Arriva unveils new Valletta city circular

The route, which is intended to make it easier for residents and tourists to travel around the city, is served by a specially designed Bluebird Tucana model minibus. The bus has low-floor entry and a ramp for wheelchair access to make boarding as easy and accessible as possible. The bus also features a secure wheelchair bay, on-board next bus stop announcement and display, and air-conditioning, whilst conforming to Euro V emission standards.

The 6.8 metre long minibus is 2 metres wide and has a maximum passenger capacity of 17, based on 14 seated and three standing. Alternatively, the minibus can carry one wheelchair, 12 seated passengers and three standing.

From Monday to Saturday, the first bus of the day starts at 05.40, running every half hour until 23.10. On Sundays, the first bus is at 06.10, running once an hour until the last bus at 23.10. Standard bus fares apply: valid 2-Hour, Day, 7-Day, 30-Day and 90-Day tickets can be purchased for, or used on this service.

The bus features special route-branding to celebrate the historic city of Valletta, including the city’s coat of arms and quoting the city’s slogan “A city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”, alongside Valletta’s famous skyline outlining the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church and other spires.

Piers Marlow for Arriva said, “We are proud to unveil the Bluebird minibus, bringing accessible bus services within the city walls for the first time for residents and tourists alike.

“The network has also been designed so that passengers can easily connect from the City Circular service with route 122 for Marsa Park & Ride, and links to Sa Maison, Pietà and Bombi.”

Minister Austin Gatt commented: “This new bus service within the walls of Valletta, has long been awaited and offers a viable alternative to the car for those wanting to move around the city of Valletta for shopping, sight-seeing or visiting friends and family. The environmentally friendly bus, with its Euro V emission standards, is the next step for the environmental protection of this world famous heritage site, the jewel in Malta’s crown, encouraging more people to leave their cars at home.”

Route 133 travels anticlockwise in a circular route around the outskirts of Valletta. The bus will travel along Triq San Pawl, turning left into Triq L-Arcisqof, passing alongside the Grand Masters Palace, then right onto Triq Ir-Repubblika and down to Fort St. Elmo before turning left into Triq Il-Fontana. The bus then follows Triq San Sebastian and Triq Marsamxett, before re-entering Valletta through Triq San Mark. The bus then navigates the one-way area by turning left onto Triq L-Ifran, right onto Triq San Gwann, right again onto Triq Id-dejqa, then right onto Triq Melita, before following the road round onto Triq San Andrija to reach Triq Nofs-In-Nhar (South Street). Whilst South Street is closed for building works, the bus will perform a loop, returning back along Triq L-Ifran (Old Bakery Street), Triq San Sebastian and Triq Marsamxett before exiting Valletta by Triq L-Assedju L-Kbir, and re-entering the city at Castille Place. A stop will allow customers to alight near Valletta bus terminal.