An EU survey on public transport has shown that the Maltese are among the most satisfied about ticket prices and the least satisfied with the frequency and punctuality of public transport services and facilities at termii and stops.
The survey was carried out in September last year. It found that respondents in Malta were by far the most negative about urban transport. A relative majority of respondents in Malta were dissatisfied with timetables (31% satisfied vs. 32% dissatisfied), amenities at stations (31% satisfied vs. 48% dissatisfied), frequency of service (34% satisfied vs. 35% dissatisfied) and punctuality and reliability (22% satisfied vs. 49% dissatisfied).
The report found that more than two thirds of EU citizens are satisfied with urban public transport – but too few use it on a regular basis
Eurobarometer said that according to its survey 69% of EU citizens are satisfied with public transportation, although the numbers vary widely across the EU, ranging from 88% at the highest to 31% at the lowest. Furthermore, only 32% of Europeans make use of public transportation at least once a week and nearly one fourth never do.
The survey also shows that Europeans have good access to urban public transportation: 77% are less than 10 minutes away from the nearest station or stop. Due to differences in the offer, people in large towns are more likely to use public transportation on a regular basis (51%) than those in small and mid-sized towns (27%) or in villages (20%). Ticket prices seem to be a point of concern as only 39% of EU citizens are satisfied with fares.
At least half of respondents in all European countries said that buying tickets was easy. On average, 73% of Europeans were satisfied. Respondents were most satisfied in Latvia (86%), Finland (84%) and Spain (83%), and least satisfied in the Netherlands (50%), Cyprus (55%) and Sweden (59%).
The level of satisfaction with the facilities provided at stations and stops was good. Overall, 61% of Europeans are satisfied with this. Almost one third were not satisfied. Respondents are most satisfied in Luxembourg (76%), Finland (74%), Lithuania (73%) and the United Kingdom (73%), and least satisfied in Malta (31%), Italy (42%) and Romania (50%).
Europeans were mostly satisfied with the frequency of public transport services (69%). Respondents were most satisfied in Luxembourg (83%), the United Kingdom (79%) and France (77%), and least satisfied in Malta (34%), Cyprus (49%) and Slovenia (55%).
A great majority of respondents from EU Member States were satisfied with the punctuality and reliability of urban public transportation (70%). The most satisfied were from Finland (84%), the Czech Republic (83%) and Luxembourg (82%); the least satisfied from Malta (22%), Cyprus (54%) and Italy (58%).
Tickets prices were a concern for many Europeans: on average, only 39% said they were satisfied. Respondents were most positive in Malta (61%), Luxembourg (64%) and Cyprus (48%), and most negative in Hungary (27% satisfaction), Portugal (31%) and Spain (34%).