Malta is one of the smallest countries in the European Union, but at the same time also the most densely populated. There are almost 420,000 people living on just 316 km2. Furthermore, there are over 330,000 cars registered on the islands as well, which unfortunately has led to a high congestion on the main roads in Malta. The public transport has been an issue for a long time, and the country is still trying to find a solution. There is only a network of buses, which is not the most reliable means of transport. Even though the bus tickets are cheap (€1,50 for a day ticket), the Maltese prefer to take their car whenever possible.
Malta submitted a few projects to the European investment initiative, and among them was a proposal for a monorail. Financial services expert Alfred Mifsud estimates the cost at €1.42 billion. A monorail would be a good solution for Malta’s public transport problem, and the routes would be partly underground and overground. The 79km long network would be built over four stages, each taking two years. If financing goes as hoped, the project could start in 2017, and the first phase could be completed by the end of 2018.
The Maltese government will conduct technical, environmental and regulatory studies, and the existing tunnels and rails are also under consideration to be used for the monorail network. The project is one of over 2,000 projects that have been proposed to the European Commission, and they are now being assessed if they are economically viable.
At the office of Dr. Werner & Partner we are excited about the outcome of the proposal. It would be a great solution for the traffic problem, and getting around the islands would be much easier. However, considering that Malta is a small island, it is also very nice to simply walk. If you live and work in Sliema or St. Julians, you can walk along the seaside and enjoy stunning views and a great atmosphere.
