The new schedules for the Gozo fast ferries have been announced, and the Gozo University Group said that it is “deeply disappointed with update.”

In a statement on Friday, the GUG said that at the beginning of the week, Gozitan students were given good news upon the announcement of the possibility of free use of the Fast Ferry for students and educators, “however as the matter has now panned out, such a positive step forward only led to a step backward with the introduction of the October timetable.”

The timetable consists of 5 trips departing from Mgarr Gozo, and 4 trips departing from Valletta. The GUG argued that “it is unacceptable that more trips were held during the summer months when the majority of students had no lectures.”

The GUG said that it wholeheartedly agrees with the discussion on making such a commute free for students and educators, “however it would seem to be of no use to students if such a timetable persists during the scholastic year.”

“We as an organisation were looking forward to improvements in the Gozitan students’ lives this upcoming scholastic year, in light of a myriad of meetings held during the summer months in lieu of such amelioration. However, it seems that such hope was short lived,” the GUG said.

It stressed that the lack of diversity in the newly published timetable is absurd in that students who commute on a daily basis would need to make use of a very early Fast Ferry albeit their lectures would start later on in the day, as there is large gap in the ferry service between 7:00 and 13:15.

“Due to the large gap in the timetable, students are left with no choice but to make use of the Gozo Channel and risk using the X1,” said the GUG. “Moreover, workers and educators who are in close proximity to Valletta depended on the 15:15 and 16:15 Fast Ferry.”

“Due to the recent developments such workers and educators now need to take the long route and travel all the way to Cirkewwa, arriving home even later than usual,” said the GUG. “This new timetable is troublesome not only to Gozitan students but even to educators and workers.”

The GUG pointed out that the commute to and from Gozo has been met year upon year with a variety of criticisms, which includes the unreliability of the X1, the lack of timetable being provided for the X300, and the lack of trips being offered by the Gozo Fast Ferry.

“It is not the first time that a student has complained of the X1’s extreme tardiness, or sometimes not even stopping because it is full.”

During the first week back to University, the GUG said it has received multiple messages requesting for the timetable of the X300 and whether or not such service is still in place in light of the lack of operation of the Fast Ferry due to stormy weather.

“This bus service has been in place since the 1st of June of 2021, and it seems preposterous that no fixed timetable has been set for this bus route, albeit its service is highly dependent on the weather,” the GUG said.

The GUG stressed that it “constantly attempts to contact Transport Malta on behalf of students who need further information, but don’t get a reply until the following day.”

A fixed timetable would be extremely beneficial for students to lessen the amount of stress that may occur upon the possibility of stormy weather.

“In light of the decrease in trips being offered by the Fast Ferry the fixed service of the X300 should be reinstated so as to provide students, workers and educators with more choices for the commute back home,” the GUG said.

During the X300’s short time as a permanent bus route, it was welcomed by students and educators alike, providing them with a better alternative to its “tardy and unreliable” counterpart; the X1. Ergo, it may be seen from the previous year that the X300 had been a successful route for students and should therefore be re-introduced as a permanent bus route.

The GUG said it has attended various meetings on improving such commute, but seems that these were of no use. “The voice of the Gozitan students, workers and educators are clearly not being heard nor being taken note of since no improvements have been made.”

“The authorities in charge and in power over such operations are not keeping the Gozitan body in mind since if this was indeed the case, an improved service in both the Fast Ferry and the transport services would be seen, particularly with the start of the new scholastic year when such services are being used and relied on the most,” the GUG said.

The GUG concluded by saying that it is “extremely disappointed and exasperated with such an absurd update, which only highlights the fact that Gozitan students, educators and workers are not really being taken into consideration.”

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