Updated - Adds that tariff includes transport

Park-and-ride prices are to be reduced to just 40 cents per day, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said at a Labour political conference this morning.

A government spokesman said later that that includes transport to and from Valletta.

The government took over the park and ride facilities as part of its takeover from Arriva.

Use of the park-and-ride at Blata l-Bajda had fallen dramatically when Arriva took over its management and fees were imposed.

Arriva had been expecting to make €390,000 from the park-and-ride sites but in fact revenue only topped €46,000.

Company accounts showed that Arriva had grossly overestimated the income from the sites in Blata l-Bajda, St Andrews and Marsa.

The park-and-ride sites were practically empty for most of the day after Arriva was given the concession to operate them in 2011 against a fee for users. It had imposed a daily charge of €2.50.

The Blata l-Bajda park and ride facility, which was the only one operational before Arriva’s arrival, had been a success when it was operated for free by the government.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this government measure would greatly benefit workers in Valletta, in contrast to the Arriva days when parking at the park-and-ride cost workers some €500 a year.