By Times of Malta
A hundred new buses have been bought by Malta Public Transport in a €28m investment to replace older vehicles. The company said on Wednesday that this investment goes beyond the requirements laid down in its concession agreement with the government and reflected its commitment to delivering a cleaner, safer and more comfortable public transport system. “As we mark ten years of service in Malta, this investment reflects our long-term vision to modernise public transport and lead the way in sustainable mobility. Over the years, we have invested more than €120 million in our fleet, a clear sign of our ongoing commitment to modernising the fleet, reducing our environmental impact, and improving the quality for those who rely on our services,” company chairman Felipe Cosmen said. The company said the buses are equipped with modern camera systems that replace traditional mirrors, offering better visibility for drivers and enhancing overall safety on the road. In addition, the vehicles benefit from new accident prevention technology such as pedestrian collision warnings, blind spot monitoring, lane-departure alerts, driver fatigue detection and speed limit warning systems. The buses feature upgraded driver seats with integrated heating and cooling systems. For passengers, the new fleet has a two-door design to allow quicker boarding and alighting, and includes USB and USB-C charging ports along with larger digital onboard screens that provide real-time travel information. The new buses are diesel powered with a Euro 6 emissions classification, an improvement on the Euro 5 buses they replace.. Last December, Malta Public Transport said a government decision to withdraw EU funds earmarked for the bus service meant that plans to electrify Malta’s bus fleet could not go ahead. Malta was set to receive €34 million from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund to replace 102 diesel buses with electric vehicles and a further €7 million in Connecting Europe funding to build EV charging points for buses.