Infrastructure and Transport Minister Joe Mizzi is tight-lipped on the price the government will be paying for Arriva’s takeover and whether it will be covering its debts.

In comments to the media following a press conference at Mtarfa this morning, Mr Mizzi said the contract with Arriva will be signed by the end of the month and further details will be given afterwards.

"The government has secured the best agreement it could with Arriva," he said. "The plan is to provide a service with the least possible expenses but it needs to be efficient".

He noted that “a contingency plan was drawn up to cover all eventualities" and a Transport Malta team is working with Arriva to have business as usual as from the beginning of January.

The Expression of Interest is yet to be published.

Pressed for replies on how much the takeover will cost the island and whether money will be lost over this, Mr Mizzi said the government is making sure the island’s best interest is being safeguarded and among this is protecting the employees’ interest.

He pointed out Arriva has €50 million in debts and the government has paid €23 million in subsidies since 2011.

While people were promised a state of the art service, the public transport system delivered was in a state of confusion and clearly, people were not happy with the routes. By October, Transport Malta had finalised the new routes following consultations with local councils and it soon became clear that Arriva was not in a position to cover these routes because more vehicles are needed.

The routes will be the basis for negotiations on the new contract following the publication of the Expression of Interest.

“No company has been chosen so far,” Mr Mizzi stated.