Commuters to get improvements on routes 71, 72, 73

Public bus operator Arriva Malta and Transport Malta have initiated works aimed at enhancing and improving the bus services on Routes 71, 72 and 73, that serve among others the localities of Zurrieq, Mqabba, Qrendi, Kirkop, Safi and Luqa.

Arriva Malta said that there had been problems with the scheduling of services on these routes. A number of factors made the current timings on Route 71, 72 and 73 unachievable and unsustainable, the company said.

These were also aggravated by traffic problems and congestion at particular hotspots, chiefly the roundabout by the airport where traffic flows are unpredictable and where bus priority measures would also greatly improve the service.

Arriva Malta will shortly be implementing strategies geared at improving the delivery of services on these routes. Arriva will commence the 'interworking' of Routes 71, 72 and 73 along with the integration of an additional vehicle into the route group, a solution that will see an increase in the number of buses serving stops along these routes.

At the same time through agreement with TM the bus company will be increasing the number of buses working on route 73 to increase the frequency to half hourly to enhance the level of service.

Following a detailed timing and reliability exercise carried out last week, Arriva today started the rescheduling of these routes and will be proposing the implementation of a dedicated driver roster for their operation to be delivered later this year, thus further enhancing their operation.

Revised services on these routes will start by Sunday, 2nd December.