Frequent travellers who buy a three-month bus pass are set to save an average of 2c a day over their current cost of commuting under the new public transport system to be introduced next year, according to estimates supplied by the government.
On the other hand, occasional users could see their bus fares shoot up by about 34c over the current rates.
The new price regime - which the government is fixing for at least three years - will offer three-month passes at €85 for adults, children and pensioners, and €60 for students.
For those who choose to buy their tickets on a monthly basis - at €30 for adults, pensioners and children and €21 for students - the average daily cost to use the public transport system will increase by 4c over the current prices, according to the estimates.
There will be a far heftier increase for occasional travellers who, on average, will have to fork out an extra 34c for using the buses on a day ticket. However, if bought before 8 a.m., their average price increase will be a mere 2c.
Announcing the bus fares, which will come into force once the new public transport system is up and running by the end of 2010, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said these prices would be the cheapest in Europe. Tourists on holiday for a week would be able to travel around the island for just €14.
The government's aim, he said, was to substantially improve the service and raise patronage while eliminating the state subsidy. In the past 10 years, the government paid more than €45 million in subsidies for public transport while this year it was forking out €6.5 million.
Manuel Delia, the ministry's head of secretariat, explained there would be different categories of fares: two-hour tickets, day tickets, day tickets purchased before 8 a.m., seven-day tickets, 30-day and 90-day passes.
The cost of a day ticket for pensioners will be 50c. This means they will enjoy an average 7c reduction a day over what they currently pay if they do a fair amount of travelling. Students who travel frequently will pay 3c less a day on three-month tickets although they will experience no price benefits on a one-month ticket.
A day ticket, costing €2.10 for adults and students, will have no travel restrictions. If used for more than one return trip it will be cheaper than the current rates.
Children under three will travel for free. Children aged between three and 10 will have the same reduced rate as pensioners while those between 11 and 16 years will pay the same rate as students. The day ticket bought before 8 a.m. will cost €1.40 for adults.
Two-hour tickets for the occasional adult travellers will cost €1.30. The seven-day ticket will cost €14 for adults and €9.80 for pensioners and children.
Last year, the buses carried 32 million passengers. Asked whether these prices would be profitable, Dr Gatt said it was calculated that with an increase of 30 per cent in passenger numbers, to 42 or 45 million, the new operator would make a profit. For the first year of operation alone, the government was promising that if patronage dropped below the 32 million mark, which he said was unlikely, it would pay the difference at 47c per passenger. After the first year, this risk would have to be borne by the new operator.
Mr Delia said the minimal increases in prices would not have an adverse effect on passenger numbers. He pointed out that according to the ministry's calculation, it costs between €8.27 and €15.18 a day to maintain a private vehicle, including fuel, maintenance, wear and tear, insurance and the cost of the vehicle.
Delving into the situation in Gozo, he said a two-hour ticket would cost 65c for adults and students and 20c for children and pensioners. Day tickets will cost €1.10 for adults and students and 30c for children and pensioners. If purchased before 8 a.m., day tickets will cost 70c for adults and students and 30c for children and pensioners.
A seven-day pass will cost €7 for adults and students and €4.90 for children and pensioners. A 30-day ticket will cost €18 for adults, children and pensioners and €12 for students, while a three-month pass will cost €42.50 for adults, children and pensioners and €30 for students.