WATCH: Malta Public Transport announces 400 additional daily bus trips

Malta Public Transport is introducing 400 additional daily trips along with new routes, a government statement read.

This marks the beginning of the implementation of measures from the Reshaping our Mobility initiative, it said.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett said that as of 20 April, 400 additional trips will be introduced daily, along with new routes and significant changes to the Malta Public Transport network, it said.

This forms part of a carefully planned strategy to enhance efficiency, expand the network’s coverage, and better meet the aspirations and needs of communities and commuters, it said.

“These changes are the result of an extensive consultation process with the public, local councils, representatives of economic operators in industrial areas, as well as social partners,” Bonett said.

He said that these changes are based on three main principles: keeping routes as direct as possible to improve efficiency, providing service to workers in industrial zones, and improving connectivity to educational institutions.

Bonett said that these reforms are being introduced at a time when public transport usage continues to increase.

“Public transport in Malta can and should be a pillar of modern mobility, offering a reliable, safe, and sustainable alternative for everyone. This important measure marks the beginning of our plan to provide solutions to the mobility needs of the Maltese and Gozitan people,” Bonett said.

General Manager of Malta Public Transport Konrad Pule said that this improvement required an expenditure of €6 million to acquire 25 new buses, which have started to be introduced into service in recent weeks.

“Due to the nature of the direct services we are introducing, we decided, together with the authorities, to use slightly different buses than those we’re used to seeing on Malta and Gozo routes,” Pule said.

“We felt these buses would be more suitable, as they offer more seating instead of standing space, additional storage for bags and even luggage compartments, along with free Wi-Fi and USB chargers at each seat,” Pule said.

Director within the Land Transport Directorate at Transport Malta Ivan Pierre Vella said that the introduction of new routes and increased frequency of public transport trips demonstrates a strong commitment to encourage more people to use this mode of transport.

“The fact that we have introduced new and specific routes for a number of areas shows how focused we are on providing different alternatives that complement various routines involving a large number of people,” Vella said.

He said that as statistics show, year after year, more people are using public transport.

“Therefore, the commitment of the Transport Authority will continue to increase to ensure more people use this free service,” Vella said.

The main changes include new routes in several important areas, including industrial zones, modifications to existing routes to reach residential zones previously not covered by the service, increased frequency on several popular routes, earlier trips to better serve workers and students, and adjustments in timing to better match the daily lives of communities.

In March 2025, the number of passengers using public transport increased by almost 11% compared to the same period last year, the statement said.

From January to date, the number of public transport trips increased by 7.7% compared to the same period last year, a record year with over 75 million trips, it said.

Details about the changes and new routes that will come into effect from 20 April:

• Route 82, which currently operates between Birżebbuġa and Valletta, will see an increase in frequency from 5 trips per hour (during peak times) to 6 trips per hour.
• Two of these trips per hour will be extended from Birżebbuġa to Ħal Far. These extended trips will operate under the route number 82B. Notably, this route will now cover a wider area in Ħal Far (a part that was previously not served by public transport).
• It will also pass through Triq Għar Dalam on its way from Birżebbuġa, thus serving another previously unserved area. Additionally, this route will now provide a convenient interchange point in Paola, a connection that currently does not exist.
• Route 119, which operates between Marsascala and the Airport via Marsaxlokk, Żejtun, Birżebbuġa, and Ħal Far, will see the addition of an early morning trip. This trip will also cover more of Ħal Far and is primarily intended to help workers reach their workplace on time.
• Route 205 is a new service that will operate every half hour during peak times. This route will run between Birżebbuġa and the Marsa Park & Ride, passing through Ħal Far, the Airport, and St Vincent De Paul Residence.
• Route X4 will be discontinued.
• Another route undergoing changes is Route 88, which will increase in frequency from 2 trips per hour and will also be extended to the Airport.
• To facilitate student travel from areas such as Siġġiewi, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Ħal Qormi, Żurrieq, Mqabba, and Qrendi to the Higher Secondary School in Naxxar, a new service will be launched under Route 207. This route will operate between Marsa Park & Ride and the Naxxar institution with two morning trips and two afternoon return trips.
• Route 83, which serves between Santa Luċija and Valletta, will increase in frequency from two to three trips per hour during peak times.
• A new hourly service will connect the Kordin industrial zone with Paola, effectively covering nearly the entire area.
• There will be changes to the connectivity between Ċirkewwa and the University / Mater Dei, as well as to Valletta. The existing X300 route between Ċirkewwa and the University / Mater Dei will be renumbered to X299. A new route, numbered X300, will be introduced to operate between
• Ċirkewwa, the University/Mater Dei, and Valletta. This route will travel along the Coast Road, offering more direct trips to Valletta from the northern part of Malta. It will operate every half hour during peak times.
• Route 208 is another new route set to launch this coming Sunday. It will operate every half hour (during peak times) between the Airport and Mater Dei. This route will further strengthen the connection between Marsa Park & Ride, St Vincent De Paul Residence, and the surrounding industrial areas.
• Starting from 4 May, two additional industrial zones, San Ġwann and Ħal Farruġ, will see improvements in public transport service.
• Ten routes will feature earlier morning trips to allow workers in the San Ġwann industrial zone to reach work on time. These routes are 22, 204, 209, 210, 218, 182, 280, 260, 250, and 31. Collectively, these early trips will cover over 50 localities or zones in Malta.
• Route 74, which passes through the Ħal Farruġ industrial zone, will experience an increase in frequency to better meet the needs of workers in the area.
• Four new routes operating under Tallinja Direct have come into effect, linking several localities to the airport: Route TD1 operates hourly between Ċirkewwa, Qawra and Buġibba, Rabat, and the Airport, Route TD2 operates every half hour between St Julian’s and the Airport, Route TD3, recently introduced, offers a direct connection between Sliema and the Airport, Route TD4 provides a direct service between Valletta and the Airport, TD3 and TD4 operate with a frequency of every half hour.
• Routes X2 and X3 will also undergo some changes. Route X2 will no longer serve the hospital/university, with its final stop now being Paola. It will be renumbered to 211. Route X3 will not change in terms of route but will be renumbered to 214.
• Route X1 will be discontinued.