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The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has condemned the lack of credible projects presented in the North East Integrated Transport Study (NEITS) and dismissed the study as inadequate for Melbourne’s growing north-east. Read the rest of this article »

Government bears ultimate responsibility, says user group

The Bracks Government should take responsibility for the Connex / Eastlink compensation debacle, the Public Transport Users Association said today. Read the rest of this article »

Some entrances to Melbourne’s busiest stations are consistently unstaffed, leading to increased fare evasion, says the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). The PTUA called on public transport operators to get back to basics on fare evasion, providing consistent staffing at stations, particularly major interchanges.

PTUA President Daniel Bowen said a study showed the popular Degraves Street/Campbell Arcade entrance to Flinders Street station had been unstaffed for about 90% of the time in the past few months, at all times of day, including peak periods. Read the rest of this article »

Users Launch Petition for Frequent Bus Services

The Geelong Branch of the PTUA today launched a petition calling on the major political parties to bring the region’s bus services up to useable standards, within a year from November’s State Election.

The petition calls for more frequent services running later into the evening as the key to making public transport a viable transport choice for more Geelong residents. Read the rest of this article »

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August 2006 edition articles:
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Why mode share is stagnant and our roads are clogged

There’s nothing that discourages public transport usage more than the prospect of long waits for services. Anybody with a choice does simply not put up with waiting, nor do they want to check timetables to minimise that waiting. They drive instead.

Studies such as the government’s unreleased Train Plan have shown repeatedly that until services run at 15 minute or better frequencies (for most trips), large numbers of choice passengers will remain in their cars.

Yet our figures have found few of Melbourne routes run at or better than every 15 minutes:

*Weekend figures are for Saturday. Sundays slightly less than Saturdays. Evening figures for Monday to Saturday. Sundays slightly less.
Includes combinations of routes, eg trains between city and Caulfield

The maps below show which suburbs are lucky enough to get frequent services. Even during peak hour, a number of railway stations, including locations as close to the CBD as Brunswick and Yarraville, have services worse than every 15 minutes, underscoring why parallel motorways are so congested. Most suburbs beyond the tram system also miss out, causing most commuters to choose to drive.

15 min or better services, weekday peak hours. Read the rest of this article »

“Ethanol won’t stop petrol prices going up”, government told.

Joint media release from: Action for Public Transport (NSW), Public Transport Users Association (Vic), People for Public Transport (SA), Sustainable Transport Coalition (WA).

Transport user groups around Australia have called on the federal government to provide an escape from rising petrol prices by upgrading public transport. Prime Minister John Howard has been urged to make an enduring investment in public transport infrastructure by groups from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Read the rest of this article »

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement of new V/Line timetables, to take effect in September.

PTUA president Daniel Bowen said that while the new timetables were not perfect, they were a big improvement to those living, studying and working along the five main train lines, with a healthy boost to the number of services. Read the rest of this article »

Users call for further changes and trains every half-hour

The Public Transport Users Association’s Geelong Branch has welcomed V/Line’s new Geelong line timetable as an “important step in the right direction.” Read the rest of this article »