The “worsening” traffic situation is worrying and represents the biggest headache for the new bus service, Malta Public Transport Service chief, Felipe Cosmen, admits.

While pledging to have more buses on stand-by to cater for day-to-day problems, like accidents and road closures, which lead to schedule disruptions, he said that addressing the traffic problem would take more than a reserve fleet. 

“We are also looking to tweak the network, introduce bus lanes where possible and encourage electronic bus cards to save time at bus stops,” he said.

Mr Cosmen said the two other priorities would be driver training and the expansion of the bus fleet through an additional 142 vehicles, which will be delivered by October by Turkish maker Otokar.

“Following the positive experience in southern Spain, where we have been using Autocar vehicles since 2011, we believe that these offer the required durability and manoeuvrability. The reason is that climatic conditions are very similar to those in Malta,” Mr Cosmen said. 

As for the Chinese King Long buses, some of which are in shambolic state in spite of having been on the road less than four years, the group is pledging to carry out regular servicing.

“These buses will be eventually replaced but regular servicing should ensure that they remain in good working order for years, regardless of how many hours they are in operation,” he said.