Malta Public Transport provider Tallinja allows passengers to book their bus seats on one of the new premium buses through their updated Tallinja App, according to a Malta Public Transport press statement. Malta Public Transport partnered with Ecolane for this service.
The service is available every day between 05:30 and 22:30 on the so-called TD Plus bus. It operates at a limited number of bus stops to be able to offer customers a shorter journey time. These stops are in the following localities: Valletta, Floriana, Pietà, Blata l-Bajda, Msida, San Ġwann, St. Julian’s, Swieqi and Pembroke.
TD Plus allows clients to choose when and where to be picked up from and dropped off. Therefore individuals can book a trip between bus stops without worrying about whether there is space in the bus. Moreover, notifications are sent to alert app users that the bus is on its way.
Every customer has the possibility to book multiple passengers on a single trip and request access for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
The TD Plus fleet includes six new minibuses, which are low floor and fully wheelchair accessible. WiFi is available at no additional cost and seats are equipped with USB charging ports. The minibuses can accommodate up to 16 passengers, according to the press statement.
New tech system
The updated Tallinja app can be downloaded for free from the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play Store. Once in the app, the new service is available by tapping on the TD plus icon.
To provide this service, Malta Public Transport has partnered with Ecolane, an on-demand scheduling and dispatching software company.
In fact, TD Plus uses technology that matches the requests made by different passengers to select the most efficient route. It offers greater flexibility, more comfort and added value while saving time, the service provider says.
During the month of June — as a special introductory offer — the service will be available at €2 per trip when the customer books through the Tallinja App, as the press statement says. The two payment options are Tallinja Card credit or debit/credit card.