ADPD calls for clarity on €2.8 billion light rail plan

ADPD the Green Party has called for “much greater clarity and transparency” on key aspects of the government’s proposed light rail project announced earlier this week as it insisted on a “coherent, integrated mobility strategy”.

Speaking at a press conference near the former Birkirkara train station, the same site where Transport Minister Chris Bonett unveiled the €2.8 billion project on Thursday, ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci said this latest proposal acknowledges “there is no one single solution to the transport problem”.

Gauci slammed the announcement as “just electioneering”, pointing at the “rush” to start rock coring studies in a few days’ time.

“Whoever implies that a single project will solve all transport problems, whilst our roads are dominated by private cars, is taking the country for a ride,” Gauci said.

She added that such solutions “will take time” and involve the reassignment of space for alternative modes of transport instead of private vehicles.

Gauci insisted for more “detailed information” on the route alignment, expected passenger capacity, impacts and how these will be mitigated, the financing model, and how this project will integrate with existing transport systems.

“At this stage, with no detailed documentation published, the proposal raises more questions than it answers.”

ADPD has long held that investment should prioritise a “modern, efficient Bus Rapid Transit system” built around dedicated bus lanes, high-frequency services, and reliable journey times.

Pointing at the government’s own admission that the bus system will remain the backbone of Malta’s public transport network, ADPD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo slammed previous metro proposals as “ridiculous”.

“This would have meant another failure, as these would have allowed traffic to increase on our roads, whilst billions of euros would have been thrown into a project that would not have been feasible,” Cacopardo said.

“International experience clearly shows that BRT systems can deliver high-capacity, cost-effective, and flexible mobility solutions, particularly in dense urban environments. They can be implemented faster and at a fraction of the cost of rail-based systems, while still offering metro-like performance when properly designed,” he added.

Cacopardo continued that if buses are to remain the backbone of the system, resources should be directed towards making it “truly efficient and attractive”.

He noted that the success or failure of the proposed railway system would depend on wider transport policy decisions, particularly regarding private car use.

“If the government continues to prioritise car access and parking, this railway risks becoming a very expensive white elephant rather than a transformative solution.”