• Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

maltawinds.comLogo

The Economy's Voice

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
  • Local News
  • International News
  • Opinion
  • Demia on Sundays
  • Demeter
  • Business
  • Satire on Sunday
  • 90% of electoral manifesto proposals in the social sector are completed
  • Euro zone business activity shrinks again as new Covid strains lead to more lockdowns

Free bus service plan announced by Transport Minister to encourage sustainable modes of transport

Posted by Fabrizio Tabone on 14th July 2020 in Local News

Malta will have free bus service in the space of a few years as part of the government’s attempt at trying to promote a sustainable form of travel, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg stated on Tuesday July 14.

Replying to a question from government backbencher Anthony Agius Decelis, Minister Borg stated that this is still a “gradual process which was started off some years ago with free transport for students, young people, elderly persons and disabled people who total 80,000.”

Currently, the service is offered for free for 40,000 students and young people that are between 14 and 20-years-old, 19,000 commuters which are over 75 years, as well as 19,000 bus users with special needs.

Minister Borg also added that the government aims to make buses a very good alternative to private vehicles, also stating that the frequency of buses in some areas need to change for the better.

Adding to this, he also said that throughout the last two years, Malta Public Transport, the operator of the buses, has managed to modernise its fleet with 90 new buses, with some having a much larger capacity than the King Long buses that were introduced in 2011 as part of the Arriva bus project.

When asked whether there will be a route starting from Għadira Bay during the summer to be able to cope with the increase in demand, the minister said that talks were currently ongoing with the Mellieħa council over potentially introducing a new route.

However, whilst he said that he had no objections towards introducing new routes, he did also add that by increasing the amount of routes, the government subsidies to the operator will also have to increase, with this currently already being around €30 million per year.

Earlier this year, Minister Borg stated that over 57 million passengers used the bus service during 2019, a sharp increase from 2018’s 53.4 million.

He had also stated that by the end of the legislature, he hopes that every pensioner will have free bus service.

Posted in Local News | Tagged Arriva, buses, fleet, free, Minister for Transport, public transport, service, travel

About the Author

Fabrizio Tabone

Fabrizio Tabone

I am a 19-year-old University of Malta student that is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English, with the aim of becoming a full-time journalist in the future.

Related Posts

EU to tighten travel curbs for virus hot spots as third wave fears mount→

European airlines face a grim summer without a faster vaccine rollout→

Ryanair slashes annual traffic forecast as fresh lockdowns hit→

UK: Channel transport halted, PM Johnson calls emergency meeting→

advertisement
  • Posts
  • Comments
  • Tag Cloud
  • 90% of electoral manifesto proposals in the social sector are completed

    22nd January 2021 / Vento
  • Euro zone business activity shrinks again as new Covid strains lead to more lockdowns

    22nd January 2021 / Vento
  • The ECB’s monetary policy decisions

    22nd January 2021 / Vento
  • US to join Covax and commits to staying a member of the WHO

    22nd January 2021 / Vento
  • Malta International Airport closes 2020 with 76% drop in passenger traffic

    22nd January 2021 / Vento
  • Avatar
    Joseph Gatt on The government is committed to supporting Malta’s…Both the Business Start (B…
  • Avatar
    Hindi Lyrics on Nurse death toll from COVID-19 hits the…I have been looking for…
  • Avatar
    Mehfooz Roy on US Presidential Elections: Biden leads polls in…You really think sleepy Joe…
  • Avatar
    Peter Buckley on "It is wrong. It is oppressive of…What she says is patently…
  • Avatar
    Carlos on Hungary and Poland to form rule-of-law institute…The article deals with something…
aviation banking Bitcoin blockchain Boris Johnson BOV brexit business China climate change COVID-19 cryptocurrency Donald Trump ECB economy Education environment EU euro area Europe European Commission European Parliament European Union Eurostat eurozone finance France Germany Government Infrastructure Malta investment Italy lockdown Malta maritime pandemic politics restrictions technology travel UK United States US vaccine WHO

News Calendar

July 2020
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Jun   Aug »
Footer logo
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
 




 
 
 

Copyright © 2016 MaltaWinds.com

Menu

  • About
  • Home