Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson on Energy, Industry and Transport, said that the tit-for-tat on the public transport service between PL and PN spokespersons and the impression given by the PN that public transport can come ‘cheap’ is a disservice to commuters and to the concept of public transport in general.

“It is patently obvious that the previous government went for cost cutting at the expense of a reliable bus service. We all know about the very long routes and the lack of buses which plagued the service from the very beginning.

“It is simply unheard of that a efficient public transport system can be run without adequate public funding – a well planned and well financed system, with action to reduce traffic to and from congested zones and the increase in spaces given back to the public, will lead to benefits which are well worth the investment. Society is ignoring the congestion, pollution and noise caused by traffic at its own peril.”

Ralph Cassar added: ”Government must make a choice: either an efficient public transport system or more congestion and more car parks, which in turn lead to even more congestion.

“It is also worrying to hear the Nationalist Party hinting that public transport is a burden on taxpayers, this just shows that they have not understood a thing about sustainable mobility. A quick look at the Transport for London’s website shows that while annual fare revenue is around 4,000 million pound sterling, grants from government amount to around 2,000 million pounds sterling annually. The fares in London are quite high, and still to provide the level of service, with all its benefits, substantial investment is needed annually.”