I would like to recount the very bad experience I had while using the public transport service on December 14 between 5.30 and 6.30pm.

Commuters, including myself, were left stranded at the bus stop opposite Corradino Correctional Facility, in Paola. We wanted to go to Mater Dei Hospital. The information monitor indicated the 120, 204 and 206 buses were due to arrive in minutes but when they were supposedly a couple of minutes away, the arrival suddenly disappeared.

The X2 bus from the airport, meant to arrive at 10 minutes past the hour, never appeared, not even on the monitor.

A bus doing the 120 route arrived at 6.30pm. When we reached the Marsa park and ride station and waited for the driver to be replaced we were asked to alight as the vehicle needed to be changed. Of course, no other bus was immediately available and one turned up several minutes later. We finally arrived at Mater Dei at 7.15pm, meaning we were there with only 45 minutes left to visit patients.

As a regular commuter, I can say such situations occur frequently. For instance, it took me an hour to board the 122 bus from University to St Luke’s Hospital on December 18 because the 5.04pm bus did not show up and the next arrived at 6.04pm. Frequently, it takes a long time to change driver at the Marsa station.

Also, passengers on long bus routes (say, 120) are inconvenienced as they are told to alight at the Marsa station so the bus can be refuelled.

I have never experienced anything of this sort on my frequent travels in Europe and beyond.

Can the authorities do something about these serious shortcomings? These problems certainly work against the smooth-running of a heavily-subsidised public transport system intended to get cars off the road, a serious matter on these small islands and a serious environmental one to boot. Urgent and decisive action is a must.