page_title: Buses in Malta
section_title: Arriva (2011–2013)
hierarchical_section_title: Buses in Malta / Arriva (2011–2013)
caption_attribution_description: Malta, Bus, im Sommer 2011 wurden die gelb-roten Oldtimer Busse durch diese Modernen abgelöst
context_page_description: Buses were introduced to Malta in 1905. As well as providing public transport across the country, up until 2011, the traditional Malta bus served as a popular tourist attraction due to their unique appearances grounded in the bus ownership and operation model employed in the country; by the end of this traditional operation, Malta had several bus types no longer in service anywhere else in the world.
  The unique nature of the Malta bus stemmed from the tradition of local ownership of the buses by the drivers, and their historic practice of customising them. In addition to a high degree of customisation, detailing and decoration, several Malta buses also had a unique appearance due to the practice of in-house maintenance, rebuilding or modifying of bus bodies in local workshops.
  As an iconic feature of the country, the classic Malta bus features on several tourist related items. As the main mode of public transport across the country, the Malta bus was also used by many tourists to visit the different parts of the country.
context_section_description: A major restructure of the bus service in Malta took place on 3 July 2011. The network was taken over by Arriva, new low-floor buses were introduced and service and fare structures changed dramatically.
  Halcrow Group was commissioned to assess the Malta bus system. Released in November 2005, the report criticizing the existing model and arrangement between ADT and ATP, which had produced a very low utilization of buses and a decline of 50% in the number of bus passengers between 1979 and 2009.
  Finalized plans were announced in December 2008 for the first bus route restructuring on Malta since 1977. Under European Union rules, the right to operate the new network could not be directly transferred to the ATP, although they were free to tender for the contract. This resulted in the end of the state-subsidized owner-operator model, which as of 2009 stood at 508 buses each with an average age of 35 years, and operated by over 400 independent licensees.
  The new fleet controlled by Arriva consisted of 264 buses, including 2 seven-metre buses for the intra-Valletta route, 61 nine-metre buses including 10 hybrid electric buses for park & ride services as well as selected village routes (Mater Dei-Ta' Qali, Paola-Xgħajra-Paola), 153 twelve metre buses, and 46 articulated buses for airport routes and major routes such as those to Sliema, Malta International Airport and the ferry terminals. 
  The new system increased the number of available bus seats by 6,600 to 20,500, and the number of bus stops in Malta to 850 plus another 120 in Gozo.
  The major benefits to the public for the change were presented in November 2010:
  €3.5m less per year in Malta government subsidy
  First ever all day bus service in Gozo, 7 days a week
  One fare everywhere
  Cheap weekly fares for non-residents
  New buses (for 70% of the fleet)
  All buses with less polluting Euro 5 engines
  Substantially lower emissions
  All buses fully accessible
  Air-conditioning and CCTV on all buses
  More routes, more frequent
  More termini, more interchanges
  Longer operating hours for all routes
  Night service
  Maximum waiting times for all routes
  Schedules and bus arrival times an SMS away
  More information on buses and bus stops
  More employment
  More discipline
  Better trained drivers
  An aquamarine coloured livery
  The bus fleet, all in Arriva's standard aquamarine and cream livery, was composed of Euro 5 King Long buses along with Arriva London's Mercedes-Benz Citaro G articulated buses. Some of the newer buses from the previous operator had also been introduced into the new system. The network receives a subsidy of around €6 million per year. Passengers holding Maltese ID cards receive a 40% reduction of the price of their journeys due to subsidised fares, while non-ID card holders (including tourists) pay the full undiscounted fare, prompting the European Commission to launch an inquiry on whether the two-tiered price structure violates EU discrimination laws.
  The commencement of Arriva's services on 3 July 2011 was marred by many buses departing late or failing to turn up, primarily due to the absence of over 70 drivers who were due to transfer from the previous driver-owner system. This resulted in large crowds building up at Valletta's new bus terminus as well as other termini and stages across Malta. 
  Other issues increased the delays, such as incorrect or non-operational route information on buses and mechanical faults. Arriva has also received criticism over the overhauled routes and timetables, which has increased journey times for some passengers.
  During the first week of the new system, up to 180 drivers, most of whom had previously worked on the old network, failed to appear for duties. They cited Arriva's use of split-shifts as the reason for their non-appearance, as these had reportedly not been part of the conditions they had agreed to work under. Their actions received some criticism, with politician Emanuel Delia accusing the drivers of attempting to sabotage services so that the new system would be abandoned. Arriva responded by drafting in seventy temporary drivers from its
caption: King Long Arriva Malta bus
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