Commission tells Malta to change bus fares system

It will take time as all the ticket machines will have to be reprogrammed. ARMS next?

my prediction ?

What is likely to happen now is that some sort of bus pass will be available, costing say € 25 a year, available to all, giving say a 25% discount on prices. Prices will be raised for all by say 33%, so those holding the bus pass will get the same price as now. Tourists will pay the same as now as not worth buying a pass, whilst those residents who only use the buses infrequently will end up paying more. Net result, nobody is better off (other than residents who currently dont have an ID card/eresidency doc) , and some are worse off.

So you don't believe the Govt that say they have no plans to raise prices? (Mind you would anyone believe any Government?)

redmik wrote:

So you don't believe the Govt that say they have no plans to raise prices? (Mind you would anyone believe any Government?)

in my example prices don't go up if you buy a bus pass

unless this is revenue neutral, the government will have to pay Arriva a bigger subsidy

georgeingozo wrote:

unless this is revenue neutral, the government will have to pay Arriva a bigger subsidy

and that comes from where exactly?

Arriva signed up to a contact with the government based on a fare structure. If that fare structure is altered to Arriva's detriment they will be able to claim compensation. Same as happened when the govt changed some of the routes, and had to increase the subsidy.

I suspect we are talking of possible compensation of € 1-2 million if all that happens is fares are all reduced to the residents rates

georgeingozo wrote:

redmik wrote:

So you don't believe the Govt that say they have no plans to raise prices? (Mind you would anyone believe any Government?)

in my example prices don't go up if you buy a bus pass

Fair enough.

redmik wrote:

georgeingozo wrote:

redmik wrote:

So you don't believe the Govt that say they have no plans to raise prices? (Mind you would anyone believe any Government?)

in my example prices don't go up if you buy a bus pass

Fair enough.

Nope......disagree.

GnG says that prices will rise by 33% (hypothetically) for all, which is mandatory, however will be abated by the purchase of a bus pass which is optional.  Ergo - prices will rise.

Your question Mick is therefore still relevant........"So you don't believe the Govt that say they have no plans to raise prices?"

Whatever the outcome to this I fear that Arriva and the Government will not be 'out of pocket'.......it's never about the customer.

This topic surprises me.... in Gibraltar the bus fares for residents (and frontier workers) are free... 0nly tourists pay, and that is a token gesture, £1.50 for an all day ticket.

I wonder how long before someone takes umbridge with this too?

its very simple one fare for all like in many other countries and thus no hassle.

toonarmy9752 wrote:

its very simple one fare for all like in many other countries and thus no hassle.

Et voila.

To be honest, I couldn't agree more with the European Commission! Never knew, apart from Malta, any other place that charges one rate for tourists and another for residents. And I wonder why?

Of course not being resident at the moment it affects me quite a lot (even though I hope becoming resident soon), coz every time I want to buy a day ticket I have to pay 2.60€. If we all using the same services as everybody, why have to pay more?
I agree that this two way system, it's defo a discriminatory system and should stop asap.