Comments on: How long before Autobuses de Leon pack up and leave too?

By: Roger Hunt

Roger Hunt — Fri, 15 May 2015 09:08:00 +0000

It’s true – there must be something in this, as there is still no autobus signage on any buses as far as I can see and if anyone can see anything different nothing on the Tal-Linja website? Ref just to Malta Transport. Starting to look fishy this….

https://www.tallinja.com

By: M'ghadux Kburi li Malti

M'ghadux Kburi li Malti — Fri, 15 May 2015 08:36:00 +0000

If they leave too it won’t be a good thing for Malta. Like it wasn’t a good thing when Arriva left.

The subsidy the government is now paying to them is higher than what Arriva was getting.

Malta’s reputation was also tarnished in the process, with most international companies receiving the message loud and clear: “It doesn’t make sense to try to take over a puny business in Malta dealing with barbarians who think they always know best”.

My guess is that Alesa wouldn’t want to brand its buses like Arriva did and tarnish its reputation because it learnt from Arriva’s mistake and is wary of dealing with the Maltese.

By: Watcher

Watcher — Fri, 15 May 2015 07:52:00 +0000

In reply to Alexander_Ball. And that would be the second envelop. Do you think Arriva left without a big kiss and hug and waving goodbye to dear Joe Mizzi?

By: Peter Grech

Peter Grech — Fri, 15 May 2015 07:48:00 +0000

In reply to Neil Dent. NO THANKS (caps intended as well)

By: antoine farrugia (skultur)

antoine farrugia (skultur) — Fri, 15 May 2015 07:16:00 +0000

Hallas poplu…. ghax dak li ridt :/

By: PWG

PWG — Thu, 14 May 2015 22:19:00 +0000

In reply to peter sanga. It's a strategy. Labour had made sure that Arriva was maligned at every turn and the mere mention of the name came to represent by many, all that was supposedly wrong with the Nationalists. Labour does not want the tables turned.

By: Le pauvre homme

Le pauvre homme — Thu, 14 May 2015 21:25:00 +0000

In reply to saggio. . . . and of course, he's brilliant at that. NOT.

By: Superman

Superman — Thu, 14 May 2015 20:12:00 +0000

In reply to Bob-a-job. I had overheard someone saying a similar thing - I didn't hear a reference to a number of operators but they were a Maltese operator for sure

By: Watcher

Watcher — Thu, 14 May 2015 19:28:00 +0000

In reply to PWG.

Arriva wanted out. It could not take it any longer.

The PL/GWU tandem had made it the enemy of the people.

So, applying the principle of ‘don’t let a good opportunity pass you by’, they went along with Muscat’s wish for Arriva to become an Andata and leave Malta.

They left very quietly, without any complaints, and, I would say, a big smile on Arriva’s CEO’s face, like the tiger of Riga:

There once was a lady from Riga
who rode with a smile on a tiger.
They came back from the ride
with the lady inside
and the smile on the face of the tiger.

By: Bob-a-job

Bob-a-job — Thu, 14 May 2015 18:58:00 +0000

Over a year back I was assured that the transport contract would go jointly to a number of Maltese large private bus & coach operators.

There was therefore understandable surprise when this local group didn’t complain when Joe Mizzi went to Spain to deal directly with Autobuses de Leon.

When the Autobuses de Leon retained the name Malta Public Transport without a logo indicating Autobuses de Leon, the operator Alesa or the parent company Alsa, the suspicion that my source may have been right after all has been strengthened.