Bus ticketing surcharge postponed

A one cent charge for bus commuters who opt to buy their ticket from the driver rather than using a pre-paid ticket or bus card has been put off to November 1.

The charge, over and above the normal fare, was to have been introduced on September 1 in a bid to encourage commuters to use the new pre-paid tickets or cards, the Malta Transport Authority said.

Authority chief executive Mario Falzon said the decision was taken to ensure that the administrative set-up was running smoothly and to give the public more time to get used to the system.

"It is in the public's interest to buy the bus card, because from November they will be saving two cents a day if they use the bus twice."

When the bus ticketing system was introduced last month, there were complaints from commuters who were annoyed that the bus card, which costs Lm1.50, came with no credit.

When asked, Mr Falzon said that this was a one-off purchase. He said the authority was doing its utmost to encourage more people to buy the bus card and it was also exploring the possibility of selling the cards from stationers and outlets which currently sell mobile phone top-up cards.

Bus ticketing machines are currently only available in Valletta, Sliema and Bugibba but another is planned for Paola. The system is not yet operating in Gozo.

Mr Falzon also said that the bus drivers have finally accepted that the bus ticketing system was here to stay and the majority had got the hang of it.