Having recently returned from a month’s stay in Malta I can categorically say the bus service has deteriorated even further from November 2011, since I was able to compare that month with November 2012.

There is still no direct bus from the Buġibba terminus to Valletta. Many people travel to Valletta both for work purposes and also as tourists. I was told to use no. 45 because it is a direct bus but it went via Naxxar, taking virtually one hour to get to Valletta.

What is needed is a bus to Mosta, Birkirkara to Valletta, and a greatly reduced journey time. The no. 12, via Sliema, still takes well over an hour.

I needed to go to Lija from Valletta. I had to wait 45 minutes after spending more than an hour from Buġibba to Valletta. How frustrating and time-wasting. On another occasion, I and my wife were at the airport on Sunday, November 25, at about 5.30pm. The buses were scheduled every 30 minutes. We waited, as did many others, for well over an hour. I spoke with two inspectors who then made telephone calls; surely they should have dealt with this before I asked them to.

While Arriva’s CEO calls the bendy buses “absolutely great”, he should recognise the dangers he is placing passengers in. Over 90 standing and, at times, many more packed like sardines. On the no. 12 bus absolutely full I saw two standing ladies of about the same height and both wearing spectacles bumping each other’s heads after the driver stopped sharply and all the people swung. Luckily, no glasses were broken but both were rubbing their heads on reaching their destination.

The number of standing passengers needs to be reduced drastically before a serious injury takes place. Inspectors do not seem to be assuming responsibility.

You cannot call this a service compared to the old Maltese buses. Yes, the buses are better, but the priority should be the service and this is not satisfactory.

I hope the next Transport Minister will give a much better lead than hitherto has been the case and next November I will see a much improved service.