Writing this comment I know that I am wasting my time because no one is taking any notice of the inadequacy of the new transport system. As Austin Gatt said, even in 10 years’ time people would still be complaining.

Route 91 serves Marsascala, Żabbar, Fgura and Paola. It is the only bus that passes through Żabbar and Fgura. After many years using my own car I decided last week to have a go on these buses and see for myself what is going on.

I took the bus from Marsascala. In Marsascala I had to drive from where I live near St Thomas Bay to the bus terminus near Grabiel. People living in the area of Żonqor would have to do the same – either drive or walk to the terminus.

I had to buy a ticket on the bus itself. The journey from Marsascala to Valletta took 40 minutes. Probably 10 to 15 minutes of this time was wasted with the driver issuing tickets, counting money and giving change. I do not have to recommend here what has to be done but I know that in other countries when I used Arriva buses all I had to do was buy the ticket before going on the bus and then punch it on my way in.

By the time the bus reached Fgura it was already full. Stages along the way were packed with people. The temperature outside was over 30˚C. I felt sorry for them. It was 10.30 a.m.

At around 4 p.m. it was time to return from Valletta to Marsascala. At the Marsascala platform I again found about 30 people all saying that they have been waiting for 15, 20 minutes.

A young lady with the Arriva jacket came over excusing herself and saying that a bus would be available in another 20 minutes. There is no need to report here the comments that I heard in the next few minutes. But as soon as the lady disappeared a bus with the number 91 came over.

When finally I got back home I decided to have a look at the Arriva website and opened the route 91 Marsascala-Valletta page. The route is clearly marked that the buses will pass through Żonqor and St Thomas Bay every 10 minutes.

I wrote to Arriva and the Marsascala local council. I did not have any response from Arriva and since I know that they are receiving 150 complaints every day I thought I would give them some more time to get back to me. From the local council I received a note saying that changes will be made on this route as from October.

We just have to wait and see. In the meantime I started to use my car again until the changes are carried out and the service improves to what we have been promised by the minister, Transport Malta and Arriva, that of a European standard transport system.