Two express routes will be introduced in public transport from Wednesday, taking passengers in the minimum travelling time to Valletta and back from Mosta and Zurrieq during the morning and afternoon rush hours, Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said yesterday.

The aim of the scheme, by the Transport Authority and the Public Transport Association, is to provide an alternative means of transport to those working in Valletta who do not wish to use their own private transport after the introduction on Tuesday of the vehicular controlled access to the

capital.

The routes, at 20c costing the same as the normal services, will operate from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays. The schedules and other details will be advertised in the media over the next few days.

The express routes, 153 to Mosta, and 132 to Zurrieq, will have a 12-trip schedule every day on a trial basis, which will be reviewed if justified by demand. Similar routes may be introduced from other localities in the near future, Mr Mugliett said.

The express routes will avoid the heart of towns and villages and also, where possible, areas of dense traffic. Buses on these services will not stop at bus stops except at strategic points such as Mosta Technopark and Floriana. Buses on the express service will all be super low floor, and carry an “Express” sign on the front and back.

Trials have shown a reduction in travelling time of between five and 15 minutes. Mosta and Zurrieq were selected because they had the highest percentage of residents who worked in Valletta.

Mr Mugliett said new routes that had been introduced over the past two years, such as the university service, the Valletta circular route and the park and ride scheme, had led to a significant rise of 11 per cent in passenger bus use.