Positive results in circular bus services - minister
Circular services will eventually feed main line services to Valletta
Testing of circular bus services in two localities has been going very well and will provide a firm foundation for a reform of the bus service, the transport minister said on Tuesday.
Replying to opposition questions, Chris Bonett said pilot circular services were introduced in May in Buġibba and Marsascala.
The service in Buġibba, Number 406, which includes a stop at the new ferry, saw 3,300 passengers in May and 4,300 in June. This, the minister said, was a good start though not enough, and the service would eventually need to be extended to St Paul's Bay.
The 191 service in Marsascala was used by 1,840 people in May, climbing to 6,503 in June, showing that people clearly wanted such services.
The minister explained that such circular services within Malta's towns and villages would help reduce people's dependence on cars for travel within their localities.
The bus service reform, being discussed with consultants ARUP would mean that the current system where all bus stops lead to Valletta would be discontinued. Instead, the circular services would feed the main line services linking the localities to Valletta, he said.
The reform is expected to be in place by 2030.