Goodbye Malta buses

On 3 July 2011, the giant Arriva group took over the operation of all scheduled bus services on Malta. This ended decades of varied and interesting operations on the island, which were mostly in the hands of unusual and.or ageing vehicles. To commemorate their replacement, here's a snapshot of some of the vehicles which could be found on the island until prior to the handover.
Pictures were taken by me over two four-day periods in February and June of 2011. Becuase of this, the set is by no means complete, and some types are unrepresented.
Thanks to copyright I couldn't use the music I wanted - Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. - so a cover version by Marcia Hines is here instead. I hope you enjoy the video anyway.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Malta
• Bus
• Arriva
• AEC
• Albion
• BMC
• Dodge
• Ford
• Leyland
• Volvo

[1stREMESquaddie]

Growing up in the fifties in Malta we had buses with different colours that represented each little town ,and driving was very competitive, encouraged by the school children aboard. Most exciting part of the school day. Those buses were all diesel, with huge American engines , by Dodge and others. I do not see one of them in this video.

[stephenrgow]

@1stREMESquaddie There are a few Dodges in there, including some that date from that era, but by the time I got there they were few and far between, and had mostly been rebodied so they probably wouldn't look the same anyway. I wish now that I'd gone more often, although only being 18 I would have missed the most interesting times anyway. Thanks for sharing your memories!

[Kitfugl]

Oh what a crazy world... I am preserving one at the moment, a bus from Malta..

[stephenrgow]

@Kitfugl Now that is impressive. I sit here taking pictures and putting them together while you're out there doing something to make sure that at least some of these buses live on. Good luck! Out of interest, which bus is it?

[Kitfugl]

@stephenrgow Not sure which yet, are conferencing about it tomorrow, by phone. :-)

[stephenrgow]

@Kitfugl I forgot to ask, have you made any progress on this?

[ok69severin]

Great slide ... greetings from Romania

[Puertorico161]

Why something so traditional in a country need to be change it, have a museum, those buses looks so cool.

[gabrimitn]

Bellissimo video! Sono stato a Malta dal 5 di luglio... Speravo di vedere i vecchi bus Maltesi ma erano già stati sostituiti da Arriva-MT... è stata una grande delusione per me dato che sono appassionato di Autobus, Tram, Treni e di tutti i mezzi di trasporto pubblico... anche in Lombardia (dove vivio io) c'è Arriva-Italia, e in molti altri posti del Nord Italia...

[gabrimitn]

beautifull video! I were in Malta since 5 of July... I whished to see the old malta busses, but, on that date they were be replaced from Arriva yet... it was be a big delusion for me because I'm a fan of Busses, Tram, Trains and all means of public transport... there is arriva in Lombardy too (my place), and in some other places in the north of Italy... Sorry for the english - I hope that you understand my post :)

[lotwyo]

Okay, those buses were "quaint", but unsafe, outdated, polluting. Thank God they got rid of them.

[billywizz43]

Has anybody thought about the drivers take on the change over.Is it going to be any better or worse?I know they have much better modern buses to drive with A.C. Power steering.etc.I think the old system was small operators working together.Lets not forget the fitters who did a splendid job just keeping his buses on the roads for all them years,gear boxes,engines worn out.Fantastic!!!

[maltikburi2]

great video mate...check out mine on the same subject too :)

Farewell Malta's Yellow Buses !!

missing you :(

[sandmansam1965]

I vist Malta several times a year and always used the old buses to get around - strikes me the new company offers fewer routes at higher prices - watch out for these second hand london bendy buses have a habit of catching fire if not well maintained.