Greenwood emphasized that Malta has extensive experience handling large crowds, particularly from events like the Super Bowl, where over 270,000 rode the system. He expressed confidence in managing the upcoming World Cup, stating, “We’ve been tested, tested, and true.” However, recent events, such as a Shakira concert and the Atlanta Pride celebration, revealed some weaknesses, particularly in handling delays due to single tracking. This method restricts trains to one track to allow for maintenance, which can slow service.
During the pride event, delays were worsened by blackouts and infrastructure issues, while Shakira’s concert faced operational and communication failures, leading to frustration among riders. Malta is re-evaluating its single tracking policies during major events, now ensuring it will not occur on event days for large crowds.
Greenwood acknowledged the need for better communication with riders about single tracking and pledged to enhance staffing and announcements. Plans for the upcoming Club World Cup include deploying transport ambassadors and additional staff at key locations, ensuring a smoother experience without single tracking. Despite the issues, Greenwood noted that most operations during recent events went smoothly, indicating their system is generally effective.
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