Where the parties stand | public transport

Following the unpopular wild cat strikes in July 2008 by bus drivers and other public transport operators, Transport Minister Austin Gatt embarked on a radical reform of public transport, thus raising the expectation of commuters sky high.

The aim of the reform was to bring about a modal shift from private car use to public transport. 

The government also broke down the Public Transport Authority's public transport monopoly through an international tender for a 10-year contract, which was awarded to Arriva.

But the disastrous launch of the service in July 2011 resulted in bitter resentment against the new operator. 

This, despite the fact that the Arriva service brought notable improvements like the introduction of a Euro 5 environmentally friendly bus fleet and a general upgrade in the manners of drivers. 

But the long-winded routes, coupled with an initial shortage of drivers - after many of the old drivers re-employed by the new company failed to turn up to work - obscured these improvements.

Congestion on the roads remained a problem and the promised modal shift failed to occur.

In view of this experience, where do the threee political parties stand on transport, congestion and transport-related issues?