Costlier tickets for commuters shunning pre-paid system

When bus ticketing machines come into operation next week, commuters will be given until the end of August to get used to the system and purchase either a bus card or a ticket, which should eventually save them some money.

As from September 1, commuters not presenting their machine-bought ticket or bus card will be charged a fare of 16c instead of 15c, in line with the 1995 agreement between the government and the bus owners.

This was confirmed yesterday by Transport Minister Censu Galea and Malta Transport Authority chairman Charles Demicoli.

The minister and Mr Demicoli were contacted following rumours that the fare would increase as from Monday for those not making use of the bus ticketing machines.

Mr Galea said this was absolutely false. The people were being given five to six weeks' time in which to familiarise themselves with the system. Only then would the fare rise by one cent and this solely for those who choose to pay as they board the bus.

Commuters will be able to either buy tickets from the bus ticketing machines in Valletta, Sliema and Bugibba or a bus card, which costs Lm1.50.

The card can then be topped up from the bus ticketing machines or through the driver.

Mr Demicoli said the card and pre-paid tickets would greatly facilitate the transaction for the driver who would only scan the card or punch the tickets with no money needing to change hands.

The Malta Transport Authority explained yesterday that as some of the buses had not as yet been equipped with the on-board ticketing machines, pre-paid bus tickets and bus cards will not be accepted on such buses until the machines were installed. In this case, commuters are advised to pay by cash.

The authority urged commuters to make use of pre-paid bus tickets and bus cards on all buses equipped with the on-board ticketing machines.