Despite the understandable concerns of peak hour train commuters, Metro Trains should be commended for wanting to double train patronage by 2020.

It shows there is more capacity to be squeezed out of the network, and smarter timetabling can get more trains on to the tracks.

But there will be no doubling of peak hour trips to the CBD. The vast majority of CBD commuters already use public transport, and the peak hour commuting population is only expected to grow by 20 per cent to 2020, according to City of Melbourne projections.
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The Public Transport Users Association has expressed serious concerns over the revelation that no platforms will be provided at North Melbourne station for Geelong rail passengers travelling on the forthcoming Regional Rail Link.

Although extra platforms will be provided at both Footscray and Southern Cross stations as part of the $4.2bn project, the Department of Transport has told the PTUA that platforms at North Melbourne won’t be provided, apparently to keep costs down.
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Mayor Robert Doyle’s ”Damascus” conversion on Swanston Street has led to a good plan. But on design and location of tram stops, it lets the city down badly.
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With the new Myki ticketing system having been in public use for one month, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has compiled a list of problems with it, and has called for the government to ensure the system is running more smoothly before switching more people from Metcard to Myki.

“We are continuing to advise passengers not to use Myki, but to stick to Metcard instead. By all means get a Myki card while they’re offered for free, but stick it in the drawer for a few months until the system works properly”, said PTUA President Daniel Bowen.

“While Myki on trains has so far been reasonably reliable, a number of people have had problems with it, and there have been enough issues that it would cause chaos in peak hours should large numbers of people use it.

“We have also received numerous complaints about the Myki web site, and in particular online topups.”
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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has wished departing Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky well, noting that her successor will have a big job ahead to reform Melbourne and Victoria’s public transport network.

“Lynne Kosky has been much maligned, but she inherited a number of problems from former minister Peter Batchelor, including poor maintenance practices and the poison chalice that is the Myki ticketing system”, said PTUA President Daniel Bowen.
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The Public Transport Users Association has commended Melbourne’s new train operator, Metro Trains Melbourne, for its support of the PTUA’s ‘Every 10 Minutes to Everywhere’ campaign.
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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has criticised the government’s botched rollout of the new Myki ticketing system onto Melbourne’s trains only, and has recommended that passengers continue using Metcard for the moment.

“Most passengers won’t want the hassle of a flaky ticketing system, and will want to keep using Metcard until Myki works properly on trams and buses as well as trains”, PTUA President Daniel Bowen said.
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A seven-month travel time study has found no noticeable improvement in tram travel times from extended clearway hours on Sydney Road in Brunswick. Read the rest of this article »

From PTUA’s December 2009 newsletter.

Despite having no Federal funds for its `Peninsula Link’, the State Government has announced its intention to proceed regardless, driving a motorway through precious native wildlife habitat and historic homesteads, in order to further entrench car dependence in south-east Melbourne and for visitors to the Peninsula.
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Departed operator Connex are paying compensation to Monthly and longer ticketholders for poor performance in October and November. Unfortunately the Connex web site has gone offline, but you can get the form from the Metro Trains web site.