Arriva and the death of interesting Maltese buses.
Discussion
It would seem that the march of EU "progress" continues apace in Malta. The German owned company Arriva are set to commence running dreadful Mercedes bendy buses around the two islands.
So, gone will be the bright interesting buses that lots of tourists and locals love, in will sweep the latest bit of EU led bland-i-fication.
I Love Malta, I loved the buses because they were a different to the ones in the rest of bloody Europe, the future will look like a street in Hull or Berlin or any of the other places running identikit public service vehicles.
w
kers.
So, gone will be the bright interesting buses that lots of tourists and locals love, in will sweep the latest bit of EU led bland-i-fication.
I Love Malta, I loved the buses because they were a different to the ones in the rest of bloody Europe, the future will look like a street in Hull or Berlin or any of the other places running identikit public service vehicles.
w
kers.
There are some ace potholed narrow twisty bits. There are some nice wide bits too but buses don't just go on the wide bits !
The old buses were clunky and loud, bright and were just brilliant, you had the choice to go on the newer ones if you wanted but each time I went I actively sought out the older more rattly ones.
As I understood it all the buses were owned by individuals so god knows what is happening to the poor sods who have been told that Arriva now do the buses here so fk off.
The old buses were clunky and loud, bright and were just brilliant, you had the choice to go on the newer ones if you wanted but each time I went I actively sought out the older more rattly ones.
As I understood it all the buses were owned by individuals so god knows what is happening to the poor sods who have been told that Arriva now do the buses here so f
k off.ninja-lewis said:
Comments on Maltese sites suggest those who use and live with the old buses everyday are glad to see the back of them.
Oh, I am sure they are not loved all over but the point is that visitors loved them and the island lives by tourism. If they sanitise the place too much people will simply seek out the next place that is unspoilt and has that interest factor, the only tourists who will visit are the £1 out the back of the daily red top lot. nice.ninja-lewis said:
Comments on Maltese sites suggest those who use and live with the old buses everyday are glad to see the back of them.
Until the fares go up?Those buses were also a great tourist attraction, I took loads of photos, trying to get the whole range of marques and models in.
Oh well, no longer the fun of diesel fumes, condensed windows and a driver talking to a mate, long live the conformity of the EU.
You agree, citizen?
Very sad news. Haven't been to Malta for a few years but I loved the buses, many of which were decorated by the owner / drivers inside and out. There were some great old Ford and Bedford models not seen on the roads in the UK for many years. I once spent an afternoon in the middle of Valetta with a video camera filming them, much to the amusement of my family. 
No doubt the EU will be along to ban these too.
Directive 35677343/6/Malboat/bonkers
"All pleasure boats must be a uniform grey to fit in with the image of the EU. And may no longer be called pleasure boats as the name implies fun, which is contrary to the ideals and objectives of the EU".
Directive 35677343/6/Malboat/bonkers
"All pleasure boats must be a uniform grey to fit in with the image of the EU. And may no longer be called pleasure boats as the name implies fun, which is contrary to the ideals and objectives of the EU".
Pesty said:
More character than modern busses I'll give you that but if I was in Malta they would get around 10 seconds of my attention.
Busses don;t really do anything for me can;t say i would ever go somewhere just because they had old busses.
If you were intereted in old buses you would have been to Malta, I have been 3 times and the buses added to the fun and appeal to me.Busses don;t really do anything for me can;t say i would ever go somewhere just because they had old busses.
Pesty said:
More character than modern busses I'll give you that but if I was in Malta they would get around 10 seconds of my attention.
Busses don't really do anything for me can't say I would ever go somewhere just because they had old busses.
It's worth a week of holiday, not just for the buses, although better see them before they're gone.Busses don't really do anything for me can't say I would ever go somewhere just because they had old busses.
Edited by Pesty on Thursday 23 June 23:57
A tiny island with a history that is at the heart of much of all European history.
Fortifications erected by many invaders and Valleta harbour is amazing.
Then too, Faith Hope and Charity and visit the museums, one showing where the inhabitants sheltered during WW2.
They'll have to train the drivers.
The chap used his mobile throughout the journey. He also texted on it. We went through one village with twisty roads and he was glancing down at it every couple of seconds. Not fun.
Whilst the buses add a bit for the tourists I would imagine that if you had to use them day to day for commuting they would get a bit irritating.
Can't say I was overwhelmed with Malta. I don't think I got the right change once. It seemed everyone was out to con you. Everything took twice as long to buy as one argued with the seller. It got to the stage where, if I didn't have the right change, I would either not buy it or else get something else to bring the price up to where I could pay the exact amount.
The chap used his mobile throughout the journey. He also texted on it. We went through one village with twisty roads and he was glancing down at it every couple of seconds. Not fun.
Whilst the buses add a bit for the tourists I would imagine that if you had to use them day to day for commuting they would get a bit irritating.
Can't say I was overwhelmed with Malta. I don't think I got the right change once. It seemed everyone was out to con you. Everything took twice as long to buy as one argued with the seller. It got to the stage where, if I didn't have the right change, I would either not buy it or else get something else to bring the price up to where I could pay the exact amount.
Arriva run out local busesses 'srevice' (now much pared down) with ratty old knackers.
I frequently see the 825 from Rugeley to Stafford stranded due to mechanicals. Of course you never generally find out what's gone wrong, except for the one occasion where, prior to arriving at the scene of a very smokey and stationary bus, I'd narrowly avoided running over a con-rond on the exit of the preceding roundabout.
I wonder if they'll be bringing nice new busses to the Shire too?
I frequently see the 825 from Rugeley to Stafford stranded due to mechanicals. Of course you never generally find out what's gone wrong, except for the one occasion where, prior to arriving at the scene of a very smokey and stationary bus, I'd narrowly avoided running over a con-rond on the exit of the preceding roundabout.
I wonder if they'll be bringing nice new busses to the Shire too?
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