Updated | Public transport losses ‘unacceptable’ – PN

Nationalist MP Anthony Bezzina has said "the €7 million" in losses for the national public transport in just three months, was of concern for the Maltese taxpayer.

The Malta Public Transport Corporation took over on 1 January, 2014 from former DB subsidiary Arriva, following millions in losses and debts it registered over three years of operations. According to a recent PQ, the MPT made €4.3 million in ticket revenue up to 31 March, while operational expenses between January and 28 February were of €7.2 million.

“The extraordinary losses that MPT has suffered should be of concern to anyone who pays taxes. In three months, the government has made the taxpayer pay as much as one year’s subsidy to Arriva,” Bezzina said.

“It’s an unacceptable situation for a government that boasts of running a better transport service than Arriva’s so called ‘disastrous’ service…

“Government removed the weekend night service, a number of routes stop at 11pm, and other routes are being serviced with vehicles that the elderly, disabled and women with children cannot board.”

Bezzina also said that “only” three companies had showed interest in the public transport concession, putting paid to transport minister Joe Mizzi’s claims that the tender was attracting wide interest.

“This lack of interest shows government has discouraged foreign investors,” Bezzina said, referring to Scots bus operators McGill’s, who claimed they were not being furnished with enough information by Transport Malta to present a credible bid.”

Three companies have submitted their bids to operate Malta’s public transport service, according to the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure. A fourth bid was submitted after the submission’s deadline expired.

“We want the company chosen to provide a sustainable service which addresses the public’s needs and is dependable,” Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said.

In a reaction, the transport ministry said that the public transport service registered an increase in passenger use amounting to 300,000, compared to the same three months last year.

Moreover, it added, the government saved €200,000.

Passengers making use of the public transport during January 2014 amounted to 2,914,148, marking a 5.3% increase in passenger use. Ticket sales during the same month registered a 5.5% increase while complaints decreased by 53%.

“The situation has improved, compared to the disastrous state the public transport was left in by the previous administration. This government safeguarded jobs,” the ministry said.

It added that changes in park and ride tariffs also left a positive impact: numbers increased from 1,355 cars a week to 2,894 cars.

For the summer months, the government will be renting 45 Euro 5 buses. Thanks to the agreement, the government will be saving €1.6 million between May and October. The buses will be used by the new operator as well. It will be up to the operator to decide whether to extend the rental agreement or not.

“It is evident that the Opposition is being negative, its only intent to hinder the reform,” the ministry said, adding that no proposals have been put forward by the PN.

The ministry added that government wanted the criteria listed in the expression of interest to be of the highest level in order to ensure a balance between the economic and social aspects of the service.

“The government is very much aware that the reform doesn’t come without its own problems. But we are convinced we will succeed in providing the commuters with an efficient and reliable service.”