Seventy people are currently being trained as bus drivers by Malta Public Transport, with another batch due to start training in the coming weeks.

This was confirmed by Transport Minister Ian Borg, who gave the information in a reply to a parliamentary question by MP Toni Bezzina on Tuesday.

Mr Bezzina was asking whether bus trips were cancelled when a driver was not available for any reason, rather than a substitute driver being sent.

Dr Borg said that MPT would always try to find an alternative driver, rather than opting to cancel a trip.

A few weeks ago, the Times of Malta had featured a light-hearted article about the number of buses which passed by the Ferries in Sliema, which were already full up. Sources had said the main reason that more trips could not be added to cope with demand was the shortage of drivers.

Read: “Full up!” - Dozens left waiting on Strand as packed buses sail by

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