Category: Geelong

  • PTUA calls for Action Following Tragic Fatality at North Shore Level Crossing

    Last month, a tragic collision occurred between a train and a truck at the North Shore Road level crossing in Geelong, resulting in the loss of a life. The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The PTUA urgently calls for the removal of this dangerous…

    PTUA calls for Action Following Tragic Fatality at North Shore Level Crossing
  • Public transport users welcome Geelong rail duplication agreement

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the commitment by the federal government to fully fund its share of the planned duplication of the rail line from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds. PTUA Geelong Branch convener, Paul Westcott, said that the project had been on the agenda ever since the opening of Marshall station…

    Public transport users welcome Geelong rail duplication agreement
  • IA assessments questionable

    The Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association has queried the logic of Infrastructure Australia’s negative response to the business case for the duplication of the South Geelong-Waurn Ponds rail line. Branch convener Paul Westcott noted that Infrastructure Australia seems to be saying that the project would stack up if some changes were made.…

    IA assessments questionable
  • PTUA welcomes study into high speed rail for Geelong

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the state government’s announcement of a study into faster rail services for Geelong. A $50 million study will investigate the possibility of trains running at between 250 and 300km/h between Melbourne and Geelong. PTUA Geelong Branch Convener and Regional Spokesperson, Paul Westcott, said faster trains would provide…

    PTUA welcomes study into high speed rail for Geelong
  • New Geelong rail services create need for better bus services

    Public transport users welcomed the announcement by the Labor Party that it would introduce 20-minute off-peak rail services to Melbourne if elected in November.

    New Geelong rail services create need for better bus services
  • Another Myki mess – Government scraps our most popular ticket

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) revealed today the Victorian Government will scrap the use of short-term tickets on Geelong buses in the middle of next month. PTUA Geelong Branch Convenor Paul Westcott said that move was the worst decision since the introduction of Myki itself, and would cause huge problems for bus users in…

  • Rail users call on MPs to save North Melbourne stop

    Volunteers will hand out fliers at Geelong railway stations this week, asking passengers to contact state and federal MPs to help save stops at North Melbourne station. When the Regional Rail Link opens, Geelong line trains will run past North Melbourne station without a stop, despite it being the best station for changes to the…

  • Minister’s spin doesn’t wash

    The Public Transport Users Association has described as “pure spin” Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder’s excuse for regional trains not stopping at North Melbourne station under the Regional Rail Link (RRL) “The minister is trying to dress up a downgrade as an improvement,” PTUA regional spokesperson Paul Westcott said. Mr Mulder has said that continuing…

  • Bus users call for new paper tickets to replace short-term Myki

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder to clarify the position regarding Myki short-term tickets. PTUA Regional Spokesman Paul Westcott said yesterday’s announcement about Myki had created uncertainty for regional bus users in areas using Myki, including Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. “Over sixty percent of bus travellers…

  • Geelong Branch: Regional Rail Link needs independent review, users say

    The Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association is disappointed that the state government has given the go-ahead to the Regional Rail Link (RRL) without any real changes. “When he was in opposition, Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder made a number of pointed criticisms of the scheme, yet now he has rushed into announcing…

  • Regional Rail Link: Many better ways to spend $5bn

    JASON Dowling’s defence of the Regional Rail Link (Comment, 22/2) essentially asserts that a project costing about $5 billion must be a good thing. What began as a line on a map in the Eddington report has evolved secretly and fitfully. We still have no idea how train services will be organised, but we do…

  • Billion dollar rail blowout a blessing in disguise

    The billion dollar blowout in the construction costs of the Regional Rail Link, reported in the Australian Financial Review today (3 February 2011), could provide the opportunity to revise the project and fix its worst problems, the Public Transport Users Association has said. Secretary Tony Morton said that well-chosen experts for the proposed new Public…