The government is to take over the running of the bus services system
from Arriva early next year and keep administering it until a new
operator is found, The Malta Independent has learnt.
Effectively, this would mean that the system would go back to what it
was before the so-called public transport reform in 2011 when Arriva had
started its operations in Malta.
Arriva is now expected to pull out early next year once its negotiations with the government and Transport Malta are concluded.
The government would then temporarily take over the running the public
transport until a fresh call for expressions of interest is concluded
and the new operators are chose.
Sources told The Malta Independent that the government’s intentions are
not to prolong the “temporary take-over of the bus system for more than
a few months”, which means that if Arriva leave by the end of the first
quarter, the new operator would be in place by the end of 2014.
Arriva’s departure has been widely expected given the problems that the
company faced since day one of its services. That day, bus drivers who
had been recruited by the company did not turn up for work with the
result that the system got off on the wrong foot, and never really
recovered.
The latest setback came in summer when fires on three bendy-buses led
to their being suspended from Maltese roads indefinitely, and the
government later indicated that there would be no turning back on that
decision.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat took to Twitter to weigh in on the news once it was confirmed.
“With a new service, we will work hard on difficult but necessary task
to raise standards and give Malta the public transport it deserves,” he
said in a post signed JM to confirm that it was personally written by
him.
Another tweet, apparently written by his team, states that “the public
transport disaster, from bad route planning to EU ticket pricing probe,
is a clear example of legacy this government inherited.”
The General Workers Union, which represents bus drivers, announced that
it will be meeting Transport Minister Joe Mizzi tomorrow to insist that
Arriva’s present employees are retained by whoever takes over the
public transport system.
The secretary of the union’s maritime and aviation section, Jeremy
Camilleri insisted that workers had to be united more than ever given
the circumstances, to enable the union to secure the best possible
results.
AND FROM THE TIMES OF MALTA
Transport operator Arriva will be leaving Malta by the first quarter
of next year under a transition agreement being finalised between the
company and transport authorities, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
Transport Malta and Arriva management are currently negotiating the
terms of the deal through which the Transport Authority would take over
the company and a portion of its substantial debts in a nominal sale.
The authority is then expected to issue a call for expression of
interest to re-award the licence. The details of the deal are still
being ironed out but there is agreement on the broad terms.
It averts the option of the company filing for liquidation – a messy prospect for both Arriva and the government.
PRIME MINISTER: DIFFICULT BUT NECESSARY TASK TO
RAISE STANDARDS
In comments this morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said:
"The public transport disaster, from bad route planning to the EU
ticket pricing probe, is a clear example of the legacy this government
inherited. With a new service we will work hard on the difficult but
necessary task to raise standards and give Malta the public transport it
deserves."
GWU STATEMENT
The General Workers' Union saluted the Arriva workers who were
continuing to do their best in the circumstances and said it would work
to give them peace of mind about their jobs.
Transport section secretary Jeremy J Camilleri called for unity among
the workers so that the union could achieve the best result for them.
SEE ALSO THE LATEST ON THE FOCUS FLICKR SITE
There were two railway specials through
Chesterfield on Saturday 21st December. Only problem was unlike other parts of the country, the
town was bathed in low winter sunshine, and as both specials were northbound,
this posed a bit of difficulty, the results are still worth posting.
First up was a double-headed 37-class
diesel haul to East Yorkshire with 37604 and 37423 on the front with 37612 at the
back. An hour later and bang on time was the "York Yule Tide Express" hauled by
A-4 class 60009 Union of South Africa, diesel 57313 bringing up the rear. Note how the train has run 'wrong line'
through the station and platform 2, in order to pass by a northbound goods on
platform 3, and keeping the special on time. Images captured by the Focus Transport team can be viewed here