Trains, trams and Smartbuses every ten minutes, all suburban stations staffed, V/Line trains every half-hour on main commuter routes, “Tram-cams” to catch careless motorists, and a Public Transport Authority to better plan and manage public transport all feature in the Public Transport Users Association’s call to the political parties in the run-up to the state election in November.
PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that in the next four years, significant steps could be taken towards providing all of Melbourne with frequent services, running at least every ten minutes, seven days-a-week. Continue reading Users present public transport vision→
As the state election approaches, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for upgrades to V/Line short distance services[1] to run at least every 30 minutes, seven days-a-week.
PTUA regional spokesman Paul Westcott said that with strong patronage growth, V/Line train services are increasingly overcrowded not just in peak times, but also at off-peak times, including weekends, and that waiting times are excessive.
“You will wait an hour between trains from Geelong to Melbourne, for example. You could drive the distance in that time.
The Public Transport Users Association has expressed serious concerns over the revelation that no platforms will be provided at North Melbourne station for Geelong rail passengers travelling on the forthcoming Regional Rail Link.
Although extra platforms will be provided at both Footscray and Southern Cross stations as part of the $4.2bn project, the Department of Transport has told the PTUA that platforms at North Melbourne won’t be provided, apparently to keep costs down.
North Melbourne is currently a major interchange point for travellers on the Geelong line, providing connections to City Loop services, as well as the recently-introduced 401 shuttle bus from North Melbourne to the university and hospital precincts in Parkville. The 401 was established in part to assist Geelong line commuters.
“Given that $4.2 billion is to be spent on this scheme, it is completely unacceptable that such a vital and well-used interchange point will be by-passed,” PTUA Geelong Branch convenor Paul Westcott said. Continue reading Crucial interchange bypassed by Regional Rail Link→
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for an increase to the Brumby Government “Minimum Service Standards” for bus services in Metropolitan Melbourne, and called for the same standard to be introduced into Victoria’s major regional cities.
The program, introduced in 2006, set a minimum benchmark of an hourly bus service until 9pm, and was a step forward in addressing a long-term problem with Melbourne’s inadequate, dysfunctional bus network, resulting in patronage growth across the network. Continue reading Call to increase minimum bus levels→
The Federal Government are to be congratulated for finally putting money into urban public transport, which will cut congestion by getting cars off the road, cut emissions, and give people more sustainable transport choices. But brickbats are due to the Brumby State Government for advancing flawed projects, says the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).
Despite the name, the Regional Rail Express project funded by the Federal government will help metropolitan train users, by separating out fast and stopping trains, allowing many more trains and better reliability. The lengthening of platforms at stations is also good news for regional and outer-urban passengers. Continue reading It’s a new era of Federal funding, but are these the right projects?→
Melbourne’s train services would double, buses would run every 10 minutes on every arterial road, and more country rail lines would be restored. And this would only cost 40% of the government’s $38 billion transport plan, according to a new report released today by the PTUA.
The Connecting to the Future report is billed as the alternative to the Victorian Transport Plan. Its proposed package of improved public transport services and targeted road works includes rail extensions to Rowville, Doncaster, Mernda, Clyde, Mornington and the Airport, tram extensions, return of conductors to trams and staff to all stations, country train lines, level crossing removals, rural road and bridge repairs, and a massive boost to bus services. Continue reading PTUA Advances Liveable Transport Plan Alternative→
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the government to take the next big step in upgrading public transport services.
In launching their “Every 10 minutes to everywhere” plan at a climate change and transport forum at Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday, PTUA president Daniel Bowen noted the urgency for action on climate change, and said that it was time to provide people right across Melbourne and regional cities with a viable alternative to driving. Continue reading Call for services “every 10 minutes to everywhere”→
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed today’s announcement that the broad gauge rail line from Seymour to Albury will be standardised and upgraded under a deal between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments, but criticised the rail “bypass” plan that will see Wodonga’s station moved. Continue reading Albury Rail Standardisation Welcomed→
Following news that V/Line might abandon passenger rail services from Wangaratta to Albury because of the poor condition of the track, the Public Transport Users Association has urged the Victorian Government to immediately begin negotiations with the federal Government for the conversion of the inadequate broad gauge line to standard gauge.
“The Victorian rail network beyond the Regional Fast Rail (RFR) corridors is in crisis,” PTUA regional spokesperson Paul Westcott said. He noted that the Albury line wasn’t part of the RFR upgrade and has been largely neglected. Continue reading State Government must act on passenger rail shutdown→
A national coalition of transport groups has urged the federal government to fund a major rail network upgrade to enable the introduction of high speed passenger services and ensure the viability of regional rail freight services.
In a submission ahead of this year’s federal budget [1], the sustainable transport coalition, which includes Victoria’s Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), has recommended that the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure investment begin with dragging Australia’s rail network out of the steam age and into the 21st century. Continue reading National commitment to rail network urgently needed→
The public transport advocacy group for Victoria, Australia
Trains, trams and Smartbuses every ten minutes, all suburban stations staffed, V/Line trains every half-hour on main commuter routes, “Tram-cams” to catch careless motorists, and a Public Transport Authority to better plan and manage public transport all feature in the Public Transport Users Association’s call to the political parties in the run-up to the state election in November.
