Those of you who have ever ventured to Malta will remember the Yellow/ Orange/ white coloured buses. The old Bedford design buses, often imported from the UK, right hand drive for driving on the left, the legacy of British governance. Some of the buses used on a daily basis are from the 1950s, a lot of others from the 1970s, one we saw was originally a coach from Powys, Wales.
A few 1950âs vintage buses remain, immaculately presented by their proud owners. The buses have permanently open doorways which lead to bench seats, narrow isles, single glazed windows and leather hand straps dangling from the ceiling next to pull cords to a bell.
The drivers grapple with heavy steering, almost certainly not power assisted, their legs doing a heavy dance on the huge pedals of clutch, break, accelerator and with a change of gear comes a pirouette.
When we visited some years ago we saw buses which had personalised interiors above the windscreen. Many heavily decorated with religious memorabilia,, rosaries, psalms, photos of family members and previous buses etc. Sadly these have nearly all now been removed.
The buses cost a flat rate of 47 cents to most places on the island, however, all routes lead to and from Valletta, which is fun only if you have the time. The interior signs state the number of standing and sitting passengers this never bears any relationship to the actual experience sitting yes, as we havent witnessed anyone sitting on others laps—standing forget it !!
The driver s never leave anyone standing at a bus stop. The Maltese people patiently and calmly continue to squash along the one person wide aisle until the incoming people are accommodated—- and this goes on and on…………….
We recently used a bus on an airport route. Passenger s and their cases filled the aisles and the call for us to move along became more and more squashed to the point of being funny.
Another stop—— and a nun got on followed by four other people— by this time three of us were standing in the drivers space and Tony stood in the stairwell.
During the journey I genuinely saw two people at different times cross themselves as we hurdled along over the most bumpy, treacherous pot-holes whilst people chatted away to old and new friends—-a calm acceptance of a normal bus ride!!!
Many of the 1970âs buses are old and breaking inside and now often neglected. The suspensions, long since given up all hope of cushioning the blows to the passengers.
Health and safety ? Whats that? But whether safe or not, no one is left at a bus stop or rarely— and people jostle pleasantly with one another to find seats for new people and gently prize themselves through the crowds to escape through the open doors.
The government has recently purchased all of the buses from the individual owners. In July brand new buses will replace all of the old ones. Progress or not ?? On one very old bus, a very nice elderly Maltese lady chatted to us about her years of using the buses. She was delighted that new buses would be introduced rather than riding in this chicken pen.
Perhaps we dont have to ride on them too often and so the novelty is there— whilst we can appreciate the need for progress it seems that a sense of great history will be lost when these old working buses are scrapped.
We are told that a few of the beautifully clean and preserved examples of vintage buses may be saved as a tourist attraction on selected routes—–Lets hope ?
Below a selection of photos of Maltese buses —interiors/exteriors,
Love to all
Tina and Tony x x
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