Changes to Bus Routes
A summary of recent changes to bus routes in Malta and Gozo (at least those I know about), starting with the most recent first.
September 28, 2023
Winter timetables introduced. Increased frequencies on 16 routes: Mons to Sats route 31, Mons to Fris routes 13A, 21, 22, 48, 54, 58, 62, 91, 92, 202, 203 and 222 (also 82 during peak hours). N13 and Gozo 301 keep their summer frequency into the winter. Cheaper winter single fare scrapped. As Sept 28th was a Thursday the new timings were probably delayed from the previous Sunday (there was no publicity about it).
July 2, 2023
Increased frequencies on routes 31, 41/2, 53, 212, 221, 222. Seasonal Gozo routes TD30 and TD31 reintroduced for the summer.
June 11, 2023
Summer timetables introduced with the normal summer extensions to the coast and increased frequencies on certain routes. Summer fares introduced.
October 1, 2022
Free travel introduced for holders of personalised Tallinja cards.
September 26, 2022
Winter timetable introduced (two weeks earlier than last year) with the usual winter changes. Routes 212, 221/2 continued at their increased summer frequency until sometime in October or early November (date unknown but by Nov 8).
July 3, 2022
Increased frequencies at peak times on routes 31, 41, 42, 53, 212, 221, 222, TD13.
June 12, 2022
Summer timetables introduced with the normal summer extensions to the coast and increased frequencies on certain routes. Summer fares introduced. Routes TD30 Mgarr - Xlendi and TD31 Mgarr - Marsalforn reintroduced one week later on June 19.
April 26, 2022
The Tallinja On Demand service is extended to serve 20 new bus stops in Mriehel, Birkirkara, Sliema and other surrounding localities. Note at some point TD Plus has been renamed Tallinja On Demand.
January 9, 2022
Temporary changes to Gozo routes: 308 to Ghammar and 309 to Zebbug are amalgamated into one hourly route, as are 311 to Dwejra and 312 to Gharb. 322 and 330 are temporarily suspended. These changes appear to have been reversed by the end of January.
October 10, 2021
Winter schedules introduced with some increases in frequency; the normal summer extensions to the coast are withdrawn.
Note TD13 suspended from November 23 (running again by January) and Gozo routes TD30 and TD31 suspended from December 20.
September 14, 2021
New route 150 links Lascaris to MCAST Paola in the morning peak, returning in the afternoon, in connection with the Gozo Fast Ferry.
July 2, 2021
TD13 Valletta to Bugibba is reintroduced, also night routes N13 (daily) and N212 (Friday and Saturday nights).
New routes in Gozo: TD30 Mgarr to Xlendi and TD31 Mgarr to Marsalforn, designed to connect with the Gozo Fast Ferry, also N301 giving later trips on Friday and Saturday evenings Mgarr to Victoria.
Some further frequency increases (from July 4).
June 11, 2021
Summer timetables introduced with the normal summer extensions to the coast and increased frequencies on certain routes. Summer fares introduced.
Route 64 is extended beyond the Ahmar terminus on an anti-clockwise loop via Triq L'Imdina, left into Triq il-Merghat, left into Esportaturi, crossing to Triq is-Salib Ta'L-Imriehel, left into Pietru Dacoutos, then right to serve the Ahmar stop and continue back to Valletta along normal route.
June 1, 2021
New routes X133 Valletta bus station to Lascaris and 300 Mater Dei - University - Lascaris designed to run in connection with the new Gozo Fast Ferry. Route X300, introduced October 2020, is withdrawn as a result.
December 10, 2020
Small change to route 109 in Siggiewi - buses towards Zebbug go forward into Hesri, right into Dun Manwel Zammit, right into L'Imdina, serving stop Armonia (same as route 62). This is due to Triq It Tabib Nikol Zammit becoming one way.
October 18, 2020
Winter fares in force.
October 11, 2020
Winter schedules introduced with some additional early morning journeys, frequency reductions, and normal summer extensions to beaches withdrawn for the winter. X1A recommences with two trips from Cirkewwa.
Alternate journeys on 109 in the direction from Bahrija are renumbered 109A newly serving the Kuncizzjoni area north of Bahrija instead of the loop via Ghemieri 1, Santi and Salib, which are therefore now served every two hours. After the stop Bajdar, buses on 109A turn left and double run to the new stop at Kuncizzjoni, which is named Wied Gerzuma. All buses towards Bahrija continue to operate direct numbered 109.
October 1, 2020
New Monday to Friday route X300 introduced with five morning journeys Cirkewwa to Valletta between 0635 and 0850, calling only at Qroqq (for the University) and Kullegg (for the Junior College) taking 65 minutes. Five afternoon journeys leave Valletta between 1500 and 1715. Subsequently withdrawn June 2021 when the Gozo Fast Ferry started.
June 14, 2020
Summer fares in force June 14 to October 17, 2020.
March 18, 2020
Temporary reduced timetables introduced due to Coronavirus pandemic. All Night Routes and TD routes suspended, also TD Plus on-demand service. Frequencies were tweaked at various points, notably June 2, July 5 and August 17 (at least these were the dates of online notices).
February 16, 2020
Variation of 303 introduced numbered 303A not diverting via San Blas but instead newly serving the Kuncizzjoni and Hondoq areas of Qala to the east of the village. Both directions of route 303A serve the new area in an anti-clockwise loop via Triq il-Kuncizzjoni, Triq is-Salib then left to Triq il-Forti St Anton and left again onto Triq il-Wileg.
January 19, 2020
Route 47 change. Website says "from Valletta to Mosta will now operate as a circular journey heading back to Valletta Terminus from bus stop Margerita in Mosta". Maybe it reverted back at some point later.
January 10, 2020
Routes in Ta Qali (56, 186, 202) are routed via a new road in the area of the Craft Village.
November 15th, 2019
Night Route N50 is extended to serve Dingli.
October 6, 2019
Winter timetables introduced with the normal winter changes, namely the summer extensions of 49 from Ghadira to Armier, 101 from Mgarr to Gnejna Bay and 109 from Bajjada to Ghar Lapsi are cancelled for the winter, as is the diversion of 74 via Blue Grotto. Reduced winter frequencies introduced on certain routes, especially 221/222/223/225. Certain routes have changes to frequencies with some enhanced. Route 50 gains an evening peak service as well as morning peak (date of introduction uncertain).
July 7, 2019
Route TD3 Airport to Bugibba (introduced in February) now makes a call en route at the San Giljan stop.
Enhanced frequencies introduced on popular routes similar to the changes made one year earlier:
Routes 41 and 42 between Valletta and Cirkewwa both run every 20 minutes instead of every 30 minutes at peak times giving a combined 10 minute frequency at these times.
Buses will run every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes for most of the day on route 212 (Sliema to Bugibba) and route 221 (Bugibba to Cirkewwa), also at peak times on route 222 (Sliema to Cirkewwa).
On route 53, Valletta to Rabat Virtu, buses will run every 30 minutes instead of every hour for most of the day.
On route 31, Valletta to Bugibba via Mosta, the frequency will be increased in the evenings between 1900 and 2030 from Monday to Saturday as well as throughout the day on Sunday.
Additionally, the frequency on route 43 will be reduced since schools will be closed, and Route X1A will not be operating.
June 12, 2019
Route TD17, introduced in 2018 from Pembroke P&R to Qroqq and extended in February 2019 to the University terminus, is withdrawn.
June 9, 2019
Summer timetables introduced with normal summer extensions of 49 to Armier, 101 to Gnejna Bay and 109 to Ghar Lapsi, also diversion of 74 via Blue Grotto. Increased frequency on routes 212, 221, 222, 223, 225, 310, 311 and 322 for the summer. Summer fares in operation June 9 to October 5.
June 1, 2019
TD Plus demand responsive minibus service introduced. initially on a select number of bus stops in Valletta, Floriana, Pieta, Blata l-Bajda, Msida, San Gwann, St Julian's, Swieqi and Pembroke.
May 15, 2019
Routes 109 and 209 from Siggiewi towards Zebbug are rerouted to turn left into Triq Hal-Mula then right into Triq Ganni Bonnici instead of continuing to the roundabout and turning left there. Stops Newl and Rohan are therefore not served in this direction; there is however a new stop Lorenzi which may have been added subsequently.
May 12, 2019
Routes 80, 83 and 226 slightly rerouted in Santa Lucija. After nearly completing the anti-clockwise loop of Santa Lucija, buses turn left into Begonija, then left into Dawret it-Torri where they serve the new stop Gardenja (which is the new terminus of route 83).
February, 2019
New Night routes introduced from St Julian's to Naxxar and Mosta (N40), Birkirkara and Rabat (N50), Zurrieq, Qrendi, Mqabba (N71) and Siggiewi, Zebbug (N209). Existing routes continuing are N11, N13, N91 and recently introduced N212. All run on Friday and Saturday nights; N13 and N212 run nightly.
February 4, 2019
New hourly non-stop Tallinja Direct route TD3 introduced from the Airport to Bugibba, scheduled to take 50 minutes (40 minutes evenings).
Routes TD9 Valletta - San Giljan - Bugibba and TD13 Valletta - San Giljan are combined: new route is numbered TD13 and runs every 20 minutes Valletta - San Giljan - Bugibba, thereby giving a more frequent fast route between the capital and Bugibba (previously every 30 minutes).
Route TD17 introduced last year as a park and ride facility from Pembroke P&R to Qroqq (for the University) extended to the University stop itself, but halved in frequency to every 30 minutes.
October 7, 2018
Winter timetables introduced (one week later than 2017) with the normal winter changes. All TD routes except TD5 continue throughout the winter (with changes from February 4, see above).
October 1, 2018
New route TD17 introduced between Pembroke P&R and Qroqq (for the University), being a Park and Ride shuttle service aimed at students, and running during University termtime.
September 14, 2018
New night route N212 introduced Sliema to Bugibba. Route is same as 212 but with night fares.
July 17, 2018
The Gharghur terminus of routes 46 and 260 is moved one stop earlier to the Marzu stop, presumably due to space issues.
July 15, 2018
The operating hours of route TD2 are further extended; buses leave San Giljan hourly 0355 to 2355 and the Airport hourly 0430 to 0030.
TD5 is a new Sliema - Ghajn Tuffieha route via the coast road, running hourly 1030 to 1330, returning 1630 to 1930. It did not continue into the winter period.
TD14 is a new Rabat - San Giljan - Sliema - Rabat service running hourly. It continued into the winter period.
July 8, 2018
The number of trips on popular routes is increased for the high summer period as follows (the enhanced frequencies are believed to have continued until the winter times were introduced on October 7):
Routes 41 and 42 between Valletta and Cirkewwa run every 20 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 0900 and 1200 and between 1600 and 1930 daily.
Buses will run every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes between 0900 and 2000 daily on route 212 (Sliema to Bugibba) and route 221 (Bugibba to Cirkewwa). Similarly, between 0900 and 1200 and between 1600 and 2000 daily on route 222 (Sliema to Cirkewwa).
On route 53, Valletta to Rabat Virtu, buses will run every 30 minutes instead of every hour between 0900 and 2000 daily.
On route 31, Valletta to Bugibba via Mosta, the frequency will be increased in the evenings between 1900 and 2030 from Monday to Saturday as well as throughout the day on Sunday.
On route 48, Valletta to Bugibba via Mosta, an extra trip will be added on Sunday morning departing at 0520 from Valletta and at 0510 from Bugibba.
Additionally, the frequency on route 43 will be reduced since schools will be closed, and Route X1A will not be operating.
June 10, 2018
Summer timetables introduced with normal summer extensions of 49 to Armier, 101 to Gnejna Bay and 109 to Ghar Lapsi, also diversion of 74 via Blue Grotto. Increased frequency on routes 82, 212, 221, 222, 223, 225, 310, 311 and 322 for the summer, with an additional 300 trips per day overall. There are timetable changes on many routes, and only two TD routes were listed, namely TD2 Airport - Sliema, which has extended running hours, and TD10 Valletta - Marsaxlokk non-stop (Sundays only), which is increased to run every 10 minutes instead of every 15. Presumably TD9 and TD13 started later in the summer. Route 16 has reverted to all journeys running via Madliena. Local Valletta route 133 runs every 30 minutes daily (previously reduced to hourly on Sundays).
March 18, 2018
Route 16 Swieqi-Valletta now only serves the loop around Madliena approx hourly, with the other journeys renumbered 16B. Buses on route 16B proceed from the Victoria stop direct towards Pembroke along Triq Ta L-Ibragg without serving Madliena. This appears to have ceased with the Summer 2018 timetable, all journeys serving Madliena.
October 29, 2017
Route 110 rerouted via Ta' Giorni (taking the same route as 22) instead of via the main road through San Gwann.
October 1, 2017
Winter timetables introduced (two weeks earlier than 2016). Normal summer extensions of 49 from Ghadira to Armier, 101 from Mgarr to Gnejna Bay and 109 from Bajjada to Ghar Lapsi are cancelled for the winter, as is the diversion of 74 via Blue Grotto. Reduced winter frequencies introduced on certain routes, especially 221/222/223/225.
Seasonal TD routes ceased for the winter, apart from TD2 Airport-Sliema and Sunday route TD10 Valletta-Marsaxlokk, which run all year. Online timetables indicate TD13 may have run for part of the autumn period, initially Mon-Sat then Mon-Fri, but was later withdrawn for the winter.
Route X1B, which consists of one early morning Mon-Fri journey Cirkewwa-University, is diverted via the Mellieha bypass.
Route 13A (introduced in March) cut back to run Valletta-San Giljan instead of to Pembroke P&R.
Route 238 Mgarr-Mater Dei-Valletta (which was extended from Mater Dei to Valletta in March 2016) is cut back to Mgarr-Mater Dei on Saturdays and Sundays.
Routes approaching Marsa P&R from the north and east are given shorter routeings to avoid the busy roundabout. Specifically, 61, 62, 63, 64, 74, 110, 117, 120, 121, 135, 204, 206, 209, 210, 218, 226, X1, X2, X3, X4 coming from the north now turn left at the Maltapost Head Office straight down to Marsa P&R, whilst 120, 121, 204, 206, 226, X2, X3 heading towards Mater Dei are diverted from near the Turkish cemetery direct to Marsa P&R via Triq Tigrija.
September 26, 2017
Valletta local route 133 extended to serve Marsamxett for the ferry to/from Sliema. Coming from Fort St Elmo the bus turns right on reaching St Mark's Street through the arch down to the ferry terminal before retracing its steps to St Mark's Street. However, I'm told that in practice the route rarely if ever takes this deviation down to the ferry.
July 5, 2017
Disco Bus launched, offering a weekend connection between the popular night-life and entertainment venues in Malta: St. Julian's, Sliema, Uno and Gianpula Village.
June 11, 2017
Summer timetables introduced with normal summer extensions of 49 to Armier, 101 to Gnejna Bay and 109 to Ghar Lapsi, also diversion of 74 via Blue Grotto. Increased frequency on routes 31, 41, 42, 212, 221, 222, 223, 225, 310, 311 and 322 for the summer, with an additional 300 trips per day overall.
May 3, 2017
Seasonal Tallinja Direct routes introduced: TD2 Airport-Sliema (daily), TD9 Valletta-Bugibba via coast road (daily), TD10 Valletta-Marsaxlokk (Suns), TD11 Bugibba-Marsaxlokk (Suns), TD13 Valletta-St Julians via Regional Road. Of these routes, only TD2 was retained from summer 2016, the other routes being new, whilst last year's TD1 and TD3 to TD6 were not reintroduced this year.
March 22, 2017
Night route N13 Valletta-St Julians seasonally increased to run additionally on Wednesday and Sunday nights as well as Friday and Saturday nights. Later increased to daily from April 30, and increased in frequency from May 12, at which time routes N10/N11/N12 (Friday and Saturday nights) were also increased in frequency for the summer.
March 19, 2017
Route 13 Valletta-Bahar ic-Caghaq reduced in frequency but new route 13A introduced Valletta-Pembroke Park & Ride (20 mins peak, 30 mins off-peak) to maintain existing 10 minute frequency on that section.
Route 31 Valletta-Bugibba operates every 30 minutes after 19:00 on Monday to Saturday and all day on Sunday.
Route 63 Qormi-Valletta retimed to 29 and 59 minutes past the hour.
Route 83 Valletta-Santa Lucija operates every 60 minutes all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Route 103 Bidnija-Pembroke Park & Ride is cut back to terminate at Naxxar on the last two trips from Monday to Friday and on Sunday all day.
Route 122 Valletta-Mater Dei operates every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday, and every 60 minutes on Saturday and Sunday.
Route 130 Valletta Waterfront operates every 60 minutes all day from Monday to Sunday.
June 21, 2015
Revised network introduced in Gozo.
November 22 and December 20, 2015
Revised network introduced in Malta (more details to follow).