11 comments so far.Gozo Buses: Extra services & extended hours to meet summer demand
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Malta Public Transport has announced that it will be operating an enhanced bus service in Gozo to meet the demands of both local and the ever higher number of tourist visiting the island during the summer months. These services include extended hours of service on the more popular summer destinations, among them Marsalforn, Xlendi and Dwejra as well as shuttle services and added trips on routes connecting Mgarr harbour, Victoria and various other localities.
Malta Public Transport said that it is well aware of the popularity of Gozo during the summer months both with locals and tourists, and the demand for bus services in Gozo increases exponentially especially to and from the island’s hotspots. Among the services introduced to cater for these demands, Malta Public Transport in Gozo will be offering extra bus trips on Route 306 connecting Xlendi to Victoria with a service every 45 minutes. Moreover, the the bus services will be extended with a last trip from Victoria to Xlendi at 2355hrs and a last trip from Xlendi to Victoria leaving at 0007hrs every day.
On Route 310, connecting Victoria and Marsalforn, the bus services will be extended to run from 0815hrs until 0015hrs with buses leaving every 30 minutes throughout the day, while bus services on Route 311 between Victoria and Dwejra will be extended to offer a last trip from Dwejra at 224hrs (currently the last bus from Dwejra leaves at 19.40). The bus services on Route 311 will also operate at a higher frequency during the peak hours of demand – between 1040hrs and 1940hrs – such that commuters can benefit from a service every 30 minutes.
Additionally, Malta Public Transport said that it is already operating extra bus services on route 301, connecting Mgarr Harbour to Victoria. Bus services on this route are operated in coordination with the arrival of the Gozo ferry in Mgarr and extra trips are offered as needed to provide a faster and timely service to commuters coming from or catching the ferry.
It would be beautiful if there could be buses for all feasts for those who want to stay till the end of the feasts. This would be great and it would hopefully reduce the need for all those cars and it would help the elderly who cannot drive stay till the end of the festa. Usually when you go to a feast you have to come back early to catch the bus returning to your village. It would be such a great idea if this changed and also if they had buses for people who want to shop late. This is perfect because you don’t have to rely on anyone to drive you.
Malta public transport put up the summer timetable several weeks ago on the 312 route, the only difference this year was the addition of a later bus at 23.05 from Victoria. This should pass our house in Gharb at 23.23, I have yet to see one so heaven help the tourists who rely on catching it!
Where is the timetable Ray?
They should be available here on the following link but it’s not working. I am asking why not. http://www.publictransport.com.mt/bus-timetable-library?l=1
Otherwise copies should be available at the bus terminus.
Yes Mick, that link has been down for weeks, even the tourist office in Victoria did not have the summer timetables a few days ago…
The summer timetable I am referring to is on the bus stop, it states summer 2014 and was put up in June. The time it should go past my house is actually 23.18 not 23.23 as in my post. Still not seen one yet!
Last years time table changed to on the hour from Victoria as well as the later bus and seemed to work well.
OK thanks Ray, I’ll let you know if I spot one!
Ha, here is a reply:
Thank you for your email.
Kindly note that the summer schedules have not been published on the website yet as we are awaiting a confirmation from the Authorities since these may be subject to change. However, we are currently operating as per the Winter schedules but certain routes have been added with some extra shuttle services.
So it seems that they are running ‘imaginary’ extra buses on their ‘imaginary’ Summer Timetable, leaving tourist who are none the wiser stranded as it is the last bus which is ‘imaginary’!
I have spoken with a few tourists and most say the buses ‘run like clockwork’ !
The point was that the summer timetable has been put up and whilst buses generally run near to time (usually about 5 to 10 minutes late) the additional last bus which is on that timetable does not yet run!