Arriva unveils map, tickets, and customer care department

Talking about the ticket options, Keith Bastow, Managing Director of Arriva in Malta said there would be a new range of tickets, “with excellent value multi-journey tickets available, particularly for the 30 Day and 90 Day tickets available via the Arriva Saver card.”

The Arriva Saver Card is available to regular bus users with an identity card issued by the Government of Malta, indicating that they reside in Malta or Gozo, and also students. Bastow said “the card is convenient and easy to use, enabling passengers to board quickly with no need to carry coins.”

It can be topped up at ticket vending machines, Arriva Ticket Offices, online on Arriva’s website and via the Customer Care Centre.

It costs €26 for 30 days of travel or €72 for 90 days of travel.

“Once topped up, the user simply scans the card to the reader when they board the bus to activate it. A limited number are available before 3 July – to apply, those interested should download an application form and further information from the Arriva Malta website from tomorrow or call into a main branch of Malta Post,” he said.

Standard Fare - Malta

The standard fares for Malta are €2.20 for the Two Hour ticket, €2.60 for the Day Ticket and €12 for the 7Day Ticket,with a Night bus single fare costing €2.50.

The discounted fares on offer for holders of an identity card issued by the Government of Malta, indicating they reside in Malta and Gozo, are €1.30 for a Two Hour ticket, €1.50 for a Day Ticket and €6.50 for a 7 Day ticket.

Standard Fare - Gozo

The standard fares for Gozo are €1.00 for the Two Hour ticket, €1.50 for the Day Ticket and €6.50 for the 7 Day ticket. Persons holding an identity card issued by the Government of Malta indicating that they reside in Gozo can buy a 30 Day Gozo ticket for €10.00.

Children and Kartanzjani holders

Children aged 3 to 10 and Kartanzjan holders are entitled to discounted fares costing €0.30 for the Two Hour ticket, €0.50 for the Day Ticket and €2.30 for the 7Day ticket.

Students

Students in full time education and those aged 11 to 16 can apply for a Student Saver Card and pay €21 for a 30 Day Saver and €60 for a 90 Day Saver.

Details were given on the various locations these are going to be available from including on the bus, through ticket vending machines, Arriva’s ticket offices at Valletta, Victoria and the Airport, online on www.arriva.com.mt and from the Customer Care Call Centre.

A penalty fare of €10 will be levied from those who fail to buy a ticket or are not able to show the correct travel ticket and any accompanying validation, such as showing  the relevant identity card issued by the Government of Malta.

He also said that an Airport Express service will be introduced, allowing travel to and from the airport from more locations, on larger buses with extra luggage space, more quickly on Express routes.”

Arriva also unveiled a new colour coded bus route map for Malta and Gozo. "The new routes will include the concept of feeder routes “which make it easier to travel between towns and villages directly without having to travel into Valletta,” Bastow said. “The feeder routes link with interchanges, which are bus stops which serve more than one route, where you can easily catch another bus to your next destination if you need to.”

They will be also be downloadable as PDFs from the Arriva website as from tomorrow – www.arriva.com.mt - and will be on display at over 1,800 locations where bus stops have been erected.

Bastow also launched the new Customer Care Call Centre, which will start operating from tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. seven days a week. The number to call is 2122 2000. “Trained staff will take your calls and help you with any queries you may have about the new services and journeys you would like to make,” Bastow said. “After 3 July customers will be able to buy tickets through the Customer Care Call Centre, which will also be the channel used for making comments and complaints.”