Arriva Malta yesterday announced the new ticketing structure which should be accessible today on various media, launching an aggressive information drive to educate commuters about its new schedules and services. Apart from using the traditional media, Arriva Malta will also use the online media and road shows to explain its mission to passengers in key spots around Malta and Gozo.

The new bus system will have a completely different configuration, however Arriva Malta managing director Keith Bastow said that the three main bus stations will remain in Valletta, Buġibba and Victoria.

Meanwhile, 27 interchanges will serve as bus stops for more than one route. Passengers will be able to easily catch another bus to their next destination using the interchanges. In simpler terms, passengers can typically change from a feeder route onto a mainline route by avoiding having to go to Valletta and back out.

Most interchanges will be manned by people in Arriva uniforms who will direct commuters where they want to go, especially in the initial phases of the roll-out which will start on 3 July.

Mr Bastow said that the new bus network will be offering more travelling possibilities. The routes will be colour-coded for easier identification. They will also be marked with a new numbering system. The buses on the main routes will be showing the final destination and key calling points will be shown along the side of the bus.

The new bus routes include Valletta mainline routes numbered between one and 91. There will also be bus routes linking other towns and villages which will make it easier for passengers to travel from village to village without having to travel into Valletta.

Other new services include the Airport Express, a quicker route for those who want to travel directly to the airport with additional luggage space and more room for passengers, and the Night Buses which will operate between 11pm and 4am on Fridays and Saturdays all year round and with additional routes throughout the summer months.

The new network in Gozo is designed in a way that encourages people to use the bus with 10 routes operating every hour. The 301 route between Victoria and Mġarr will run every 30 minutes.

A schedule guide in the form of a leaflet will be distributed in 160,000 homes in Malta and Gozo over the coming days. It will include information about the routes, timetables, tickets, fares, customer care, ticket purchasing points and a pull-out map.

The full timetables and route maps will also be made available on Arriva’s website, www.arrivamalta.com.mt, today. A journey planner will be made available for people to plan their travel by route or by destination.

The ticketing structure will be frozen for the next three years. Thereafter it is up to the discretion of the government to raise the fares.

Residents who have Maltese ID cards will benefit from discounted travel while Gozitans can purchase a 30-day Gozo ticket for €10. Moreover, Gozitans who travel frequently to Malta and buy a ticket to use the transport in Malta, can use the same ticket for free travel in Gozo. Child fares, KartAnzjan rates and student discounts are also available. People found not having valid tickets may be liable to a €10 penalty.

At the moment passengers pay €0.47 for zone one trips such as from Valletta to Mosta, €0.54 for zone two trips such as from Mosta to Mellieħa and €0.58c for zone three trips such as from Valletta to Mellieħa. €1.16c is paid for direct buses such as from Rabat to Sliema or Mosta to Marsaxlokk.

A customer call centre will be launched today not just to answer queries and complaints but also to give information to clients regarding the purchasing of tickets.

Regarding the infrastructure, Mr Bastow said both Arriva and Transport Malta are working within a very tight deadline, however he is optimistic that all the infrastructure will be in place by 3 July.

Regarding the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s failure to grant development permits for a bus depot in a Żebbuġ ‘outside development zone’, he said that the company cannot afford not to be focused and therefore it will not be announcing a contingency location for the time being. He said Arriva is considering whether to appeal Mepa’s decision or not.