Three new circular bus routes to begin this week

Three new circular bus routes are to start operating on 8 September, covering Sliema, Hal Qormi and Żejtun, with each service set to run every 30 minutes from early morning to late evening, Malta Public Transport announced.

The routes are part of the Malta in Motion plan and will eventually feed into a new bus network launching in 2030. 

We are introducing these changes gradually, so we are rolling out these services now while we work on designing the new network based on what people need," he said. "In the first half of 2027, three more circular routes will arrive covering Rabat, Pembroke, Swieqi and the Cottonera," Chris Bonett, Minister for Sustainable Mobility, said.

Sliema's route 410 will serve the commercial and tourist hub, which already connects to Gozo, Bugibba and Valletta by ferry. Route 409 will serve Hal Qormi in central Malta, near the Park & Ride facility. Route 407 will operate around Żejtun to improve access to the town centre for residents on the outskirts, particularly elderly people.

Leonid McKay, chief executive of Transport Malta, said the government needed to respond to growing demand with more services and better connections. 

The routes will reach areas currently without coverage.

Conrad Pule, general manager of Malta Public Transport, noted that the new routes would operate electric buses and reflected ongoing collaboration between the three transport bodies. 

He added that the investment complemented work to expand the bus fleet and electrify services in Gozo, and to support staff development