Although the use of pre-paid cards seemed to be having a positive effect on the bus service, the public transport operator should strive to make it easier, through more customer service staff, to use this card, Alternattiva Demokratika’s transport spokesman Ralph Cassar said.

He said in a statement that certain categories of people, such as senior citizens, were not used to the internet and credit cards so more customer service points should be provided. It was also strange that it took 24 hours for a card to be topped up.

Mr Cassar said that the service was still unreliable in certain villages, with scheduled buses not showing up.

“Can the operator inform us whether it has enough buses or are there still too few buses to keep up with the schedule? The operator or Transport Malta should also clarify the situation with the €2 ticket bought on board - isn't it supposed to cover all journeys within two hours as advertised? Transport Malta and the police must also see to the blocking of bus stops by cars, illegal parking and the abusive use of bus lanes.”

Mr Cassar said AD also called also call for the extension of public transport to a sea service - especially between heavily congested places.

“The same ticketing system should be used for these services, which can go a long way in reducing traffic. As regard new forms of transport, what happened to the proposals the government submitted to the EU regarding the light rail system," he asked.