VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s government has unveiled an ambitious 15-year transport strategy featuring a hybrid light rail system linking Valletta, St Paul’s Bay, Mater Dei Hospital, Qormi and the airport.
The proposed 24km route, named the La Valette Line, will combine underground, street-level and elevated segments, with stations integrated into bus hubs and park-and-ride facilities to allow seamless travel connections.
Transport Minister Chris Bonnet presented the plan as part of a broader vision, “Malta in Motion”, aimed at improving daily mobility and expanding travel options through a mix of rail, bus, ferry, cycling and walking initiatives.
Estimated to cost €2.8 billion, including €1.8 billion in construction, the rail system is designed to offer high-capacity, high-frequency service, with waiting times of under 10 minutes.
Development of detailed route and station designs is expected to take two years, followed by a three-year planning phase. Construction will then proceed in two stages: a five-year first phase connecting Valletta to the airport, and a second five-year phase extending to Qormi, Mater Dei and St Paul’s Bay.
While less extensive than a 2021 metro proposal, officials described the revised plan as more realistic and better integrated within a wider transport framework.
Engineering firm ARUP, which contributed to the strategy, stressed that buses will remain the backbone of public transport, supported by measures such as dedicated lanes and intelligent traffic systems.
Transport Malta CEO Kurt Farrugia said geological studies along the proposed route will begin shortly, alongside work on a redesigned bus network aligned with the future rail system.
The plan also includes expanded ferry services, new park-and-ride facilities and improved interchanges, although authorities pledged to avoid past mistakes linked to unpopular transfer systems.
Officials confirmed there are no plans to introduce on-street paid parking, while decisions on whether rail services will be free will depend on future government policy.
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