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Year: 2010

  • Bus Reviews ignored, second-rate services prevail

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has criticised the State Government for failing to take up recommendations from the Metropolitan Bus Reviews. In most areas of Melbourne, less than 30 percent of the recommendations have been implemented by the government. — See full list at [1], below. “The bus network is struggling to meet the…

  • Chadstone buses: 50% time saving achievable

    The 903 bus journey between Holmesglen and Oakleigh via Chadstone should take only ten minutes, according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). A study by the PTUA found that crowded buses are wasting a significant amount of time, especially at red traffic lights. “While passengers hang from the wrist straps, Vicroads is making their…

  • Eleven years and still waiting

    The Rowville railway line should have been built by now, according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). It’s been eleven years since Labor made the feasibility study promise which helped the Bracks/Brumby Government win power in 1999. “It’s absurd that the Brumby Government hasn’t even done a study when we know the railway line…

  • Users present public transport vision

    Trains, trams and Smartbuses every ten minutes, all suburban stations staffed, V/Line trains every half-hour on main commuter routes, “Tram-cams” to catch careless motorists, and a Public Transport Authority to better plan and manage public transport all feature in the Public Transport Users Association’s call to the political parties in the run-up to the state…

  • Co-ordination key – letter to the editor

    MELISSA Fyfe (”It’s time to help commuters make their connection”, 3/10) points out the basic weakness afflicting Melbourne public transport: the lack of an independent, publicly accountable authority to co-ordinate trains, trams and buses. Groups as diverse as the Greens, privatisation experts and former train and tram operators support a lean, expert body to plan…

  • Call for more V/Line services to cut waiting times

    As the state election approaches, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for upgrades to V/Line short distance services[1] to run at least every 30 minutes, seven days-a-week. PTUA regional spokesman Paul Westcott said that with strong patronage growth, V/Line train services are increasingly overcrowded not just in peak times, but also at off-peak…

  • RACV in the right lane on buses, says PTUA

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has congratulated the RACV for supporting the PTUA’s call for more buses and recognising the importance of bus lanes on Stud Road. “The State Government now needs to do its part of the deal by upgrading the 901 Smartbus to operate at least every 10 minutes, from 6am to…

  • Alamein Line upgrade call

    The Alamein line which is used for over 1.8 million journeys a year is falling behind, according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). Recent timetable upgrades for the metropolitan train network launched earlier in the month ignored Alamein line commuters. “Alamein passengers are tired of being left behind by the government and Metro”, said…

  • Bus issue raised in parliament

    The issue of crowded buses and slow travel time on the 903 Smartbus, which runs from Mordialloc to Altona, has been raised recently in parliament on two separate occasions. Liberal MP Andrea Coote and Greens MP Susan Pennicuik have both criticised the unsatisfactory situation first brought to the public’s attention by the Public Transport Users…

  • PTUA comments on TTF report on funding/concessions

    PTUA comments on the Transport and Tourism Forum report on public transport funding: We shouldn’t fall for the trap of believing that public transport should make a profit. It doesn’t recoup its costs any more than the public health system, the education system, law enforcement or for that matter the road system – these are…

  • 21st century upgrade call – Belgrave and Lilydale lines

    Passengers on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines beyond Ringwood are receiving train services that are below urban standards according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). In the off-peak, services beyond Ringwood operate half-hourly, compared with every 15 minutes between the city and Ringwood. Peak hour services also finish very early at just after 8am…

  • Crime stats highlight station hotspots

    Analysis of 2009 crime statistics by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has shown that 45% of assaults on railway stations occur at just ten locations. The figures also showed about half the assaults occurred in the daytime. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that the figures reinforced the association’s call for all stations to be…