Malta Public Transport has announced the investment of €8 million in the acquisition of 30 new buses to improve the reliability of its bus service and cater for the rising demand for public transport in the country. The new buses will expand its fleet to 500 vehicles, which it says will help it maintain Malta’s status as a leading European country in public transport accessibility.
Malta Public Transport reports a 19% increase in passenger numbers during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, amounting to 17.2 million passengers. The number of active ‘Tallinja’ travel card holders who make use of the bus at least once in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2024 also rose by 19% from 188,000 to 224,000, the operator says, reflecting the growing use of public transport among residents.
“We have listened to our drivers and our passengers, who called for more space on the buses, and our investment in these 30 new buses underscores our commitment to fulfilling this promise,” said Felipe Cosmen, Chairman of Malta Public Transport. The company says it remains committed to enhancing the customer experience, such as through recent improvements to the Tallinja app, offering real-time bus tracking and service alerts, which it says received positive feedback from users.
The 30 new Euro VI diesel buses will be fitted with USB chargers and free WiFi. The operator says that while the decision to invest in diesel buses aligns with the urgency to accommodate immediate demands, it still maintains its commitment to sustainability. “Our experience with electric buses has been positive, but it has shown us that these require extensive infrastructure and manufacturing processes, leading to longer implementation times,” continued Felipe. “It would have been unfair on our passengers to wait for more electric buses which is why we decided to increase the number of buses right away, to further improve the efficiency of our public transport network.”
Operating what it says is one of the largest electric bus fleets in southern Europe, Malta Public Transport says plans are in place with the country’s Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure & Public Works to introduce 120 fully electric zero-emission buses by the end of 2025, supported by European Resilience and Recovery Funds.
