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The Maltese Bus - End of an Era
In
Malta
on
the
2nd
July
2011
almost
100
years
of
public
transport
history
came
to
an
end
when
the
island’s
privately
owned
bus
routes
finished
forever.
They
were
replaced
the
following
morning
by
a
completely
new
system
of
seventy
one
routes
operated
by
Arriva.
This two disc video programme records the events leading up to end of an era in chronological order. On disc one we start on the evening of Thursday 30th June in the seaside resort of Sliema, where some of the busiest routes operate through here carrying mostly holiday makers. A number of the old favourites are in service with standing loads just as they always have done.
We start our filming on Friday morning in Valletta at the busy cross roads of Triq Sarria and Triq L –Assedju L-Kbir, before moving into the Triton Fountain bus station that would also be replaced by a brand new one against the city walls. The bus station is always busy with most types of traditional Maltese buses operating alongside the familiar former UK vehicles such as London AEC Swifts, Bristol LHs, Bedfords with Duple and Plaxton bodies to name but a few adding to the colourful mix of vehicles. We also observe some of the new Arriva vehicles on driver training and familiarisation duties. From the hustle and bustle of Valletta we move to the pretty town of Mellieha to film the buses traversing the hairpin bends leading to the town. Then it is down to the coast at St. Paul’s Bay to see buses in action along the narrow streets. We return to Valletta for the evening at the bus station.
Disc
two
is
all
about
the
final
day.
Saturday
2nd
July.
Filming
starts
at
the
busy
Triton
Fountain
bus
station,
where
it
is
hard
to
believe
that
this
will
be
the
last
time
ever
that
these
scenes
will
be
witnessed.
Our
cameras
move
along
to
Triq
Sarria
for
more
action.
To
record
the
final
day
on
other
parts
of
the
island
we
go
to
Mosta
and
Rabat
for
never
to
be
repeated
scenes
of
the
old
familiar
buses
plying
the
streets.
We
return
to
Valletta
to
film
the
buses
running
along
Triq
Sant’
Anna.
There
is
plenty
of
variety, of not just the yellow buses, but also the open top tour
buses, coaches and Arriva vehicles out on test. Back at the bus
station we film the final departures. Most of the buses depart
quite slowly knowing they will never return. At 20.00hrs we
filmed the final departure from the Triton Fountain, then the final
departure from Triq Sarria. Some of the buses ran on into the
evening further down Triq Sarria in
Floriana... This
really was The End.
| Filmed : | 2011 |
| Duration : | 142 minutes (approx). |
| on 2 discs | |
| Price : | Within UK - £18 |
| Rest of world - £20 | |
| Format : | DVD -R |
| Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
| Order Ref : | D143 |
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