A guide featuring route, timetable, ticket and fare information to help passengers prepare for the new transport system was unveiled to the press today, ahead of being posted to all 160,000 households across Malta and Gozo from tomorrow, as Arriva puts the final preparations in place before starting operations on 3 July, 2011.
Keith Bastow, Managing Director of Arriva in Malta, said, “There have never been so many options to travel by bus around the Maltese Islands as there will be from 3 July, with a redesigned route network and increased frequencies, making travelling from A to B faster and more efficient.”
“The team at Arriva is committed to giving the public all the support and assistance they may need to make the best use of the new bus system we are putting in place. With more routes, more frequent timings and the introduction of maximum waiting times, the transport reform is going to revolutionise the way the Maltese approach public transport.”
“New services including the Airport Express service will be introduced, enabling those needing to travel to and from the airport to do so from more locations, on larger buses with extra luggage space, more quickly on Express routes.”
Mr Bastow unveiled the new colour coded bus route map for Malta and Gozo – a fold-away pocket copy of the map has been included in the information pack which householders will receive in the next few days. He also explained the new routes, including the concept of feeder routes which make it easier to travel between towns and villages directly without having to travel into Valletta. The feeder routes link with interchanges, which are bus stops which serve more than one route, where you can easily catch another bus to your next destination if you need to.
Arriva’s John Rimmington, who has been involved with developing operational expertise for the transport project in Malta for two and a half years, explained how to use the different timetables, and showed samples of the typical timetables for Mainline routes, Feeder routes and the Airport Express routes, which will be available to download from the Arriva website from tomorrow. The timetables follow a tried and tested format which should be familiar to those who have used timetables abroad and will be on display at over 1,800 locations where bus stops have been erected. They will be also be downloadable as PDFs from the Arriva website – www.arriva.com.mt [1].
Talking about the ticket options, Mr Bastow said there would be a new range of tickets, with excellent value multi-journey tickets available, particularly for the 30 Day and 90 Day tickets available via the Arriva Saver card.
The Arriva Saver Card is available to regular bus users with an identity card issued by the Government of Malta, indicating that they reside in Malta or Gozo, and also students. The card is convenient and easy to use, enabling passengers to board quickly with no need to carry coins. It is easy to top up at ticket vending machines, Arriva Ticket Offices, online on Arriva’s website and via the Customer Care Centre, costing only €26 for 30 days of travel or €72 for 90 days of travel. Once topped up, the user simply scans the card to the reader when they board the bus to activate it. A limited number are available before 3 July – to apply, those interested should download an application form and further information from the Arriva Malta website from tomorrow or call into a main branch of Malta Post.
The standard fares for Malta are €2.20 for the Two Hour ticket, €2.60 for the Day Ticket and €12 for the 7 Day ticket with a Night bus single fare costing €2.50. The discounted fares on offer for holders of an identity card issued by the Government of Malta, indicating they reside in Malta and Gozo, are €1.30 for a Two Hour ticket, €1.50 for a Day Ticket and €6.50 for a 7 Day ticket.
The standard fares for Gozo are €1.00 for the Two Hour ticket, €1.50 for the Day Ticket and €6.50 for the 7 Day ticket. Persons holding an identity card issued by the Government of Malta indicating that they reside in Gozo can buy a 30 Day Gozo ticket for €10.00.
Children aged 3 to 10 and Kartanzjan holders are entitled to discounted fares costing €0.30 for the Two Hour ticket, €0.50 for the Day Ticket and €2.30 for the 7 Day ticket. Students in full time education and those aged 11 to 16 can apply for a Student Saver Card and pay €21 for a 30 Day Saver and €60 for a 90 Day Saver.
Details were given on the various locations these are going to be available from including on the bus, through ticket vending machines, Arriva’s ticket offices at Valletta, Victoria and the Airport, online on www.arriva.com.mt [1] and from the Customer Care Call Centre. A penalty fare of €10 will be levied from those who fail to buy a ticket or are not able to show the correct travel ticket and any accompanying validation, such as showing the relevant identity card issued by the Government of Malta.
“We are convinced that travelling by bus is the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option you can take,” Mr Bastow said, pointing to the benefits of the new buses: Euro V engines with lower CO2 emissions, low floor for easy entry, space for luggage and wheelchairs/pushchairs, priority seating for mobility-impaired customers, air-conditioning, CCTV cameras and Real Time Passenger Information displays, including announcement of the next stop.
Mr Bastow also launched the new Customer Care Call Centre, which will start operating from tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. seven days a week. The number to call is 2122 2000. “Trained staff will take your calls and help you with any queries you may have about the new services and journeys you would like to make,” Mr Bastow said. “After 3 July customers will be able to buy tickets through the Customer Care Call Centre, which will also be the channel used for making comments and complaints.”
Arriva is also taking to the road to visit towns and villages in Malta and Gozo in June to meet with people, show them the new buses and talk people you through what the new services will mean for them. Mr Bastow said the company yesterday launched the Arriva Road Show, with a visit to the University of Malta, and another today at Mcast. On Sunday the Arriva team will be at Balluta Bay between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Mr Bastow said, “The time has now come for the public to take their part of the deal and plan ahead so that they will be ready to use the new public transport services from 3 July.”
9 Comments To "Arriva launches information pack & customer care call centre"
#1 Comment By Mario Skinder On May 27, 2011 @ 5:25 pm
Drivers. PLEASE. If you see people walking on the road, heading into same direction you are traveling. Please give them a lift. Some are old pensioners. The fares are too expensive for short ride between villages.
#2 Comment By Tony Stivala On May 28, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
I do not believe it. At the moment from Sannat to Victoria, everybody has to pay 47 cents each way = 96 cents for a return journey. Now if you want to go somewhere else you have to pay more. This is for everybody (including old age pensioners). When Arriva comes into operation an old age pensioner pays 30 cents for a two hour ticket, or the same pensioner pays 50 cents for all day travel including Malta and back
If the driver stops and pick up anybody without paying, that driver would be risking his job, (Inspectors would be checking on the buses, instead of sitting on their behinds at the Victoria bus terminus, not even bother to help to stop the traffic for a bus driver who needs to come to the terminus from St Francis square)) and the passenger will be risking a penalty fine of €10. I ask you is it worth it for the sake of 30 cents
#3 Comment By H. Maerker On May 29, 2011 @ 10:23 am
Well spoken Tony ! My wife and I moved here from Germany not so long ago, and we are used to something similar to the new system already from there.
Only difference is that reading about the prices it is clear that Malta’s system will be way more affordable for everybody. To give people here an idea how well served they will be, here are a few German prices for comparison:
A single trip there for up to 3 stops = 1.10 EUR
Beyond that it’s 2.40 EUR per trip (that’s regardless of age).
People at an age over 60 can apply for a special monthly network pass that allows them to travel unlimited everywhere. However, that pass is only available as a 12 months subscription and cost round about 60 ( SIXTY ) Euro per month !
I will gladly pay my 26 EUR for a monthly ticket or show my Maltese ID every time I’ve to pay the driver. It’s a fraction of what we had to shell out where we lived before. Now, people can say that Germany has a different pension system. That may be right, but the majority of the pensioners there are not rich either, and quite a few struggle to meet ends just to make a living. Those 60 EUR a month hurt them very much and as a result, they stay home and just pay for an occasional trip. Younger people ride a bicycle instead, older people can’t due to their physical conditions.
So much for the ridiculous prices in Germany. People here in Malta can see this in a different perspective when they compare it with these prices.
#4 Comment By Tony Stivala On May 29, 2011 @ 11:32 am
Thanks Herr Maerker, At the moment Arriva is heaven sent for us here in Gozo with a very cheap service from 0530 till around 2300 at night. But I just noticed that the leaflet we received is valid from 3rd. July till 15th. October, then I want to find out what happens. I reckon there will be more gaps in the schedule, which is understandable for winter times. But if the service remains all day and evenings then I could easily get rid of the car
I can understand the expensive service you get in Germany. I worked for the TFL (Transport for London) for 40 years and the same as Germany one has to get a mortgage to buy a ticket.
Can you imagine all the way to/from the airport for 50 cents. At heathrow Airport you pay four times that for the first half hour of parking
#5 Comment By Anthony Muscat On June 5, 2011 @ 11:21 pm
I would like to know what route bus is to pass to St Luke Hospital . Thanks Hope to have a reply.
#6 Comment By john bonnici On June 6, 2011 @ 6:49 am
Is a ticket bought in Malta also valid in Gozo?
#7 Comment By Tony Stivala On June 6, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
Anthony It took me long time but I found out that 125 goes through Gwardamangia.
John I would say that the best option is a day ticket as it is valid both in Malta and Gozo ALL DAY, the cheapest ticket will be valid as well but only for two hours.
I just wrote to Arriva as I found out that they need a bit of tweaking with the timings of the timetable, for example Bus 103 arrives at Mgarr harbour at 5 minutes past the hour which makes you miss the ferry altogether, plus the timings of connecting buses in Victoria also need adjusting.
#8 Comment By AnthonyMusact On August 14, 2011 @ 4:53 pm
Also for me it took me long time to wait for bus 125 from Gwardamangia to go to Materdei not like before with NO 75 every 15 mins and arrive in 10 mins time not go round places and not know what time you arrive so to keep the hospital appiontment.
Only I can say we are worse than we were before and this doesn’t encourage people to use public transport instead of useing there cars, routes are to long and it’s better as they were before.
#9 Comment By Mary Abdilla On September 20, 2011 @ 9:28 am
In Sta. Lucija we only need bus 83 as it goes straight to Valletta. However it is requested every 30mins and not every hour. If this is done I am sure residents will ignore buses 120 and 126. This way you will accomodate the residents and save buses.