Saving the old Malta Buses

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    Government of Malta
  • Sponsored By:
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
To the Hon. Prime Minister of Malta Dr.Lawrence Gonzi,

Dear Prime Minister,

While we do agree that the Maltese built buses have long outdone their service to the public transport sector in Malta, We do not agree that these important parts of Maltese heritage and Culture, (ask any tourist or a Maltese with an interest in his/her country), end up on the scrapheap.
They have delighted and angered generations of Maltese, provided a wage to generations of Maltese and why not, can and should be considered part of our identity.

We would like to see them have the option of being or remaining privately owned and maintained so that they can be restored and enjoyed by all, Maltese and tourists alike. While we agree that not all can be saved, priority must be given, absolutely, to the Maltese bodied buses. Losing this part of heritage will seriously flaw our heritage as a whole. It is on the same lines of reasoning as demolishing a fort from the Knights of Malta just because it is of no practical use anymore nowadays.

We trust that you can help us in this cause benefiting society as a whole.


403 Signatures

  • James Schembri
  • Sve
  • Daniel Agius
  • Liam Kelly
  • Oliver Calleja
  • Aidan Fisher
  • Brandon
  • Johann Tonna
    • Comments
    • The Malta Buses are the most beautiful classic buses in the world, photografed by milions of tourists that have visited our country over the years, they are an ICON of Malta, a tribute to the Maltese Craftsmen who built them and maintained them all over the years. These buses should NOT be scrapped, but given private licencing so their owners can keep them if they want to, or sell them to bus enthusiasts for preservation. THESE ARE HISTORIC VEHICLES and part of Malta's CULTURE, and you are treathing part of Malta's history like rubish!! Plus they could bring more income then if sold for scrapmetal! SAVE THEM before its too late.
  • Schmeiter
  • Noel Cauchi
    • Comments
    • These as stated are part of our heritage and should be saved and given a classic status by the ADT and permission should be granted for private ownership just like in other EU countries.
  • Carmelo Schembri
  • www.maltatrucksandvans.picturebook.org.uk
    • Comments
    • Keeping Malta's Road heritage alive
  • Anthony John Brewer
    • Comments
    • The traditional Maltese bus has a styling that has been consistently admired by local people and tourists alike, especially visitors from the British Isles. In any other EU country, historical vehicles that have survived for as long as those in Malta would be welcomed in any transport museum or private vehicle collection. In my opinion a collection policy needs to be nationally recognised and endorsed with Maltese government support. All significant Maltese body builder's need to be represented within any national collection, which should have priority over private buyers. However, vehicles not considered of national importance by the Maltese government should be made available on the open market, to allow current vehicle owners or U.K. enthusiasts to also save Maltese buses for the benefit of future generations.
  • Phil Logie
    • Comments
    • Some of these classic vehicles should be retained to operate a heritage service similar to the operation of Routemaster buses in London, United Kingdom
  • John Black
  • Mike Nash (British Bus Sales)
    • Comments
    • Far better to sort the poor roads out first. The bus services are great just the way they are. That's because they've been allowed to 'evolve' over many decades. Beware uninformed government intervention, which will sweep it all away and pretty quickly leave it all in an unworkable mess. Poor roads AND a poor bus service. Just mark my words!
  • Glyn Bowen
  • Chris Stewart
    • Comments
    • Traditional Maltese buses are iconic enough to feature on posters, teatowels and other souvenirs for tourists - examples of the real thing need to be retained in working order as part of Malta's heritage.
  • Steve Simister
    • Comments
    • Fully agree that some of the rich heritage should be saved for future generations.
  • carly calleja
  • Jonathan
    • Comments
    • If there are real people in power who say 'I love my country's Heritage', why should they restrain from doing so in certain positions, is this what they intend with love?
  • cassandra xerri
  • john kawash
  • George Said
  • francelle
  • Terry Partridge
  • chantelle
  • Isabelle Camilleri
  • Andreas Cassar
  • joseph
  • Annalise Agius
  • Graziana Agius
  • Lara
  • alessandro farrugia
  • Eman Buttigieg
    • Comments
    • save these beauties and forget about future buses..... they're going to suck and we already know it from the crappy chinese king long buses .......... !!!!!!!!
  • miguel degabriele
  • Christina Ciappara
  • Lara Gail Dougall
    • Comments
    • I heartily agree with this petition, since they too make part of our cultural heritage and should not be completely destroyed. In Scotland, a transport museum was put up with different variations of transportation used both in the past ,as well as the present. I believe that this would be a brilliant use to these buses once they have been restored to a decent condition to be put on show in some sort of Maltese transportation museum.
  • Raphael
  • danax
  • Martin C Galea
    • Comments
    • The maltese buses are unique to Malta, and regardless of how much we want to modernise, they are a big part of what makes Malta what it is.
  • Brian George
    • Comments
    • It would be criminal to see such heritage consigned to the scrap heap.
  • Peter Skerry
    • Comments
    • Allow private licencing and ownership not for hire and reward
  • Kaye Skerry
    • Comments
    • Tourist Services only
  • Richard Sharp
    • Comments
    • Put them all up for sale and get some money back.
  • Steve Skerry
    • Comments
    • Keep 20 of the best purely for tourist services
  • Fabio Beccari
  • Paul Skerry
    • Comments
    • If you value tourists take into account what they want - keep some in service
  • Richard Stedall
    • Comments
    • Act now before it is too late and you regret it
  • Michael Lloyd
    • Comments
    • These classic Maltese buses are known worldwide and attract tourists who come specifically to see and ride on them. They have fascinating histories, are unique to Malta and are an important part of its heritage. Indeed, they are in essence a "World Heritage Site" on wheels. I believe that every effort should be made to save a representative selection of the Maltese-bodied vehicles, and to make it easy for overseas purchasers who may be interested to buy further examples. After surviving for so long, they deserve better than the scrap heap.