Free bus service begins, with commuters positive about the change

Bus commuters were positive on Saturday, as public bus rides became free for all residents of Malta.

Malta pledged to make buses free during last year's budget. It is the second country in Europe, after Luxembourg, to make buses free for all residents. All routes - standard, night and specialised - are now free-of-charge for residents. Residents must possess a valid Tallinja bus card to travel for free. Anyone without a Tallinja card must purchase a valid ticket.  Catching the bus towards Valletta on Saturday morning, Times of Malta encountered no issues when boarding and a simple tap of the Tallinja card did not drain any of the card's remaining funds from its balance. In the leadup to the switchover, registrations for new Tallinja cards rose by some 50 per cent, a spokesperson for Malta Public Transport told Times of Malta. “We usually have an average of about 4,000 registration per month but in September there were over 6,700 new registrations,” she said.

Video: Jonathan Borg

At the bus terminus in Valletta, a number of people said they felt positive about the free service, with some saying it would leave some more money in their pocket at the end of the month. “I think...