maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JANUARY 2021
7
CULTURE
as, and one can also start the circuit in
Valletta.
There is no need to book ahead, and
payment can be made not only with
cash, but also with contactless debit/
credit cards.
Each passenger will receive a tradi-
tional style bus ticket as a souvenir. To
meet Covid-19 regulations, the buses
are fitted with hand-sanitiser bottles ,
and passengers need to wear facemasks,
which are mandatory.
Director of the Vintage Bus City Tour,
Manuel Cutajar said the tours are per-
fect for families to experience the joy of
Malta's unique vintage vehicles.
"The old buses were replaced almost
10 years ago now in July 2011, so any-
one under the age of around 14 will not
remember the delights of our old bus-
es," he said.
"Now there is this opportunity for all
generations of a family to go back in
time together to sample travel the way
they used to be."
All the buses in the Vintage Bus City
Tour fleet have been lovingly restored
to the highest standards and painted
one of the old route liveries that used to
be used until 1973.
Besides the two-tone green and white
of the Sliema route, there will also be
buses in the orange used on the Zurrieq
route, the brown of the Mosta route, the
red and blue of the Zabbar route, whilst
one bus retains the yellow, orange and
white that the buses wore between 1995
and 2011 (itself based on the old Zeb-
bug & Siggiewi livery).
Three early 1950s Thames ET7 and
two Bedford OB are currently in service.
A fourth Thames ET7 will be on the
roads from January, with a 1950 Comer
due later in the year once its rebuild is
completed.
