Buses in Malta

[Tony]

Yesterday's paper says the government are taking over the buses:-

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Government-to-purchase-Arriva-buses-20131223

Patrick.

And have sold all the bendibuses to the Sudan!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140218/local/bendy-buses-to-be-shipped-to-sudan.507334#.UwO_HooHnew.facebook

[PM]

And a company in Malta is advertising in this week's route one for recent low floor single deckers...

[winston]

NX group Spanish subsidiary ALSA is part of a consortium that submitted a Euro 70 Million bid on Monday to operate the Maltese bus routes formally run by Arriva

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-04-10/news/70-million-to-run-public-transport-4578050048/

[winston]

Autobuses de Leon still appear to be favourite to run Malta Bus Services (Autobuses de Leon are a bus subsidiary of NX owned ALSA)

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140730/local/bidders-surprise-as-minister-announces-talks-with-rival-bidder-for-bus-service.529902

[winston]

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-08-23/news/island-buses-will-not-appeal-choice-of-preferred-bidder-6307545088/

[winston]

It seems that despite the injunction from Island Bus, the contract award to Autobuses de León (an ALSA subsidiary) has been upheld.

The new contract is due to start from 8th Jan, with 142 new buses due by summer 2015. It appears NX involvement is being kept low key by it not being awarded to ALSA directly, but instead a subsidiary.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-12-20/local-news/Autobuses-de-Leon-awarded-the-contract-to-operate-Malta-and-Gozo-scheduled-bus-services-6736127656

[Liverpool Street]

It seems that despite the injunction from Island Bus, the contract award to Autobuses de León (an ALSA subsidiary) has been upheld.

The new contract is due to start from 8th Jan, with 142 new buses due by summer 2015. It appears NX involvement is being kept low key by it not being awarded to ALSA directly, but instead a subsidiary.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-12-20/local-news/Autobuses-de-Leon-awarded-the-contract-to-operate-Malta-and-Gozo-scheduled-bus-services-6736127656

142 buses on an island the size of a shoe?

[winston]

It seems that despite the injunction from Island Bus, the contract award to Autobuses de León (an ALSA subsidiary) has been upheld.

The new contract is due to start from 8th Jan, with 142 new buses due by summer 2015. It appears NX involvement is being kept low key by it not being awarded to ALSA directly, but instead a subsidiary.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-12-20/local-news/Autobuses-de-Leon-awarded-the-contract-to-operate-Malta-and-Gozo-scheduled-bus-services-6736127656

142 buses on an island the size of a shoe?

Arriva Malta had 264 on there, so the 142 new buses due will no get shot of the King Longs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_bus

[Liverpool Street]

Meh. Bring back the driver-owned operation I say! I loved Malta when it was all Bedfords and Leylands and the like!

I expect the operation will be spread across to Gozo too?

[winston]

Meh. Bring back the driver-owned operation I say! I loved Malta when it was all Bedfords and Leylands and the like!

I expect the operation will be spread across to Gozo too?

You've got more chance of a fleet of E200's....

Yes, it includes Gozo too

[Liverpool Street]

Meh. Bring back the driver-owned operation I say! I loved Malta when it was all Bedfords and Leylands and the like!

I expect the operation will be spread across to Gozo too?

You've got more chance of a fleet of E200's....

Yes, it includes Gozo too

Unfortunately Winston... You actually might be correct.

[winston]

You've got more chance of a fleet of E200's....

Yes, it includes Gozo too

Unfortunately Winston... You actually might be correct.

If they did turn out to be E200's, I bet you've got everything crossed that they get washed over board on delivery..... Can't see ADL supplying any of the new buses tbh

Autobuses de León seem to favour Citaro's:
http://zetaestaticos.com/leon/img/noticias/0/631/631965_1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1vlwgP9T4Y/TWd4P9oGN_I/AAAAAAAAAEs/QqCfjkGcQUk/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG

Whilst deliveries of new buses to ALSA for operation in Agadir & the latest Tangiers, Morocco all appear to be Scania/Tata-Hispano
https://terriermichel.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/p1080060.jpg
http://tanger.madeinmedina.com/fr/article-alsa-les-nouveaux-bus-sont-en-retard-4342.html
http://www.lejournaldetanger.com/images/visuels/articles/article_4827_Sans%20titre-21.jpg
http://tanja7.com/image/AlsaTanger4.jpg

[Liverpool Street]

Oh I only hazarded a guess as really its something from NX if it boils right down to point, and we all know which manufacturer is in whos pockets! And yes, I hope they all fall off the container ship. Only thing those E200's are good for is a possible plastic manufactured coral reef or a very large toy in a fish bowl!!! Sorry for my hatred of all things E200 but my god are those buses shit.

And yeah probably will be something Scania orientated; probably easier to source parts from neighbouring shorelines.

[Liberator9]

Haha!  ;D Love your comment LS regarding the E200s!

Well Malta are more than welcome to take a few of the Enviro 200s off our hands! Why we could not have Wrights/Volvo B8RLE or Citaros, which are both decent quality buses - just look at the B10L/Wright combos which have worked excellently!

Is they prefer Scania orientated buses - perhaps this would fit the bill:

http://www.scania.co.uk/products/buses-coaches/bus-range/irizar-i3/ 

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Irizar%20i3%20Scania
http://www.route-one.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Scania-Irizar-i3.jpg

Built for the UK market, euro 6 and Scania built aside from the body. Looks a really nice bus I must say. Recently launched and probably could do with some orders coming in.

[winston]

Courtesy Of Yahoo group (uk-bus-fleetnews)

It appears a batch of up to 30 x 3 door 56/57 plate Merc Citaros currently with OmniServ on Airside transfer work at Heathrow Airport (formerly with NSL) & currently being replaced by brand new 3 door E200's, will be heading to Malta after having their offside doors removed.