All 400 buses operated by Malta Public Transport now have a contactless payments system on board, Transport Minister Ian Borg announced on Wednesday.

“Through this contactless payments system we will continue to raise the quality of service for both those who already travel regularly by bus as well as for those who use it less often. This easy access will be fundamental because it is another step closer to leading us to this government’s vision in favour of intermodality and the fact that we will continue to incentivise more people to use alternative means of transport instead of the private car,” Borg said.

“In addition, this initiative is another measure to reduce the spread of cash money from one person to another. Through the pandemic I dare say that we also felt the comfort offered by digital transactions. Therefore, we were proactive in introducing advanced technology that adopts this method as well. We also realised how essential public transport was for basic services in Malta and Gozo to continue operating and so as a government we are confident that the contactless payments system will make a huge difference in the quality of the service.”

Transport Authority Chairman Joseph Bugeja said this was another step forward and in the right direction. The introduction of a contactless payments is the result of an ongoing dialogue that Transport Malta, as a regulator, has with Malta Public Transport and other stakeholders to improve the service.

“Cashless payments are a fundamental element in our customer experience strategy,” said Konrad Pulé, Malta Public Transport General Manager, explaining that contactless services make passenger boarding easier.

“When we introduced the Tallinja Card in 2015 it was a first for Malta, and it quickly became the most popular way to pay for your ticket. With the new contactless system on board our buses, those passengers who prefer to pay for individual tickets will also be able to experience quicker and more efficient boarding when travelling by bus.”