Month: May 2011

It’s hard enough navigating public transport without throwing in mystery route numbers. There are dozens of them on the tram network — not on maps, not in the timetables. Many of these “ghost” tram routes run from the City into the suburbs, generally to tram depots. They could save you a long wait, but because…

It’s been a problem for decades: where trains cross trams, both suffer delays. The trams frequently have to wait for trains to cross, and the trains have to slow down to around 15 km/h — even when they’re running “express” through the adjacent station. This is a problem at four crossings: Glenhuntly (pictured), Kooyong, Gardiner…

When is a Smartbus not a Smartbus? When it’s the 703. While the other Smartbus routes offer reasonable good (though not perfect) services, the 703 is called a Smartbus, but doesn’t meet the Government’s own standard for Smartbus services. It doesn’t run until midnight; its 15-minute services finish around 6pm, not 9pm (making it far…

This is tram 16 to St Kilda, late on a Saturday morning. Just like in the evenings, some tram routes get packed at weekends, leaving passengers forced to stand for long distances while scores of trams sit unused in depots. While tram 3a has been diverted via St Kilda Beach on weekends, it’s either not…

There’s a lot of talk about simplifying train timetables; making them easier to understand and more reliable to run. It makes sense, to cut delays, make better use of track capacity, and make navigating the rail system easier. But the reality is somewhat different. This is a page showing the new timetable (starting this Monday)…

Myki has improved a lot since last year, but there are still issues being reported with faulty cards, slow response times, Authorised Officers’ scanner battery life, and readers not working. There is speculation that the government will (grudgingly, perhaps) keep it, but if that’s the case, they’re going to have to get it working reliably.…

Melbourne’s getting busier at night, but most evening trams haven’t increased in frequency for decades. It’s now commonplace to wait 20-30 minutes and have to stand on a packed tram — while dozens of spares sit in depots. This picture shows route 19 at 9:30 at night. Despite regular crowding, budget papers released yesterday show…

Late trains lead to overcrowding, missed connections, and of course a longer than necessary trip. A single train delayed can directly affect a thousand people in peak hour, and often causes knock-on delays that affect thousands more. There are many causes, including poor maintenance leading to track, signal and train faults, and single-track bottlenecks. This…

More than six months after the introduction of four Smartbus routes running along Lonsdale Street to the Doncaster area, the automated signs to show departure signs along Lonsdale Street and Hoddle Street still don’t work. Help our campaign for better public transport. Join the PTUA now. We rely entirely on member funding and enthusiastic volunteers…

As Melbourne gets busier, overcrowding is increasingly occurring at non-peak times. This train to Pakenham was leaving Flinders Street on a recent Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t full of football fans or racegoers, but people heading home from visiting the CBD. Why should people wait 20-40 minutes for a train, then have to stand for long…