Since the public transport system has been “reformed” the service for us, Swieqi residents, has been going from bad to worse.

Notwithstanding the several letters appearing in the press and letters and telephone calls to the Malta Transport Association, which were copied to the Swieqi local council, nobody has ever tried to put things in order

One wonders whether there is anybody who is responsible to ascertain that route buses actually leave their departure points on schedule. A case in point is route bus number 33 which in the mornings and on weekdays never leaves the departure point in Swieqi at the appropriate time.

This bus is supposed to leave the bus stop at Triq is-Sirk at 13 minutes past the hour. More often than not it leaves about 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, to the consternation and the frustration of commuters. Leaving the departure point some minutes late is understandable and acceptable but early departures are inconceivable.

Under these circumstances one has to be on the bus stop some 15 minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus at Triq is-Sirk.

Besides, commuters waiting at the bus stop have no shelter from the unkind elements both in summer and in winter.

It is high time that this situation is remedied and maybe someday we will have a public transport service worthy of its name.

Pio Dalli

Swieqi

A very welcome and well-patronised mini-bus service is number 122 that includes a service from St Luke’s Hospital to Castille, Valletta after arriving at Guardamangia from Mater Dei Hospital.

It is patronised by a number of people who include outpatients and workers from St Luke’s and Karin Grech Rehabilitation Centre and Guardamangia residents.

However, the 7.10 a.m. service is now very conspicuous by its absence since the mini-bus has never turned up for a good number of the past weeks resulting in people being late for work.

To cap it all, the same malady now seems to be afflicting the 7.40 a.m. service. It has been rumoured that the 7.10 a.m. mini-bus service is being used to ferry schoolchildren, hence its reason for not turning up. Rumours are not facts but, on a number of occasions, they originate with good reason.

Can Malta Transport Services Ltd, Malta Transport Authority and Ministry of Transport explain why this mini-bus has not been turning up to carry out its scheduled trips? Commuters have complained by phone but to no avail.

The commuters have a right to know whether the service is being discontinued or not. If it is still available, then steps should be taken to ensure that the trips are carried out.