Transport Malta records improvement in scheduled public transport service

"The addition of a number of buses to the fleet as well as the deployment of articulated buses on certain critical routes coupled and the changes introduced have helped to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the service," the transport authority said.

Between Monday and Friday practically all trips were performed on the 12 routes monitored during the morning peak hours.

"However, gaps in the service were noted on a number of routes, in some cases attributable to the adverse weather conditions, negatively impacting maximum waiting times," TM said.

It added that Arriva has largely addressed capacity issues by deploying articulated buses on Route 91(M'Skala) and additional buses on other routes during the peak hours.

"The data collected for each route over the last two weeks will be used by Transport Malta to determine whether repetitive failures have occurred. In cases where a pattern of delay is established Transport Malta will fine Arriva in terms of the contract."

Monitoring exercises were carried during the week at the Valletta terminus and the Mater Dei Hospital/University interchange to ensure that all services were operating in accordance with the schedule and to identify any gaps in the services.

Though services connecting towns and villages to Mater Dei have improved considerably Transport Malta is still not satisfied with the way some of the direct connections are operating and feels that there is still much room for improvement.

"Traffic management measures implemented by the Police with the assistance of the Transport Malta Enforcement Directorate contributed to ensuring that traffic ran smoothly at key junctions throughout the network," a TM spokesman said.