The Public Transport Association, which represents the bus owners, said today that it looked forward to reform which would usher in new routes, new buses, higher income and a better service, but it denied comments by the transport minister that it had been consulted about it.

Referring to comments made yesterday by minister Austin Gatt, the association said the appointment it had been given to discuss the reform was December 10.

The association noted with satisfaction that the minister had now acknowledged that the new low floor buses with Euro 3 emission standards were good for the reform, whereas in the past he had said that all the buses were old. It looked forward to talks with the government on the replacement of the rest of the bus fleet, which could include buses of different sizes.

The association said that, as in the past, it was ready to introduce all changes to the bus routes which it felt would benefit the people.

It noted, however, that the minister had not said anything about the new bus fares which commuters would be charged, or the subsidy which it said the government would have to pay for the operation of the service.

However, the minister’s announcement that new bus termini and new bus lanes would be introduced was welcome.

“Now that the association is seeing serious government commitment for public transport reform, it augurs that talks will be started immediately on the drawing up of a contract for the operation of the bus service for the coming years,” the association said.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081206/local/public-transport-reform-takes-shape