Bus service punctuality was 91% on main routes last year, passenger numbers highest since 1990

The average route punctuality on the main lines of the bus service last year improved slightly from the previous year and stood at 91 per cent, Transport Malta says in its annual report, tabled in parliament yesterday.

TM said it had extensively monitored route performance through inspectors and by electronic means.

Last year was the last year of the Arriva service.

Transport Malts said the first two quarters of 2013 saw an average reliability on main routes of 92 per cent, a slight decrease from the year before. In the third quarter, reliability dipped to 88 per cent, but it was still better than in the same quarter on the previous year. The same level was witnessed in the last quarter.

During last year, 4,137 inspections were made onboard buses, 3,551 inspections were made on bus drivers and other employees and 770 on the infrastructure of the service. In 42 per cent of the inspections, the operators was found not to be compliant. and penalties were imposed.

Passenger numbers last year were up 15.9 per cent over the previous year and up 19 per cent compared to 2011. The number of passengers in 2013 was the highest since 1990.