Transport Malta received more than 700 calls and 700 e-mails about the bus service, two weeks after Transport Minister Joe Mizzi asked for feedback and recommendations.

Since it started operating two years ago amid promises of a revolution, the service has been marred by frustration.

On March 22, Mr Mizzi launched a four-week consultation process to listen to people’s concerns and suggestions for improvement in a bid to “to finally have a decent public transport system”.

By Thursday, 703 e-mails and 736 telephone calls were received by the transport watchdog.

A spokesman pointed out that an e-mail or a phone call would very often consist of more than one suggestion or complaint.

Asked about the main concerns and recommendations made, he said that feedback was still being evaluated and it would be “premature at this stage to divulge such information”.

According to readers who vented their frustration in a feedback section on timesofmalta.com, punctuality remains a headache, with scheduled buses often arriving late or not at all.

The solution, for many, would be to revert to the old routes while keeping the more environment-friendly vehicles and better-mannered staff.

Mr Mizzi said earlier this week that a number of bus route changes would be among the public transport tweaks made over the next two months.

In a meeting with the General Workers Union, he said that, once the feedback process was over, all stakeholders would be consulted to map a way forward.

Changes that could be made immediately would be carried out at once.

The public can give feedback by calling Transport Malta’s call centre on freephone numbers 8007 23096/8007 2393 between 8am and 4.30pm or send an e-mail to info.tm@ transport.gov.mt.