Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540090
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 OCTOBER 2025 NEWS 7.5 million trips in August Transport Ministry and MPT on overcrowding This impression was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Transport Minis- try. "From our observations we note that certain routes tend to experience a high demand during specific times of the day. These also tend to be very seasonal." The spokesperson explained that route and frequency updates take place to al- leviate such occurrences. "For example, during the summer a number of routes, often characterised by higher tourist pa- tronage, see their frequencies increase." This was also confirmed by passengers, who report that during the busiest peri- ods full buses are often followed by less crowded buses serving the same routes within minutes. MaltaToday also asked Malta Public Transport, the company operating the buses, about reports of passengers being asked to board from the middle door and whether this practice was allowed. The spokesperson did not directly address this query but explained the context. As from 1 July 2025, Malta Public Trans- port has withdrawn all single-door buses from service and replaced them with 100 new buses equipped with two doors. According to MPT, this upgrade is al- ready making a noticeable difference to passenger flow. "Passengers are increas- ingly making use of the rear door to exit, which is helping to reduce crowding at the front of the bus compared with pre- vious years." Furthermore, to further support pas- sengers during peak travel times, the company said it is also deploying more employees to provide support at busy bus stops by assisting with boarding and pro- viding guidance where needed. "Malta Public Transport periodically also promotes positive passenger behav- iour, with informational campaigns to encourage passengers to move further inside the bus and make better use of the available space, with the aim of providing a more comfortable and efficient journey for everyone." The company also explained that apart from the 100 new replacement buses, it invested in an additional 60 new buses between 2024 and 2025 and continues to invest in improving quality with another two electric buses put in service earlier this month. But faced with passengers who stubbornly refused to budge, some drivers resort to telling passengers to enter from the exit door in the middle of the bus after swiping their Tallinja card at the front