Five-months on, public transport reform still a failure - PL

The PL said that after more than five months since the introduction of the new public transport system a lot of useful routes had been removed and various towns are still not being provided a good service.

Labour said the reform was not only supposed to be about smart uniforms and courteous service, but waiting times on bus stops in Malta and Gozo were expected to be reduced.

"The reform failed in its most basic elements. Despite the available technology it is still impossible to know the departure and waiting times," Labour said in a statement.

"The failure was made clearer with the creation of the public transport task force which not only is a waste of resources but also causing more traffic congestions in order to give precedence to Arriva buses," Labour said.

The PL said it believes enough time has elapsed since the introduction of the new system to address existing problems and introduce changes to really make public transport a viable alternative to private car use.

The PL said that introducing second-hand vehicles and bendy-buses refused by the city of London was not the solution. The PL quoted London mayor Boris Johnson, who said: "We bid a final but not fond farewell to the bendy bus. These bulky and ungainly monstrosities were always more suitable for the wide open vistas of a Scandinavian airport than for London's narrow streets and I am glad to see the back of them."