As a frequent visitor to Malta, I am appalled at the way in which the bus service has deteriorated since the demise of Arriva and Malta Public Transport took over the service.

Arriva made some mistakes, notably the use of bendy buses, but their biggest error was to expect drivers to run a frequent on-time service until around 11pm.  The only frequent services now are those for distances under about eight kilometers. As a factual example, consider the service from Buġibba to Sliema, a very popular service for tourists.

Under Arriva, the number 12 ran either three or four to the hour, until 11pm, and going on from Sliema to Valletta. Under Malta Public Transport, we have two per hour until 8pm and then hourly until 10pm.

The 203 has been introduced but that goes on a Cook’s Tour of the island, rather than the Coast Road. You are lucky if it takes an hour! Services to Valletta are not much better and at one time you could get a bus from Buġibba to Marsaxlokk – sadly no longer.

It seems to me and many tourists I have spoken to that Malta Public Transport is no longer run for the benefit of passengers – it is run for the benefit of the drivers who seem to come and go as they please, not bothering about silly things like timetables and rules on using mobile phones while driving, that is if they are not talking to a friend or colleague standing at their elbow. Neither of these things are hearsay, I have seen them happen.

Malta Public Transport should realise that tourists provide a large income and they should listen to what they want, not those people who only want to get a bus to the next lamppost.