The Transport Ministry has confirmed that Transport Minister Joe Mizzi’s visit to Spain was related to the selection process for the new public transport operator but declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting as it is ‘not prudent’ to speak about an ongoing process.

Mr Mizzi was seen leaving Malta for Spain last week. He was accompanied by Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo. In reply to questions sent by The Malta Independent, a ministry spokesperson confirmed that the visit was related to public transport but would not divulge any other details.

“The government is still evaluating the expressions of interest it received with the aim of identifying a competent operator in reasonably short time. The Spain visit was part of this process. Unti the process is finalised it would not be prudent to give any further details.”

It was revealed some time ago that a Spanish transport company – Autobuses de Leon – was one of three bidders for the Malta contract. The others were local consortia Gozo First and Island Buses Malta.

The Ministry would not comment on the timeframe for the selection of the new operator and on the subsidies the Spanish company is asking for. The Ministry has reportedly failed to meet with one of the local consortia, which was asking for some €40 million in subsidies.

‘We never promised miracles on public transport’

The Transport Ministry was also asked about a substantial number of complaints this paper has been receiving on the current public transport system. Most complaints are about punctuality and faulty air-conditioning aboard the buses.

The Ministry spokesperson said that, “unlike the previous administration, this government never promised miracles. The government is aware of  such shortcomings and is addressing them.” The spokesperson noted that the number of complaints had shrinked during the hand-over period from Arriva to a state-operated system. Ticket sales and passengers were also up.

Bendy buses still in Malta, ‘not government’s responsibility’

(The bendy buses parked in a San Gwann quarry. Picture Jonathan Borg.)

This paper also inquired about the bendy buses, which are still in Malta when they should have been exported weeks ago. The expression of interest for the sale of the bendy buses stipulated that they had to be shipped out of the country at the buyer’s  expense. “The buses are not to be kept in Malta and Gozo beyond four weeks from the acceptance of the proposal.” The conditions were later changed and the government offered a €200,000 discount if the buses were scrapped in Malta. The 80 ex-Arriva bendy buses have recently been transferred to a disused quarry in San Gwann.

The Transport Ministry insisted that the government had laid down a condition prohibiting the use of the bendy buses in Maltese roads. “This condition has been honoured. The buses now belong to a private company. It is up to this company to decide what to do with the bendy buses. This is not the government’s responsibility.”