'Basis for agreement' in buses talks

A meeting between the Malta Transport Authority and the bus owners' Public Transport Association to resolve the dispute over the installation of bus ticketing machines ended with a "basis for agreement" yesterday.

However, authority chief executive officer Mario Falzon said it was still early to draw conclusions, and the two sides intended to meet again this week.

Association president Victor Spiteri was optimistic about the meeting, at which the two sides presented their positions and agreed to return to their respective boards and committees to discuss the issues.

The association had originally issued directives to bus owners to stop operating at 8 p.m. as from yesterday. The action was suspended on Friday pending yesterday's meeting with the authority.

The association is refusing to allow the installation of bus ticketing machines because it is unhappy with the monetary subsidy scheme being proposed by the authority for the new low floor buses being introduced.

The authority was open to discussion, Mr Falzon said, and hoped to reach an agreement. Mr Spiteri said both parties showed "goodwill" at the meeting.

Mr Falzon said the authority would be preparing a draft to be discussed at a meeting on Friday.

He said the association had adopted a wait-and-see approach and would decide on further action next week.