Commuters had to endure temperatures of up to 35˚C over the past weeks, according to the transport watchdog.
On July 6, the thermometer inside one of the buses used by Malta Public Transport Services Limited soared to 34.7˚C, according to information given in Parliament by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi when replying to a question tabled by Opposition MP Toni Bezzina.
Transport Malta officials carried out a temperature-monitoring exercise between June 8 and July 13.
However, the exercise was limited to vehicles hired by the operator in the wake of last year’s decision to pull all bendy buses previously used by Arriva off the roads.
There have been numerous complaints that some of these vehicles were not air-conditioned and were not accessible to people who have special needs or people with pushchairs.
By the time the bus reaches San Ġwann it is like a cattle train
A total of 46 inspections were made with the average temperature recorded standing at 28.9˚C, well above the maximum permissible level.
The bus service contract stipulates that the temperature inside buses must be in the 20-24˚C range.
Ten instances were recorded in the exercise when the temperature exceeded the limit.
Mr Mizzi said efforts were being made to address the problem.
On a positive note, he remarked that seat capacity had been augmented to meet the increase in demand to seaside locations during the summer months.
Nevertheless, this newspaper is still receiving complaints that the service is not up to scratch on some routes.
One of the reasons is that buses are still running on the winter schedule due to an ongoing dispute with the General Workers’ Union over the drivers’ working hours.
The summer schedule was meant to come into force on June 23.
A resident in the San Ġwann area yesterday vented her frustration about route 15, from Valletta to Sliema, and route 225, from Sliema to Golden Bay.
She questioned the idea of having two separate routes when passengers departing from the capital on route 15 were being forced to alight in Sliema, even though the same bus would then proceed to Golden Bay along route 225.
The inadequate frequency of trips was exacerbating the situation, the commuter complained.
“By the time the bus reaches San Ġwann it is like a cattle train and those wanting to go to Mosta or Naxxar have no hope of getting on,” she complained.