Many thanks to Ralph Cassar for his feedback (New Transport System Must Serve Everybody, June 10) on the information pack Arriva posted out to every household in Malta and Gozo. In the booklet we included all route numbers and descriptions, and mentioned key locations along the routes – if we had included every stopping place and full timetables it would have been a 50-page document and put many people off reading it!
As we mentioned in the booklet, one can download full timetables and route maps from our website www.arriva.com.mt, or call our customer care team on 2122 2000 who will help with any queries regarding journeys one would like to make or post out copies of the routes one is interested in. We will also be putting timetables at every bus stop in Malta and Gozo.
There is greater connectivity in the route network than ever before. As well as new direct services, there is access to a greater number of places through feeder services and interchanges. One of the new feeder services in Attard is route 106, linking Ta’ Qali with Mater Dei Hospital and the University through Balzan, Lija and Birkirkara, where Mr Cassar and other Attard residents can connect to other mainline routes.
In answer to Mr Cassar’s question, I can confirm that route 106 will provide a service for various streets including Triq Il-Linja and Triq Il-Pitkali, every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every half an hour on Sundays. There is also route 202 which passes directly through Triq Il-Mosta, Triq il-Pitkali and Triq Iż-Żagħfran on its way to Rabat. The mainline services, such as the X3, one of the Airport Express routes, will pass through the centre of Attard, Ta’ Qali, Rabat and Mosta on the way to the airport. Other mainline services include 51, 52 and 53 which also serve Attard, with destinations including Ta’ Qali, Rabat and Valletta. The safety of our passengers and employees is our number-one priority. In answer to Mr Cassar’s query, at the discretion of the driver, we will carry folded bikes where the user can fold the cycle and store it in a holdall before boarding the bus, and stow it by themselves in a luggage rack without affecting the safety of other passengers. I regret we are unable to carry bikes that are not folded and stowed away as they either block the gangway or take up seat spaces for other passengers.
If Mr Cassar or anyone else has any questions, or would like to come and see one of the new buses or meet some members of our team, please don’t hesitate to come along to one of our roadshows – listed on www.arriva.com.mt. Alternatively, call our customer care centre or contact us by e-mail at enquiries@arriva.com.mt and we will do our best to help you.