Month: November 2006

  • New public transport minister welcomed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the appointment of Lynne Kosky as the Minister for Public Transport. PTUA president Daniel Bowen said Ms Kosky had demonstrated her abilities to achieve innovation and reform in her previous position as Minister for Education and Training. “We hope that Ms Kosky will renew the government’s focus…

  • Libs South Barwon loss highlights lack of transport vision

    The Liberals’ failure to win South Barwon highlights the party’s lack of a broad vision for public transport throughout the electorate, the Public Transport Users Association said today.

  • Clarification — Hold the Hitachis!

    In the MX newspaper yesterday (24/11/2006), PTUA Vice-president Alex Makin was paraphrased as saying that the Hitachi trains should be replaced immediately. This appears to have been a misunderstanding with the reporter. The PTUA has a long-held view that the Hitachi trains should not be scrapped. Rather, they should be upgraded with intercoms and security…

  • How to vote for public transport this Saturday

    15/11/2006 — ‘Must try harder on transport’, says policy report card An assessment of transport policies for this weekend’s state election has shown most parties lack the vision to adequately address congestion, high fuel prices and greenhouse emissions, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today.

  • Major parties get poor marks for public transport — Geelong branch

    Users release Geelong election policy scorecard The two major political parties have scored poorly on election campaign commitments for Geelong’s public transport, in an analysis by the Public Transport Users Association’s Geelong Branch. The election policy scorecard gives both Labor and Liberal a “D”, and indicates that only the Greens have tackled the issue of…

  • Why did we buy lemons? Users demand explanation

    Transport users have accused the State Government and private operators Connex and Yarra Trams of “gross mismanagement” over the purchase and disposal of rolling stock, and of “covering up” problems with the new trains and trams, that were common knowledge within the industry for up to four years.

  • ‘Cut oil use, not prices’, G20 told

    Joint media release from: Action for Public Transport (NSW), Queensland Conservation Council, People for Public Transport (SA), Public Transport Users Association (Vic), Sustainable Transport Coalition (WA). The G20 group of finance ministers and central bankers meeting in Melbourne this week has been told to focus on cutting oil use rather than boosting production of the…

  • Coolaroo commitment welcome but grossly overpriced

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the Labor Party’s policy shift to construct the much-needed station at Coolaroo but has questioned the four year lag and $36 million pricetag.

  • Say NO to extension of the Eastern Freeway through Royal Park

    Stop The Tunnel Public Meeting and BBQ 12pm Saturday 11th November Royal Park Wetlands, Manningham St, West Parkville (Melway 29 C12)

  • Liberal public transport policy welcomed — More needed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the Liberal Party’s Transport Policy, which reaffirms commitment for metropolitan rail and tram extensions and the potential for fundamental improvements for the bus network.

  • Connex driving away customers — Call for weekend train upgrades

    In the face of regular overcrowding, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for Connex to run six-car trains every weekend on the busiest lines. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said overcrowding on short trains was totally unacceptable when there were hundreds of empty carriages sitting in sidings doing nothing.

  • Praise for Cranbourne East extension

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has praised the Victorian Liberal Party for committing to deliver yet another Labor broken promise with the delivery of the Cranbourne East rail extension.