Bus ticketing machines to be in use in weeks

The Public Transport Association, the Malta Transport Authority and bus ticketing machines' importer Alberta will next week be drawing up a schedule to train bus drivers in the use of the machines, which should be available for public use within the next month.

Association chairman Victor Spiteri said yesterday that most of the 508 route buses were now ready to have the machines installed.

The bus ticketing machines, which cost Lm1 million, are the property of the authority.

Mr Spiteri said the association was now requesting the authority to organise a public awareness campaign for passengers.

The machines were due to be installed at the end of October, but there was a delay after protests by the association over a separate issue - subsidies for the compulsory introduction of new low-floor buses.

Mr Spiteri said the outstanding issues on the subsidy dispute had also been resolved.

He said that the new buses had met with positive feedback from both commuters and drivers.

The new buses were particularly beneficial for the elderly and disabled.

Mr Spiteri said the association also welcomed the authority's acceptance of its request for the operators' licence to be issued to the association, rather than to individual drivers.