Bendy buses have already been removed from problematic routes, an Arriva spokesman has said, after the Transport Minister announced some would be redeployed.

Joe Mizzi said in Parliament on Tuesday that Arriva had agreed in principle to use articulated (bendy) buses only on main roads wide enough to take them.

Changes would be implemented following talks between Transport Malta and the public transport operator to ensure that the buses’ removal from certain routes does not have a negative impact on passengers, the Minister added.

Asked if this meant bendy buses were currently deployed on unsuitable roads, the Arriva spokesman said that, “by and large”, all the necessary redeployments had already been made.

“The network has changed significantly over the years of operation and Arriva has already made a substantial amount of redeployments by working with local councils and mayors as well as reviewing the demand and passenger loadings,” he said.

All bus companies constantly review the types of vehicles used on routes, he added, but “the routes with articulated buses deployed are now working well”.

The public transport operator does not envisage having to redesign routes as a result of any changes to the deployment of bendy buses, “although we will of course engage fully with the Minister and his team as required”.

Arriva has been the sole operator of public buses since 2011.

It has 75 articulated buses currently in daily service. They have often been criticised by the public for blocking traffic on the island’s congested roads.