Arriva signs contract to operate buses in Malta

Leading European bus and train operator Arriva is preparing to start operations in Malta after the successful conclusion of negotiations with Transport Malta and the Maltese Government.

The Arriva Malta consortium, with local partner Tumas Group plc, has signed a 10-year contract to provide scheduled bus services in Malta and Gozo. Arriva will operate 264 buses and employ around 920 people.

Speaking at a ceremony in Malta at the Cottonera Waterfront in Vittoriosa, Arriva chief executive David Martin said: "To be the operator chosen to deliver transport reform in Malta is a great honour and an exciting opportunity to deliver the world class transport system that residents and visitors to this beautiful island deserve. Arriva and our consortium partner, Tumas, have the skills and expertise to make that vision a reality.

"Now that the contract is signed, we will be starting our preparations to put the new transport services in place. There is a lot to prepare, but I have every confidence that we are the right people to do it and our team here will do us proud. We are committed to delivering great change in Malta and are very much looking forward to starting operations on 3 July 2011."

At the contract signing event, Mr Martin gave a brief presentation to guests on Arriva and its excellent track record of delivering high quality bus, rail, tram and waterbus operations across 11 countries in Europe.

Mr Martin said: "Our expertise and experience of improving operational standards, customer service, passenger satisfaction and of course employee satisfaction is second to none and we are looking forward to replicating this success in Malta."

Notes to editors

• The Arriva Malta consortium brings together Arriva plc, a leading European transport services provider with substantial, proven experience of delivering change in 11 European countries and the Tumas Group plc, a strong Maltese partner with a proven track record of working with the public sector.
• Arriva is one of the largest private sector providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing 38,500 people (including share of associate companies) and providing more than one billion passenger journeys every year.
  
• Arriva provides transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and water buses, and operates in 11 European countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.