Malta Public Transport has announced an investment of €8 million in the acquisition of 30 new buses “to improve the reliability of the bus service, while catering for the rising demand for public transport in the country.

With this addition, the fleet will expand to 500 units, maintaining Malta’s status as a leading European country in public transport accessibility, MPT said.

Malta Public Transport said it recorded a 19% increase in passenger numbers during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, amounting to 17.2 million passengers.

The number of active Tallinja cardholders who make use of the bus at least once in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2024 also rose by 19% from 188,000 to 224,000, reflecting the growing use of public transport among residents.

“We have listened to our drivers and our passengers, who called for more space on the buses, and our investment in these 30 new buses underscores our commitment to fulfilling this promise,” said Felipe Cosmen, Chairman of Malta Public Transport.

The company said that the 30 new buses are equipped with Euro 6 diesel technology and amenities like USB chargers and free WiFi, prioritise passenger safety and comfort.

While the decision to invest in diesel buses aligns with the urgency to accommodate immediate demands, Malta Public Transport maintained its “commitment to sustainability.”

“Our experience with electric buses has been positive, but it has shown us that these require extensive infrastructure and manufacturing processes, leading to longer implementation times,” continued Cosmen. “It would have been unfair on our passengers to wait for more electric buses which is why we decided to increase the number of buses right away, to further improve the efficiency of our public transport network.”

Operating “one of the largest electric bus fleets in southern Europe,” MPT said that plans are in place with the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works to introduce 120 fully electric zero-emission buses by the end of 2025, supported by European Resilience and Recovery Funds.

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