Arriva Malta said this evening that safety tests on bendy buses were successfully completed over the weekend.

Two buses were tested, including one which had previously been involved in fire related incidents. The buses were tested to extreme conditions over a constant 36-hour period in accordance with the detailed plan presented to Transport Malta last week.

Mark Bowd, Managing Director for Arriva Malta said the tests had been a resounding success and an independent body had also certified that the tests had been concluded correctly on the buses.

Arriva Malta will present the certificates to Transport Malta today so as to permit the buses to return to service.

The company did not say what caused the three fires which caused the buses to be withdrawn from the roads, but said works will commence on the remaining bendy fleet.

Unconfirmed reports had pointed to the overheating of an element close to fuel lines.

All 68 Arriva bendy buses were taken out of service on August 27 after fire destroyed one bus and damaged two others. Arriva has since then chartered 65 buses of the Unscheduled Bus Service to augment its fleet. 

Talks have been held between Transport Malta and Arriva about the safety of the buses and also insistence by the authorities that when the buses eventually do return, they should not be deployed on congested roads.