Updated - Adds video - Transport Minister Joe Mizzi is to hold a meeting with Arriva Malta officials today to discuss the future of bendy buses.

In brief comments this morning Mr Mizzi again refused to reveal the contents of a technical report presented to him on Wednesday. He said a full copy of the report was presented to him this morning.

The minister would only comment that he was prepared to take tough decisions on the bendy buses.

He will have a meeting with Transport Malta officials as well as the authors of the report and a lawyer before meeting the Arriva officials.

Sixty-eight bendy buses were taken off the streets after three vehicles suffered fires in as many days just over two weeks ago. The bendy buses used to handle between one third and 40 per cent of Arriva passengers. Their routes are now being operated by vehicles chartered from the Unscheduled Bus Service, including many converted buses from the pre-Arriva service.

The prime minister said yesterday that the bendy buses had to be certified safe by an international institution, and their return was also conditional on road congestion aspects, since many had reported an improvement in traffic flow after they were withdrawn.

A ministry spokeswoman refused to comment on reports that Arriva has run up losses of some €30m in two years.