Min dejjem hekk nafna. Min jaf kif gew immanigjati il flus. Il poplu kollox jibla la ma jkunx fil borma.

Joseph Cauchi Senior

Oct 9th 2012, 14:46

May all those criticizing the bendy-buses kindly explain to me why all this criticism for such type of transport vehicle?

Please provide technical details and explanations, please.

Thank you.

JC.

Damian Testa

Oct 9th 2012, 14:39

Groan... another Arriva-bashing story. Honestly, how tiresome. Get a grip all of you commenting here. What did you expect? Hostesses handing out warm towelettes? A Playstation console on every seat? We now have bus service that's as good and as bad as any other in Europe, and a lot cheaper. But it certainly beats the stifling, soot-belching battered buses we had, driven by rude, short-tempered ogres who swore, stank and short-changed you.

Alfred Bugeja

Oct 9th 2012, 14:38

Boris and Jason have forgotten that most of London's Mercedes Citaro G buses have not ended up in Malta but in various British cities including Birmingham and Brighton. That's because Arriva was not the only company which operated them in London. I've seen some driving past in Brighton in roads that are probably narrower than Sliema's or Fgura where these buses are used most in Malta.

Boris evidently also ignored that several routes in London on which the bendy buses ran are now being plagued with problems of capacity since existing double-decker buses carry around 25 people less at full capacity. His New Routemaster bus also will not be able to compete with the capacity of the Citaro. The only benefit that Boris got out of removing the bendy buses is the decrease in the amount of passengers hitching a ride for free by boarding the bus from the rear doors. And anyway that benefit has been completely outweighed by the capital investment needed required to purchase a new fleet of double deckers (which carry less people).

And of course, only Boris and Jason are right while the mayors of Thessaloniki in Greece, Atsugi and Chiba in Japan, Strasbourg, and countless towns and cities in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK itself where the same Citaro G model provides a sterling service are wrong.

MT Caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 14:35

This Mr.Boris Johnson seems very pleased to have dumped us with their arriva bendy -buses......

Good for you !!!! Thanks you Austin.

Noel Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 14:35

Xejn il vot tieghi ghal-Manuel Dellia Ghax l'akbnar froga ghamila hu.

Michael Owen

Oct 9th 2012, 14:35

Let us not forget we Brits are quite good at getting rid of stuff.
Look waht happened when we sold tower bridge to America. Or that's what they thought they were getting.
Turned out they got London bridge instead.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

D Mifsud

Oct 9th 2012, 14:33

If I am not wrong, I remember Dr Gonzi in one of the last independence meetings, saying that nowadays a Maltese could go abroad and not be ashamed to be Maltese. I am certainly not ashamed to be Maltese, but this is certainly not due to the current Govt

Jon Vercellono

Oct 9th 2012, 14:31

Well, to all the commenters, they are full all day everyday - which should tell you something about the need for buses. Rather than run 2 or 3 one behind the other, they can take a bigger load and bring it to somewhere else. They are full, and rarely is there a seat to be had. Complain all you want, but at least we have buses at night, and a chance to get to work on time. Cars need to be reformed and restricted not buses. You talk about cliques, what about insurance companies??? (or agents for used or new cars). perhaps the double deck route would be better in Malta. we have the tourist ones, perhaps, Double Decked would be better for commuters too. WE CERTAINLY DO NEED BIGGER BUSSES THAN WE HAD ON THE BUSY LINES, WAKE UP PEOPLE.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 14:30

Go on, Dr Austin Gatt, tell us that Boris Johnson is a fool and does not know anything about buses - as you do, of course.

Thomas C. Cassar

Oct 9th 2012, 14:29

Il-buzullotti ghadhom maghna nahseb mhux spiccaw.

mario piscopo

Oct 9th 2012, 14:22

And who turned up on a SMASH TV progamme concerning Arriva yesterday evening after all these months ?
A bitter contrast with the previous prayer programme 'erga lura' with the above undesireable 'guest'

Joe Busuttil

Oct 9th 2012, 14:15

The " buzullotti" tag is spreading overseas now. At least we got some free advertising and every drop counts.

Mr Lawrence Mifsud

Oct 9th 2012, 14:13

is it a comforting thought, that, the Arriva buses are not wider than the limit established by the EU?

pat muscat

Oct 9th 2012, 14:12

Blajna kanna; u hadd mhu accountable?. Imsomma, jaqaw dan Boris xi Labour elve ukoll? Shame on Boris!

James Dimech

Oct 9th 2012, 14:11

I prefer the bendy buses anytime in comparison to the bus drivers we had before.

Albert Attard

Oct 9th 2012, 13:58

.....besides that our rooads are much narrower than the average London Road!!....try turing a bendy in front of Baraacuda restaurant in Balluta...It needs both lanes!!

Joe aquilina

Oct 9th 2012, 13:53

never anding story yipi ya ye

Mario Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 13:52

A great certificate to Austin (bużullotti spiċċaw) Gatt, and now Gonzi's Certificate!!

J Debrincat

Oct 9th 2012, 13:48

haha I heard that part of the speech!! He promised to get rid of the bendy buses from London because they were clogging up the streets and massively problematic and by finding a buyer (Malta) managed to save a bit of money too. It was very well documentyed what the issues with these buses were, In London which has wider roads than Malta, but obviously someone decided that they were suitable for Malta. it has turned us into a bit of a laughing stock

Boris is a strong, principal led politician who is not bullied into making decisions and sticks to his promises – maybe some of our politicians would do well to learn a few lessons but on this matter it would be interesting to know what the decision making process was?

Paul Caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 13:48

Bendy buses or not, what we should be concentrating on is to improve the punctuality of the system!

W Cassar

Oct 9th 2012, 13:46

NIce one Boris!

George Caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 13:44

Well done Borris. you should come out here and try and clear up our streets. I am sure you couldnt do a worse job then what we have runing our streets right now.

Tonio Micallef

Oct 9th 2012, 13:42

Boris of London should go to Gudja, Safi, Qrendi and Mqabba to see the Bendy Buses causing havoc in the narrow streets of these villages. Who said that "zmien il-buzullotti spicca". Shame! Of all places, the comrades of GonziPN in the UK Conservative Party, making fun of the bendy buses in Malta. Where is Austin Gatt!!!

A Zammit

Oct 9th 2012, 13:42

Although this is old news - see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/13/london-bendy-buses-malta

It is nevertheless painful and embarassing that Malta should have accepted them. They are out of place and susceptible to causing grave accidents in our narrow streets.

anthony sultana

Oct 9th 2012, 13:41

Warbu min hemm, il BUZOLLOTTI qedin fl aqwa taghhom.

Karl Abela

Oct 9th 2012, 13:38

In this wretched country it seems you can never do anything right.

If the government spends alot of money on projects we call it a waste of money and if we try to save money we are suddenly the rubbish dump of the EU.

It seems that our logic is always hampered by political hatred towards the government no matter what.

Get a life.

Karl Consiglio

Oct 9th 2012, 13:37

The guy is a real Johnson!

John L Galea

Oct 9th 2012, 13:36

Another certificate of success of GOnziPN & Austin 'Ghamilna pipi' Gaffe.

Liz WallikerG

Oct 9th 2012, 13:35

You can't blame Boris if he found someone stupid enough to buy them......

Chris Harris

Oct 9th 2012, 13:35

As a welshman living in Malta all i can say is thankyou Mr.Maltese Gov. for taken all our rubbish from our streets and dump'em in your country. thats very nice of you sir, ofcourse i still want my money back what you lot took off me when i brought my car into this country in a mint condition now a wreck so i guess these bedy buses just feel at home. Well said Boris me'ol sonner.

joe vella

Oct 9th 2012, 13:34

tghid Austin se jaghmillu xi libel lill Boris ?

Andre Grech

Oct 9th 2012, 13:34

Even though I swear at these busses every day one should note that these buses were purchased by Arriva who happens to be a private entity and not by Transport Malta. I happened to ride on one some time ago and it feels better on them than on the old buses we had before the reform.

Why are we surprised that Malta was mentioned by a foreign politician. Our politicians are always comparing our country with our neighbors.

And malta is also being used as a junk yards for UK private cars too

C Falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 13:33

Kemm qedin sew ukoll. And I believed everything what Dr Austin Gatt and the PM had said about Arriva. Not anymore. Sorry.

Tony Camilleri

Oct 9th 2012, 13:32

s
we all know that the Gonzi government has been a joke from the start. It is now also certified by those who lumped the bendy buses on him.

henry caruana

Oct 9th 2012, 13:30

Boris in UK know what our government and transport managers burdened MALTA with.
possible transport managers are more happy with their bank accounts much more
than what arriva and austin promised

A. Schembri

Oct 9th 2012, 13:30

@Mr Andrew Azzopardi

Biex jkun inad kollox, niftakar li fis 70's il gvern laburista kien gab id dumped buses mil londra ukoll. Fit minhim dawn ghadom jigu garaxjati f-garaxx tal education pembroke.

@Lawrence Fenech

Ma nafx min kien linteligenti dak iz zmien. imma dawn il karozzi ukoll ma damux fuq it triq. minjaf ghaliex. ghax diga kienu scrap forsi?

gil falzon

Oct 9th 2012, 13:29

Pure logic and common sense alone should have sufficed in convincing the relevant authorities that the bendy-buses would never have worked in Malta.

Small, frequent buses should have been introduced. Also, a simple cable-car from Sliema to Valletta would have helped alleviate traffic to and from the capital. But of course, my ideas are of no value. Let the charade continue.

A. Mizzi

Oct 9th 2012, 13:29

"Zmien il-buzullotti spicca!!!" u dew il-PNtomimi...... li jbikku u mhux li jdahqu!

Grazzi Dr. Austin Gatt, Grazzi Manwel Delia !

Albert Farrugia

Oct 9th 2012, 13:27

All well and good...but, to be fair, London has double-decker buses, whose capacity equals that of a bendy buses. All those who use the routes linking the North part of the island to the South can see that the demand for public transport is so huge, that not even bendy buses can satisfy it. So, ok, out with the bendies, but then?

john muscat

Oct 9th 2012, 13:26

Everybody except Dr. Gatt knows that we have been dumped by these bendy buses. But he doesn't care, in fact he's mum about Arriva and is not contesting the next general election!

charles tabone

Oct 9th 2012, 13:26

This is another confirmed Buzullotta by the honourable Bully, Can he deny the Mayor's statement?

Joseph Mizzi

Oct 9th 2012, 13:24

Do the PN MEPs sit with the British Tories in the European Parliament?

j brincat

Oct 9th 2012, 13:23

WOW what a certificate to TM for lumping us with these buses with which are now even being ridiculed by the Major of London!

AND who said that 'iz-zmien tal-buzullotti spicca?'

Who will resign (obviously no ONE)!



(jb)

R. Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 13:22

Gatt and Delia should hide themselves from the public, sure they don't diserve any vot from the maltese.

Charles Cremona

Oct 9th 2012, 13:22

These buses are a menace on the narrow streets of Malta. Even on the wide london roads they use to cause congestion and have now been replaced by comfortable new doubledecker Routemasters, while the hated old bendies were quietly shipped to Malta as a present by Arriva, enjoy.

Francis Raeymaekers

Oct 9th 2012, 13:22

A 'past sell-by date' politician, buying 'past sell-by date buses'. WELCOME TO MALTA!

B. Farrugia

Oct 9th 2012, 13:22

We really need some like Boris in Malta,
a rebel,
not afraid to say his mind
charismatic
able to take bold decisions for the benfit of his country.
A leader and visionary.

Malcolm Mifsud

Oct 9th 2012, 13:21

So much for the new fleet promised with so much pomp

Marco Galea

Oct 9th 2012, 13:21

oh look at Jason Micallef making fun of Malta ... the "gardinar" should be boasting with friends right now about what a true Maltese he is ...

Dorielle Soler

Oct 9th 2012, 13:20

speaking with no politics in mind, I - for one- welcome the bendy buses as on my (Sliema) route, I don't get told full up often given their capacity for passengers.

Victor Calleja

Oct 9th 2012, 13:20

U Austin ghadu hemm!

R ferriggi

Oct 9th 2012, 13:13

BUT WE ALREADY KNEW IT DEAR BORIS.

WE ARE THE RUBBISH DUMP OF THE EU APPARENTLY.

BUT THANKS FOR MAKING THE NEWS PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL.

CAN ANYONE FROM THE GOVERNMENT REPLY TO THIS PLEASE???????

Mr Andrew Azzopardi

Oct 9th 2012, 13:12

We have become the UK's automotive dumpster

Lawrence Fenech

Oct 9th 2012, 13:11

Austin Gatt tant hu inteligenti li din il farsa ma giethux f'mohhu jew kellu xi interess iehor.