Transport Malta expressed optimism today following the fifth day of monitoring yesterday of the public transport service since the introduction of the new direct services on 6th November.
The monitoring being conducted by Transport Malta continued to show “encouraging performance on Route 2 (il-Birgu), Route 3 (ix-Xghajra), Route 31 (in-Naxxar), Route 51 (l-Imtarfa), Route 62 (is-Siggiewi) and Route 91 (Marsaskala). Transport Malta noted that extra trips were performed on Routes 3, 31, 51 and 62 during the morning peak in order to provide the required capacity and the deployment of articulated buses on Route 91 increased from 25% yesterday to 75% today.”
Transport Malta said “although the performance on Route 82 (B’Bugia) improved with all trips being performed at regular headways it noted that the maximum waiting time of 20 minutes on this route was not being respected between 8.15 am and 9.15 am. However, gaps in the service on of Route 41 (Cirkewwa), Route 52 (Had-Dingli), Route 53 (ir-Rabat), Route 71 (iz-Zurrieq) and Route 72 (il-Qrendi) were registered during the morning peak causing delays for commuters using these services.” Again these shortcomings have been brought to Arriva’s attention and a spokesman for Transport Malta confirmed that “As regulator Transport Malta will continue to insist that Arriva provides the required resources to meet the requirements of the network, at peak times, in terms of the contract.”
“The situation in Paola square this morning between 7.00 am and 8.00 am reflected the positive performance of the Routes operating through Paola.” Transport Malta continued, “in fact a Paola resident reported that the trip to Valletta took her 25 minutes from Paola Square.” “I arrived at the bus stop at 6.55am, boarded the bus at 7am and arrived in Valletta at 7.25 – a marked improvement indeed,” she said.
“A Mater Dei hospital employee called in to report that there were no queues at the stops outside the hospital. The employee reported a continuous flow of buses circulating the hospital during the hospital’s peak working hours (8.00 am – 12.00 pm),” Transport Malta said.
An elderly commuter residing in Valletta expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Valletta residents for the service to the Floriana Polyclinic. She commented that “I am old with severe arthritis in my legs. I have to go to the Floriana Polyclinic every week to get my blood pressure checked. Today I am independent thanks to route 122.”
A Mosta resident called the offices of Transport Malta this morning and commented that “I had to go to Valletta by bus from Mosta yesterday. I boarded the bus from the Teknopark Interchange at 1.35, after a five minute wait and was in Valletta at 2pm sharp” she further explained that “Based on what I have been reading and hearing I thought it would more than 1 hour to arrive so I left early to ensure that I arrive on time. I arrived too early. My return journey was pleasant and took 40 minutes because of traffic at the Lija roundabout junction. I look forward to using the bus again,” she concluded.
Transport Malta would like to thank the Police again for their support in assisting with traffic management.