Front Favur Il-Mina is deeply concerned with the recent change to the X1 route, the only express route from Ċirkewwa to the centre of Malta.

Firstly, the Mater Dei stop has been removed from the route, meaning that Gozitan students living in Swatar and those Gozitans who need to go to the hospital must now seek alternative routes.

Secondly, the journey to Ċirkewwa will take longer, as the X1 bus now passes through the busy centre of Mellieha.

Previously, missing the ferry by a few minutes was a common occurrence. Now it will become the norm.

For Gozitans, all this will mean an increase in hassle, waste of time and greater difficulty in planning their trips between the islands, apart from the great inconveniences caused.

The Front calls on the authorities to re-evaluate the recent changes to this route and hopes there will be further changes in the coming days to alleviate these problems.