The bus routes are still being changed and these changes are taking us from bad to worse.

Last Sunday we tried to take the bus to Buġibba from Naxxar Road, Birkirkara, at bus stop Piu. When we looked up to see the numbers of the buses stopping there, we realised that bus 45 was no longer listed and numbers 48 and 280 were applicable.

So we waited patiently and finally a bus arrived. However, this was neither 48 nor 280 but bus 45, which was not supposed to be there. So we boarded and I asked the driver what was going on; was 45 supposed to pass and stop there or not? He said he thought ‘yes’ but added that there was so much confusion that he didn’t know what was going on and at times he himself had to look for the bus numbers indicated.

“We are in a big mess and no one knows what is happening and what to do,” he exclaimed. I pitied him.

By the look of things, there is no synchronisation between the bus numbers on the bus stop and the schedule beneath. Numbers appearing on top are not shown on the schedule and vice versa.

Another thing is that there seem to be no buses to replace the 202 and 203, which used to take commuters from Naxxar Road, Birkirkara to Rabat. If this is so, then those in this large area of the Birkirkara bypass, Naxxar Road and around have no direct route like before. Shame on those who are responsible for this.

Another request made to Malta Transport Authority was to provide a direct service from the same area above to St Julian’s-Sliema area, like there was when route 202 was originally introduced by Arriva. But of course this fell on deaf ears.

Initially, bus 202 could get commuters from Birkirkara to St Julian’s in 10 to 15 minutes, as this was a sort of ‘express’ bus and was so efficient. But the problem with Transport Malta is that whatever is good is ruined and what is bad is made worse. Keep up your good work!