Author: PTUA

  • Conference: the Future of Melbourne’s Public Transport

    Half-day conference, Tuesday 20th February 9am-1pm Organised by the Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT), Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), and the Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) Our rail system is in crisis; public transport is required to lift its game to meet the targets set in Melbourne 2030; the franchise…

  • High petrol prices a sign of worse to come

    Rising petrol prices over recent years are giving Australians a glimpse of the future, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) warned today. The warning came as a Senate Inquiry into future oil supplies highlighted growing doubts about the ability of global supplies to meet projected demand. “The transport status quo is a recipe for disaster,”…

  • Users call on Bracks to sack Connex

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) today called on the Bracks Government to commit to not renewing the suburban train franchise with Connex in 2008. The call comes after unprecedented disruptions to train services, due to problems with the braking systems on Siemens trains. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said Connex had been aware of the…

  • Melbourne set to grind to a halt

    Make no mistake: our public transport system is in crisis, and if safety concerns force the removal of the remaining Siemens trains from the network, the city is in danger of grinding to a halt. But it is the height of negligence for the Bracks Government to try and wash its hands of the matter…

  • Hold onto your train tickets — Compensation available

    Monthly and longer ticketholders will get compensation from Connex for January for the large number of cancelled and delayed trains. While it is only a Daily ticket — more of a token than genuine compensation — and it does not apply to shorter term ticketholders who have also put up with poor train services this…

  • Successful project a hopeful sign of things to come

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has congratulated the new Minister for Public Transport in delivering the Middleborough Road grade separation project ahead of schedule and with minimal inconvenience. “The Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, deserves congratulations for overseeing the Middleborough Road grade separation project and delivering a project ahead of schedule,” said PTUA…

  • Summer timetables lack consistency

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for a permanent end to ‘Summer’ service cutbacks and consistent timetables throughout the summer period. “There is currently no consistency between the summer timetables used on the train and tram network and the summer timetables used for buses”, said PTUA Vice-President Alex Makin. “In addition the detrimental…

  • Tram extension would complement new Shoppingtown

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the State Government to fund the Doncaster tram extension so that the project could be completed simultaneously with the Doncaster Shoppingtown extension. “Doncaster’s status as an activity centre in Melbourne 2030 is still under threat despite the beginnings of the Doncaster Shoppingtown expansion,” said PTUA Vice-President…

  • Transport users welcome Rudd infrastructure plan

    Transport users, the environment and business would all win from a refocussing of federal transport policy, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “High oil prices have bitten household budgets and retail spending, and inadequate transport alternatives have fuelled increasing congestion and greenhouse emissions,” said PTUA President Daniel Bowen. “Federal funding for public transport…

  • December 2006 newsletter

    Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters. December 2006 edition articles: Batchelor gone: High hopes for new minister Transport highlighted on the hustings East and south eastern suburbs make their voices heard South Morang Rail – a victory of sorts Geelong branch report What Labor promised Connex driving away customers – weekend overcrowding

  • New public transport minister welcomed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the appointment of Lynne Kosky as the Minister for Public Transport. PTUA president Daniel Bowen said Ms Kosky had demonstrated her abilities to achieve innovation and reform in her previous position as Minister for Education and Training. “We hope that Ms Kosky will renew the government’s focus…

  • Libs South Barwon loss highlights lack of transport vision

    The Liberals’ failure to win South Barwon highlights the party’s lack of a broad vision for public transport throughout the electorate, the Public Transport Users Association said today.