Transport operator Arriva will be leaving Malta by the first quarter of next year under a transition agreement being finalised between the company and transport authorities, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
Transport Malta and Arriva management are currently negotiating the terms of the deal through which the Transport Authority would take over the company and a portion of its substantial debts in a nominal sale.
The authority is then expected to issue a call for expression of interest to re-award the licence. The details of the deal are still being ironed out but there is agreement on the broad terms.
It averts the option of the company filing for liquidation – a messy prospect for both Arriva and the government.
PRIME MINISTER: DIFFICULT BUT NECESSARY TASK TO RAISE STANDARDS
In comments this morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said:
"The public transport disaster, from bad route planning to the EU ticket pricing probe, is a clear example of the legacy this government inherited. With a new service we will work hard on the difficult but necessary task to raise standards and give Malta the public transport it deserves."
GWU CALLS FOR WORKERS' UNITY
The General Workers' Union saluted the Arriva workers who were continuing to do their best in the circumstances and said it would work to give them peace of mind about their jobs.
Transport section secretary Jeremy J Camilleri called for unity among the workers so that the union could achieve the best result for them.
PN EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH ARRIVA WORKERS
The Nationalist Party expressed solidarity with Arriva workers and appealed for an end to uncertainty.
The party said the government's decisions must not only lead to a better bus service, but no jobs should be lost.
It called on the government to explain what its plans are and to consult all those involved. It also insisted that the selection of the new operator should be open and transparent.
Full story in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.
A brief story of Arriva in Malta in pictures is carried above.
July 2011 - The launch of the service started with fireworks - a large number of workers refused to work because of their roster conditions and were promptly sacked.
The new bus service brought with it a new bus terminus at St James Ditch, but the old bus slots around the tritons fountain later returned to use as more routes were added.
The bendy buses were a constant problem because of narrow streets or inexperienced drivers.
The Arriva bus service in Gozo was consistently praised.
One of the saddest episodes - a number of passengers were injured when a bus crashed into Portes des Bombes.
Disaster - the first of three fires on bendy buses last summer sparked the beginning of the end for the bus service. 56 bendy buses wereimpounded.
April 2011 - Brand new Arriva buses arrive from China. They are a quality leap from the old buses, low floor, air conditioned and with euro V engines.
Complaints soon started, particularly about the routes and lack of punctuality. Routes were changed three times. Unpopular interchanges were removed and the focus returned to Valletta.