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Spanish company takes over public transport service in Malta

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Autobuses de Leon, an affiliated entity of Madrid-based ALSA Group SLU which is the leading company in the Spanish road passenger transport sector, on Thursday took over the public transport bus service in Malta retaining the name Malta Public Transport Service.

Felipe Cosmen, director of ALSA, addressed the press conference saying the changes agreed upon would be implemented gradually over the next year.

It was reported that the major change would be in the payment system with card to be introduced in July.

The idea behind the card is to discourage people from buying their tickets on the bus, in a move to improve efficiency and provide faster service. It is believed the cost of trips will work out to be substantially cheaper for card holders.

The new routes serviced by the company will add an extra three million kilometres a year to the current routes. The company said it would be adding 3,000 seats to the network, creating a 20 percent increase in capacity.

Autobuses de Leon will be getting a subsidy of 23 million euros (27 million U.S. dollars) this year, which will go up to 29 million euros next year.

Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said the contract reached with Autobuses de Leon would be tabled in Maltese parliament once it reconvened. He noted that there would be one system covering both Malta and Gozo, the archipelago's second largest island. Endit