Increase in bus frequencies during the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis

Malta Public Transport announces that trip frequencies will be increased on Saturday 2nd April and Sunday 3rd April, and Special Services will be operated in Gozo during the visit of His Holiness the Pope to the Maltese Islands.

On Saturday 2nd April, and on Sunday 3rd April, public transport will operate increased frequencies on the Valletta routes. This increase in frequency will be available on Saturday, between 8:00am and 12:00pm and on Sunday between 7:30am and 10:30am (inbound to Valletta) and between 12:00pm and 2:00pm (outbound from Valletta). During these times, the bus trips will operate according to frequencies on the weekday (Monday to Friday) schedule.

In Gozo, on Saturday 2nd April, there will be a shuttle service from the heliport Park and Ride in Xewkija to Ta’ Pinu church every 20 minutes between 2:00pm and 4:00pm and returning to the heliport Park and Ride from Ta’ Pinu church between 7:00pm and 8:00pm.
The official programme for the papal visit can be found on this link: https://church.mt/the-official-programme-of-pope-francis-apostolic-journey-to-malta-is-announced/.

Due to road closures in several locations, service disruptions are expected, and a number of route diversions will be in place. Passengers are kindly requested to plan their trips in advance and to allow for longer journey times in locations affected by these diversions. Malta Public Transport will have a number of buses available on standby on both days, to be dispatched according to service requirements.

From Wednesday 30th March at 9:00am to Sunday 3rd April till 8:30am, buses driving to Valletta will be diverted to St. Anne’s Street. From 8:30am to 2:00pm buses coming from Pietà and from Marsa Triq Diċembru Tlettax, will be diverted to the underpass on to Triq Nazzjonali to the Park and Ride area and exit from next to the Planning Authority on to St. Anne’s Street and Great Siege Road.

Furthermore, on Saturday 2nd April route 133 will be suspended between 9:00am and 12.30pm and routes 150, X133 and 300 will be suspended between 3:30pm and 5:00pm.

In Gozo, on Saturday 2nd April, between 4:30pm and 7:00pm, there will be no access in Victoria and so routes 308, 309, 310, 311, 301 and 312 will not be operating. The park and ride service between the heliport and Mġarr ferry terminal will also be suspended during this time. Route 308 will be diverted to Għasri square and will not pass from Ta’ Pinu between 10:00am and 8:00pm. Route 313 between 4:00pm and 7:00pm from Victoria to Ta’ Kerċem and back will be diverted from St Francis Square. Route 322 from Marsalforn and routes 303 and 323 from Victoria will not be able to serve Mġarr ferry terminal between 4:30pm and 7:00pm. Instead buses will stop in front of “Tal-Patri Church” and buses will depart as per the scheduled time from Mġarr bus stop. Since there will be no access from St. Elizabeth Street, route 302 from Victoria to Ramla will divert through Mitħna Road.
All bus routes will start operating normally after 7:00pm.