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Author: PTUA

  • Knox Transit double shuffle

    A recent substitution of route 75 trams with buses[1], has highlighted the need for a tram extension to Knox according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). During the replacement period, passengers travelling between Burwood and Knox had make two transfers by taking one tram and two buses.

  • Peninsula buses take holiday leave

    Route bus services along Point Nepean Road face collapse over the Christmas/New Year period as thousands of revellers descend upon bayside holiday spots. “What is supposed to be a relaxing family time of the year is likely to be reduced to bedlam as visitors try to cram on to infrequent bus services, while the road…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Who enforces tram lanes?

    The rules around tram lanes are reasonably easy to understand: basically, stay out of the way of trams. But lots of motorists block trams, and it’s unclear if they are ever penalised for it. In cities such as London, cameras on buses catch motorists illegally using bus lanes. Perhaps it’s time these were used on…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Old and fading bus stop signs

    There are two problems here: firstly, it’s been more than two years since Connex departed Melbourne, so why are their Rail Substitute Bus Stops still displayed at numerous locations around Melbourne, particularly as newer Metro signs can be found as well? Secondly, and more seriously: Metlink’s standardisation of signage, and detailed bus stop signs and…

  • PT Problem of the Day: The myriad of organisations planning and running public transport remains

    It’s been just over a year since we first presented this flowchart of all the organisations involved in public transport in Victoria. Shortly afterwards Coalition announced an election policy to streamline this maze of different bodies with the Public Transport Development Authority. This Friday it’ll be a year since the Coalition government was sworn in.…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Tram priority at traffic lights

    This is an all-too familiar sight across Melbourne: trams wasting up to a third of their time waiting at red lights. This has resulted in Melbourne having one of the slowest tram systems in the world. Trams (and buses) that may be carrying 20, 50, or even 200 people should have priority over other vehicles,…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Tram-only traffic lights could save passengers time, but aren’t working

    These tram-only lights are meant to light up to indicate when the tram can depart to get a green at the next intersection. It’s not as good as proper tram traffic light priority of course, but could help tram drivers wait at stops (where passengers can board) rather than at red lights (which is just…

  • Eddington’s tunnel vision

    Some things never change. Rod Eddington is still spruiking the east-west road tunnel, even though his own report in 2008 said it would return just 45c in benefits for every dollar spent on it. We can now see that the assumptions underlying the East West report were flawed. Metlink reports that public transport use grew…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Is this the way to Flinders Street Station?

    Down these stairs is the quickest way into Flinders Street Station from the popular Centre Place/Degraves Street/Flinders Lane area. The underground Campbell Arcade goes under the road and direct into the station, so (at least when it’s open — which it’s unfortunately not on Sundays) people headed for the station can avoid waiting for traffic…

  • Melbourne’s Sunday trains arrive late – timetable needs shake-up

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has found in a comparison study that — measured by first train time — Melbourne has some of the worst Sunday morning train services in Australia. “Our trains start too late, and are too infrequent on Sundays”, said PTUA President Daniel Bowen. The PTUA compared train timetables from across…

    Melbourne’s Sunday trains arrive late – timetable needs shake-up

  • PT Problem of the Day: #MetroTrains Coolaroo station missing from online maps

    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…

  • PT Problem of the Day: Poor information during disruptions

    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…