Malta Public Transport highlighted the expansion of Malta's bus network and the use of shared passenger data in response to questions about overcrowding issues that have been raised in recent times.

In reply to specific questions sent by this newspaper, Malta Public Transport said the bus service is delivered through a Public Service Obligation contract between the company and the Authority for Transport, known as Transport Malta.

Under this arrangement, Malta Public Transport operates the contracted service, while Transport Malta is responsible for planning the route network.

"Both organisations work together, using shared operational data and passenger research, to support decisions on how the network develops in response to changing travel patterns and passenger demand," the company said.

The questions were sent to MPT following renewed debate after figures tabled in Parliament showed that only one overcrowded bus was officially recorded during more than 52,000 inspections carried out throughout 2024 and 2025.

No cases were identified during 22,118 inspections in 2024, while one was recorded from 30,572 inspections in 2025. During the first five months of 2026, four cases were identified from a further 16,026 inspections.

The findings appeared difficult to reconcile with the experiences frequently reported by passengers.

A recent article published by The Malta Independent described overcrowding as a regular feature of daily bus travel rather than an isolated incident. It referred to commuters facing long waits, delayed or missing buses and vehicles passing stops because they had already reached capacity.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett has also questioned whether the statistics accurately reflect conditions across the network.

Speaking in Parliament, Bonett said he was "not happy" with the figure and that it did not correspond with complaints he had received from the public.

He described overcrowding as one of the main issues affecting public transport and said the inspection methodology "could have been a lot better".

Bonett said he had asked Transport Malta's chief executive to review how inspections are carried out and speak directly to passengers to obtain a clearer picture of conditions on the network.

In its reply to The Malta Independent, Malta Public Transport did not directly say whether one overcrowded bus from more than 52,000 inspections was consistent with its own operational experience.

Instead, it pointed to rising passenger numbers and the expansion of the service over recent years.

The number of scheduled daily bus trips has increased from approximately 5,600 to more than 7,000, while the operating fleet has grown from around 400 buses to 550, the company said.

"As with any growing public transport system, demand can fluctuate throughout the day, and on certain journeys, especially during peak periods, demand is particularly high," Malta Public Transport said.

It said passenger demand and network performance are monitored through electronic ticketing data and vehicle location systems, with the information available to both organisations.

Operational reports, customer feedback and annual mobility surveys commissioned by the company also provide insight into travel patterns and changing mobility needs.

"These sources help inform discussions on network planning and future service requirements," the operator said.

The company explained that it operates the contracted service while Transport Malta plans the network, which includes routes and frequencies.

Malta Public Transport was also asked whether the Public Service Obligation contract had evolved sufficiently to reflect rising demand.

Malta's buses carried a record 75.8 million passenger journeys in 2024, with ridership continuing to increase. Although the operator highlighted the growth of its fleet and daily trips, it stopped short of saying whether further contractual or network changes were needed to maintain service quality.

Malta Public Transport said it has access to information through ticketing records, vehicle-location systems, operational reports, customer feedback and annual mobility surveys, and that it is involved in discussions with Transport Malta on changing passenger demand.