The other issue of course relates to discussion about having a foreign company and all the negatives and positives associated with that. Malta runs its own airline, surely it could manage a bus company. Preferably two competing to keep them on their toes.

[Daphne – Malta’s airline is state-owned. Please don’t say you are suggesting that the state now begins operating a bus service too, perhaps even in competition with the private sector, so that we can have two.]

They would of course have every right to object. But..you pay peanuts you usually get monkeys.

Malta’s bus services are super cheap compared with the rest of the “fully developed economies”. I think your NO is not based on any factual evidence, Daphne. A survey may provide some evidence.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090916/local/bus-owners-in-bid-for-tender.273517#.Um1m19I_va8

http://www.newspress.fr/Communique_EN_220917_4066.aspx

They all utilise small vans… Yes more staff and more costs… But very effective.

[Daphne – Their public transport is among the most expensive in the world, Raphael. Are bus commuters in Malta going to pay Singapore and Hong Kong ticket-prices? No. And they would be right to object.]

If or when it pulls out under government ‘assault’, this will have a negative impact on Malta’s image with other investors and potential investors.

Ordinary people will not be aware of the negative impact but the ones in power will have to dance to the music when the going gets tough.

“This is the same scenario that was set up and executed by Mintoff to take over the National Bank of Malta, the air services and the ground services operated by Malta Airlines, and later on and in slightly modified form to drive Barclays Bank out of Malta.”

You forgot to mention Redifusion/MTV which became Xandir Malta and Cable and Wireless.

Once the commuter did not take to the circular routes the alternative was to increase the number of buses, obviously at a cost. The extra cost has to either be borne by the government or by the commuter.

Plan B, if it doesn’t contemplate an increase in fares, can only mean lowering the standard of the buses drastically. Perhaps Times of Malta, instead of stoking the fire, should have suggested some practical solutions.

My feelings exactly.

Perhaps its just a case of Stockholm Syndrome that Progress Press has for PL. Or perhaps, they could see the inevitable turning of the tide and decided to hedge their bets, lest they suffer the fury of the sons of the thugs who burnt their offices in the not so distant past.

As for the comment that Arriva “is not going anywhere”, I too felt that this was a well thought comment, rather ominous at that, which for once was meant to speak volumes. Very much do I fear that the bus service may be nationalised, with the service then being passed on to the next in line for an iced bun… those drivers who caused havoc in the first week are still very much deserving of a pat on the shoulder and a few quid in their pockets.