A considerable part of the bus fleet Arriva will be running in Malta from 3 July were brought ashore at Laboratory Wharf in Lower Corradino, where Arriva managing director Keith Bastow took delivery yesterday morning.

In all, 172 buses were handed over with Mr Bastow saying that “the vision of the Maltese government and Transport Malta is for a 21st century public transport system. Arriva and our consortium partners, the Tumas Group, and suppliers such as King Long, have the skills and expertise to make that vision a reality. It is my honour to be here today to take delivery of these buses and we look forward to them entering service in July.”

When Arriva won the 10-year contract to operate public transport services in Malta and Gozo, it committed to replacing a large part of the island’s ageing bus fleet to greatly improve passenger comfort and reduce the environmental impact of transport in Malta.

All buses are diesel low-floor vehicles providing easy access, and will feature Euro V engines, air-conditioning, comfortable seating, and Real Time Passenger Information displays, including next scheduled stop announcements.

Of the 172 new King Long buses, 48 are nine metres long, 124 are 12-metre vehicles. A further two King Long buses, one nine-metre and one 12-metre bus, were already in Malta for use with route testing and driver training.

Arriva said the 12-metre buses will mostly operate on main-line services. The nine-metre buses will be used on feeder services throughout the islands, providing links to the urban centres of towns and villages.

When Arriva starts operating in Malta on 3 July, 66% of the fleet in Malta will be King Long buses.

The buses left China after a ceremony at the port in Xiamen at the beginning of April, held by bus manufacturer Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd, and attended by Mr Bastow, Transport Minister Austin Gatt and representatives from the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, and Transport Malta.