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Is that Malta’s traditional yellow bus we spot on London’s roads?
All together now…we want them back!

Caroline Curmi

As beloved as they are, traditional yellow buses are rarely seen around Maltese streets nowadays. However, they have popped up on the other side of Europe, London to be exact, and it’s brought a fresh wave of nostalgia whooshing back!

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In a short clip uploaded recently to YouTube, a yellow bus is captured in its full glory, with roaring engines and gleeful passengers with their phones out recording the experience.

Reminiscent of London transport in the '70s and '80s, this transit served as a ride between Ashurst Station, South London and Hartfield, East Sussex in the summer months of 2019.

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Although often referred to as ‘Malta’s’ traditional buses, the island’s beloved yellow buses were actually used as London Transport before being exported to Malta, where they were modified (and heavily stickered) to look like the public transport we have come to love.

After they stopped being used in Malta, some models were repatriated back to the UK for preservation, but a lengthy museum stay doesn’t seem to have been on the books for this specific bus.  

Ain't they beautiful!

6th January 2019


Caroline Curmi
Written by
Caroline Curmi
When she’s not having a quarter-life crisis, Caroline is either drawing in a café, frittering her salary on sushi or swearing at traffic in full-on Gozitan. There is also the occasional daytime drink somewhere in the equation. Or two. A creative must be allowed at least one vice.

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