Transport Malta has published an Expression of Interest notice for the provision of a national scheduled bus service for Malta and Gozo.

This follows an exit agreement negotiated between Transport Malta and former operator Arriva Malta, which led to the setting up of Malta Public Transport Services (Operations) Limited.

“We’re looking for a serious company that can truly become the driving force of our country and provide a reliable, efficient and social service. It is crucial that the buses provided by a new operator are suitable for our roads, environmentally-friendly and safe. We want a sustainable service that works and succeeds in actually increasing bus use,” said Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo.

Transport Malta said that interested parties will be able to bid for the exclusive concession rights until July 2021 with the immediate option to extend this to either 10 or 15 years.

The notice aims to identify a professional and competent candidate which can:

1) Improve the level of service in order to meet the public’s needs and increase bus patronage;

2) Optimise the efficiency and effectiveness of the route network, taking into account social considerations;

3) Add a number of buses to the fleet to meet route network requirements and replace the temporary coaches and buses currently in use.

4) Upgrade the existing information technology and communication systems to provide more effective operational control as well as reliable information for users and the authority;

5) Shift the majority of ticket sales to off-bus ticketing and regular travel solutions, drastically reducing on-bus ticketing within one year.

“All buses must be at least Euro 5 compliant, be fully accessible (low-floor), be suitable for the route they are operating on and must not exceed 12.5 metres in length.

“The buses must also be compliant with EU legislation and not be older than 15 years at any point throughout the concession agreement term.”

TM said that interested parties will be required to provide detailed descriptions of how the operations will be managed, with specific reference to: timetables, bus fleet management, facilities, driver allocation, remote-monitoring, reliability and punctuality, communication and bus cleanliness.”

“The expression of interest also makes direct requests for revenue management, fraud mitigation, vehicle tracking, fire prevention plans, health and safety plans and measures to reduce the number of breakdowns,” Transport Malta concluded.

Photograph – Alain Salvary

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