PN calls for transparency on public transport

The Nationalist Party called on transport minister Joe Mizzi to set the record straight on the public transport sector after announcing that government registered a €7 million loss in three months to operate the service.

The public transport service was nationalised in the beginning of 2014 after the British company Arriva transferred its assets to government.

From information tabled in parliament, it was revealed that in two months, Malta Public Transport Services Ltd made €7,272,138 in operational expenses.

Accusing Mizzi of “shedding his responsibilities,” opposition MP Toni Bezzina said taxpayers were paying four times as much as it did when Arriva operated the service.

Noting that in the 2014 Budget €10 million were allocated to public transport, Bezzina said that with the losses registered so far the people would be paying much more to cover the spiraling costs.

“Minister Mizzi had much to say when he took over the sector, however he has now shut his mouth,” Bezzina said, adding that the minister has kept mum over the losses and the bids received to operate the service.

Last month, three companies submitted their bids to operate Malta’s public transport service after government issued a call for expression of interest.

Bezzina went on to ask a series of questions, namely; how much will public transport cost the taxpayer this year, how much are the bidders asking in subsidies and how much will tickets cost.

The MP also asked Mizzi why the 11pm service was removed on a number or routes, why no additional services were introduced on busy routes and why most of the night routes on Fridays and Saturdays were removed.