Public transport patronage this year up to last month has gone up by 7.18 per cent over last year, the Urban Development and Roads Ministry said yesterday. This had not occurred by coincidence but because the public transport service was making improvements.

The ministry was replying to criticism by Alternattiva Demokratika, saying that the improved patronage was due also to the subsidies the government makes to the sector. In spite of fuel price increases, it said, fares had gone up only once since 2005.

The ministry said that in October 2004, an agreement was reached with the Public Transport Association on various aspects. The agreement specified, for instance, regular use of the new coaches, and a code of conduct for drivers operating the public transport service; it set up a tribunal to hear cases and a logbook to keep track of maintenance and fuel use was introduced.

New direct routes were also introduced in various sectors, such as to the University and Junior College, Hal Far and Mater Dei Hospital, and express routes from various points.

A reform for the service has been under discussion for months, the ministry said, and a framework has been approved by the cabinet to address the contractual obligations between the government and the operators, the programme for the replacement of coaches, improvements in the routes schedule, infrastructural improvements, and the use of new systems in the management of the service.

The government could announce agreement only when all the details were in place and in the coming weeks, talks with the Public Transport Association would be intensified so that they could be concluded by autumn this year. Talks were also in hand with the operator of the transport service in Gozo.