Malta is set to get a new 24km-long light rail line connecting Valletta, St Paul's Bay, Mater Dei Hospital, Qormi and Malta International Airport within 15 years' time, according to a transport plan unveiled by Transport Minister Chris Bonnet on Thursday. The hybrid rail system will include a mix of underground, street-level and elevated sections, with stations connected to bus nodes and park-and-ride facilities.

The La Valette line, as it is dubbed, will cost an estimated €2.8 billion, with €1.8 billion allocated for construction costs. Passengers can expect journey times of no more than 10 minutes between stops. The project's development will be split into two phases: the first five years will focus on connecting Valletta to Malta International Airport, while the remaining five years will see the completion of the line from Qormi to St Paul's Bay.

The transport plan, called Malta in Motion, aims to make everyday journeys easier and provide more travel choices for islanders. Buses will remain a key component of public transport, with bus priority measures such as dedicated lanes and intelligent traffic lights proposed to improve efficiency. Park-and-ride facilities near stations and bus interchanges will also be introduced.

ARUP, the company contracted by Transport Malta to work on the new plan, has insisted that the rail system is just one part of a holistic approach targeting other means of transport, including buses, ferries, walking and cycling. The experts have warned against comparing the current proposal with the more expensive 2021 metro plans, which envisioned three lines connecting multiple urban areas.

Transport Malta CEO Kurt Farrugia has confirmed that detailed geological studies along the proposed rail route will begin shortly, while work on drafting a new bus network that takes into account the planned rail line and ferry services will also commence. The current public transport concession expires in 2029, at which point a new tender will be issued incorporating a revised bus network with interchanges between buses, rail, ferries and personal transport.

Farrugia has reassured commuters that Transport Malta will not repeat past mistakes when it comes to introducing interchanges. On-street parking charges are also off the table for now, although Farrugia hinted that government policy may dictate whether the rail line is free or ticketed.