Transport Malta this evening continued to report improvement on most bus routes since the route network was revised on November 6.
During this morning's rush hour, feedback from transport officials detailed along Route 2 (Vittoriosa), Route 31 (Naxxar), Routes 51, 52, 53 (Mtarfa, Dingli, Rabat), Route 62 (Siggiewi), Route 71 (Zurrieq), Route 72 (Qrendi) and Route 91 (Marsascala) was very encouraging with a number of extra trips made to cater for capacity problems.
Transport Malta noted that more than a quarter of the trips performed on Route 91 were carried out with articulated buses which eased capacity problems being experienced at Fgura.
The performance of Route 3 (Kalkara), Route 41 (St Paul's Bay) and Route 82 (B'Bugia) were deemed to be unsatisfactory with gaps in the services being registered between 8 am and 9.30 am. Transport Malta's Chief Executive, Stanley Portelli said that such gaps were unacceptable and Arriva has been instructed to take all necessary action to ensure that the service operates across all routes in accordance with the published schedule.
Transport Malta continued said it continued to receive positive feedback including:
A Pembroke resident who commented that " The extension of Route 13 to Pembroke is providing a much better service than before and now Pembroke is appropriately served by public transport".
An elderly couple who had complained about the lack of public transport from the Kunċizzjoni area in Ħamrun contacted Transport Malta and advised: "we are no longer stranded now that Route 54 has been extended to Triq il-Kapillan Mifsud – Thank you".
An Iklin resident told Transport Malta that he found Route 31 to provide a reliable service to Valletta and as result he did not have to look for parking everyday and on his way to work he managed to catch up on emails from his cell phone.
A Żurrieq resident working in Marsa said that "I arrived at the bus stop (Safi Ħajt A) at 7.25am and boarded the bus at 7.30am" she further commented that the bus driver was courteous and drove at a steady but safe speed"".
With regard to traffic, TM said there had been a sustained improvement although this morning a traffic accident in Marsa caused some disruption.
Transport Malta thanked the Police for their support in traffic management.