Category: Regional
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Ballarat bus passengers still waiting
A new bus timetable for Ballarat will come into effect on 27 August to align with new train times, but the Public Transport Users Association note that most problems with the timetables still remain. Since January 2017, Ballarat bus timetables have been excessively padded out, with overly-generous estimates for how long parts of a journey…
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PTUA welcomes funding of bus interchange at Ballarat station
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) today welcomed the announcement of $5 million funding for the construction of a new bus interchange at Ballarat railway station, to be completed in 2018. The bus interchange had been included in draft plans during public consultation, but notably was not funded in Ballarat Station Precinct works announced in…
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PTUA forms Ballarat Branch
For the last 40 years, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has been fighting for better public transport in Melbourne. The Geelong branch of the PTUA has existed for over a decade, and has campaigned for the whole of regional Victoria. The PTUA is pleased to announce the formation of a Ballarat branch, which will…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Regional Rail Link must be reviewed, users say
The Public Transport Users Association has criticised the state government for giving the go-ahead to the Regional Rail Link (RRL), without an independent review to fix the project’s problems and explore alternative plans. PTUA secretary Tony Morton said the government’s approval made a mockery of its commitment to set up an independent Public Transport Development…
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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…
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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…
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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…