For reasons known to them, Arriva and/or Transport Malta seem to discriminate between commuters in different localities.

A look at express routes passing through St Julian’s, Sliema and Gzira (X2) and those passing through Bugibba and Qawra (X3) shows that while buses stop at every single bus stop in the tourist areas, when it comes to Birkirkara, the largest locality in Malta with around 28,000 inhabitants, bus no X3 stops only at Mannarinu in the whole Birkirkara area.

There are two reasons why X3 should stop at another bus stop at Birkirkara: there are no direct links between Birkirkara and the south of Malta (mainly Paola); and people from Birkirkara may need to go to the airport.

In spite of the many pleas made, no additional stops have ever been made to route bus X3 in Birkirkara like what was done in other places such as Paola when a new stop at Nazzarenu was added. Another stop in Birkirkara will not lengthen the journey by more than one or two minutes.

Finally I would like to suggest that X3 passes either through Psaila Street or through Fleur-de-Lys on its way to the Marsa Park and Ride with some stops on the way. It’s only in this manner that X3 can finally start having some more commuters on the Rabat – airport side. Do we really wish to help Birkirkara reduce its huge traffic congestion?