Shadow Minister for Transport Marthese Portelli said that three years after the Labour Party had promised a roadmap to improve public transport, the system is now worse than what it was in 2013, with the Spanish company comfortably enjoying the government subsidy, passengers complaining more and more about the poor service and drivers’ working conditions going from bad to worse.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Dr Portelli said more and more commuters are complaining about the routes that have been established – which are too long and winding – and delays in the service offered. Local councils are being inundated with calls from people who are lamenting about the inefficiency of the system.

She mentioned comments made by a former Labour activist who said that public transport is a total failure, and that if Joe Mizzi contested the election in the district where she resides she would not vote for him.

The minister was living in denial when he says that matters have improved, even seeing that some of the scheduled trips are not being made. She said that Mr Mizzi has not replied to parliamentary questions she has submitted. It seems that either the minister does not know what the answer is and the Spanish company is doing what it likes, or else knows the answer but does not want to make it public because it would harm the government.

The people expect a better service, considering that the subsidy has risen from €10 million to €30 million. Dr Portelli said that the drivers’ roster was planned on a 29-hour day, which has only served to make their working conditions worse.