*/

Chaos at Huntingdale station for students and staff waiting for buses to Monash University’s Clayton campus have led the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) to renew calls for the Rowville rail line.

Read the rest of this article »

A study into the developed world’s biggest cities has concluded that all but a handful have metro systems — but that handful without metros includes Melbourne and Sydney.

The study by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) showed that of biggest 30 cities in the developed world by population, all but seven have metros: the car-dominated United States cities of Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Miami and Phoenix, and Melbourne and Sydney.

“The definitions of ‘metro’ vary, but the common ground is that they provide high-capacity trains, with high-frequency services to most stations at least every ten minutes, all day [1][2][3]“, PTUA President Daniel Bowen said. “It’s not important for the trains to run underground — most ‘metro’ systems have more above ground than underground track[4] — what’s important is frequent services.

“Metros are important for ensuring cities function well, moving large numbers of people quickly. People who live in cities with metros know they can travel efficiently, without being caught in traffic, without checking a timetable, and without long waiting times at stations.

“Giving Melbourne a metro doesn’t require tunnels, underground stations, or a new type of train. Start hiring extra drivers today, and metro “turn up and go” frequent services 7-days-a-week could introduced across the rail network within 12 months.
Read the rest of this article »