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Category: Media releases

  • 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…

  • Plan will sit on shelf unless priorities change, says PTUA

    Welcome news on high capacity signalling, but must be fast-tracked Public Transport Victoria’s new Rail Network Development Plan risks joining previous attempts and gathering dust on a shelf, due to its reliance on expensive, unfunded and premature tunnels, the Public Transport Users Association said today. “This plan has all the right individual elements in it,”…

  • Doncaster Rail Report is “Topsy-Turvy Planning”, says PTUA

    Making the Doncaster rail extension conditional on undergrounding the South Morang line is unnecessary and an excuse to kill the project, the Public Transport Users Association said today. “The government all but promised to build the Doncaster extension in 2010, but they failed to confront a bureaucracy that’s too fond of making excuses to do…

  • Ditch road tunnel and remove level crossings instead, Liberals urged

    The Victorian and federal Liberal parties should forget the uneconomic East-West road tunnel and instead direct road funding to a widespread program of level crossing removals, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “Even being optimistic, the Eddington study found the East-West tollroad would cost several billion dollars more than any benefits it would…

  • Rowville Rail possible with Dandenong upgrade, no Metro tunnel

    Get cracking on Dandenong line upgrade, but Metro tunnel a distraction: PTUA Signalling upgrades and grade separations on the Dandenong line should proceed immediately to boost service to growth suburbs and enable the Rowville rail extension. But claims that the Melbourne Metro tunnel from Footscray to South Yarra is a prerequisite to Rowville rail are…

  • Baillieu urged to invest in public transport to save time, money and lives: PTUA

    A renewed focus on improving public transport is needed to save Victorians time and money, and to cut the toll of death and injury on the roads, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “Car dependence means more money has to be spent battling road congestion, more time is wasted in traffic, and more…

  • Train, tram, bus users slugged to pay for Baillieu’s roads

    7% fare rise cannot be justified, says PTUA The Baillieu Government appears to be using its predecessor’s budgeted fare hikes to help bankroll its destructive East West motorway, the Public Transport Users Association said today. The 7% fare rise takes effect today, three days after the government abolished Metcard, forcing all passengers onto the troubled…

  • Users group welcomes reintroduction of paper tickets

    The Public Transport Users Association is encouraged by the re-introduction of a conveniently priced paper ticket option as an alternative to Myki – although it will only be available to Seniors Card holders travelling on Mornington Peninsula buses. Seniors have been up in arms in recent months as it became evident that the Seniors Daily…

  • Road safety strategy must offer safer transport alternatives and protect vulnerable road users

    Victoria’s new road safety strategy must offer alternatives to car travel if it is to succeed in slashing the road toll, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “You’re over five times more likely to die in a car than on public transport, and over 10 times more likely to be seriously injured on…

  • Break down the ‘Myki barrier’: Petition launched for single-use tickets

    The Public Transport Users Association today launched an on-line petition calling on the State Government to make single-use tickets available for occasional users and tourists, and stop compulsory Myki purchase becoming a barrier to public transport use. The on-line petition, at www.mykisingles.com, calls for single-use 2-hour and daily tickets to be made available throughout Victoria…

  • Baillieu Report Card: ‘Go slow’ on public transport but foot to the floor on motorways

    The Public Transport Users Association today released its report card on the Baillieu Government’s first two years, with the State Government earning a D for stalling on public transport upgrades whilst pushing expensive new roads. President Tony Morton said the government had been engaged in ‘half-hearted box-ticking’ on some public transport election promises, starting feasibility…

  • Kennett-era project sets bar for affordable level crossing removal

    Melbourne crossings could be wiped out for cost of East West road link, says PTUA Eliminating most level crossings in Melbourne to catch up with Sydney could create economic benefits exceeding those from the East West road link, the Public Transport Users Association said today. “This idea spread by the government that grade separations have…