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We’ve highlighted before that despite opening in mid-2010, Coolaroo station has been missing from maps at Southern Cross Station and elsewhere.

It might be a lot of work to update maps right across the network, but the same is not true online. Yet 16 months after Coolaroo station opened, it is still missing from the Metlink iPhone app train map, and also from the Metro mobile web site. It should be between Broadmeadows and Roxburgh Park.

A number of new stations are under construction and will open in the next few years. Surely it’s not too much to ask that these maps be kept up to date?

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There were widespread disruptions to CBD trams last Friday due to police clashes with Occupy Melbourne protestors.

Trams in Swanston Street didn’t run for several hours, but for much of the time there were no indications of the blockage on the “realtime” information screens provided at stops.

While some passengers at nearby stops could (provided they had good eyesight) look down the street and see the tracks were blocked, others further away or believing the screens might not be aware they could be waiting several hours before any trams would arrive. TramTracker and the Metlink web site were updated, but not everybody uses those, or would think to check them.

Surely the whole point of realtime information is that it can be updated to alert people of major disruptions?

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Most people are accepting of advertising on and around public transport, as long as the advertising is unobtrusive, and in the hope that the revenue goes into funding better services.

Unfortunately this advertising at Southern Cross Station is far from unobtrusive. Instead, it obscures wayfinding signage designed to help people find the entrance to their platform from the Bourke Street bridge. Surely they could displayed these ads in such a way that doesn’t block the signs? Or is the almighty dollar more important than helping passengers find their way?

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From the September PTUA Newsletter

Legislation establishing the Public Transport Development Authority was introduced to State Parliament on 14 September, and is expected to be debated this week.

On this vitally important policy initiative the government is proceeding broadly in the right direction. The structure and powers of the PTDA in this legislation largely mirror those of Vicroads. The PTDA will have its own Board, including one position reserved for a community representative.

That said, we are obviously keen that the PTDA’s enabling legislation should be as good as it can be, and viewed in this light there are some important shortcomings.
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It must be some kind of cruel joke that the priority seats (that is, those designated to be prioritised for passengers with special needs, such as the elderly and those with mobility issues) are so difficult to use on Siemens trains. It is common to see even able-bodied passengers struggle to pull them down into position — what hope do those who need them most have?

Much the same problem occurs on the Siemens trams, too.

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Boroondara is fencing in tram passengers, delaying trams and resulting in greater road congestion according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). Pedestrian fencing exists at a number of tram stops in the City of Boroondara, including the intersection of Glenferrie and Riversdale roads, Hawthorn and is making it difficult for passengers to board and alight from trams.

“These ugly fences do nothing to enhance safety, instead putting pedestrians, cyclists and tram passengers in greater danger,” said PTUA eastern spokesman Jeremy Lunn. “They are an inconvenience to pedestrians and tram passengers, while often delaying trams and cars as passengers queue up single file to squeeze through the narrow gaps.”
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At many stations the only real-time information provided is the green button. Often this doesn’t work, repeatedly returning only an engaged signal, as if Metro has forgotten to pay its phone bill.

Passengers would benefit enormously if these buttons worked, or if more stations were upgraded with visual displays or screens, and — dare we say it — staff.

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