Author: PTUA
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PTUA calls for immediate action on Port Rail Link
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has urged the Victorian Labor government and Liberal/National Opposition to incorporate plans for direct freight rail links to the Port of Melbourne as part of the lease being debated in Parliament this week. PTUA President Tony Morton said, “Without direct rail links from the Port to an intermodal rail…
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Level crossing removal – all options must be on the table
The PTUA believes the government is right to consider all options for removal of level crossings. Elevated rail, if it’s designed well, can be done more economically, with fewer disruption impacts and with less of a long term impact on communities than putting the railway under the road, which is expensive and time consuming, and…
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It’s time for Fairer fines – Please take our survey
On December 11th 2015, Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan announced a review of public transport infringements including the 18 month-old $75 on the spot fines, handed out by the Authorised Officers that frequent our trains, trams and buses. After hearing stories of people feeling pressured to pay $75 to avoid receiving a full fine of…
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World’s busiest airports have rail connections – Melbourne missing out
The majority of the world’s busiest airports have mass transit connections, and the number is increasing every year. A Public Transport Users Assocation (PTUA) study of airports around the world to be released at a forum on Friday found that by 2021, 83 of the world’s busiest 100 airports will have rail services. Of the…
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Mr Turnbull unlocks the box, but will public transport benefit?
The Public Transport Users Association today congratulates Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for opening the “locked box” reserved by former PM Tony Abbott for the wasteful and ideologically motivated East West Link project. At the same time, the Association urges the State and Federal Governments to use the opportunity to fund urgently needed public transport upgrades,…
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PTUA welcomes new PM
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the position, and expressed the hope that his ascension will herald a new era of Federal funding for both urban and regional public transport. “Mr Turnbull is to be congratulated”, said PTUA President Tony Morton. “While we may not see him…
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Homesafe a great start to all-night weekend PT
The PTUA has welcomed confirmation that the “Homesafe” all-night weekend public transport services will start in January 2016, while noting that the government would need to make adjustments to the trial as it became clearer what worked and what didn’t. PTUA spokesman Daniel Bowen said that Melburnians had been calling for all-night trams and trains…
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Flashback Friday (and: film screening postponed)
Regrettably we have had to postpone our planned fundraiser film screening of the Outer Circle Railway documentary on Friday July 17th. Our apologies – we will advise when we are able to re-schedule this event. In the mean time, please enjoy this, from The Age, advertising the opening of the City Loop back in 1981.…
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Deja vu on road plan
The budget appears set to transfer $1.5 billion of public funds from one big road with no political mandate or business case to another (“East West Link replacement likely …”, 11/5). If the government had any consideration for the Victorian public, this money would revert to its original 2013 purpose, helping fund the project that…
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State Budget: Big boost for rail, less for trams and buses
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has praised the State Budget for taking significant strides to bring the rail system into the 21st century, but noted tram upgrades are more limited, and most bus routes are unlikely to see any improvements. PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said the Andrews Government deserved credit for taking rail transport…
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Westlink revival: Where’s the business case?
PTUA Demands End to ‘Knee-Jerk Planning’ The Public Transport Users Association has demanded the Andrews Government and Transurban publish all analysis supporting the government’s decision to progress the $5.5 billion Western Distributor toll road project. “The government has joined up with the company that makes money off tollroads, and together they’re springing on the public…
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End of East West Link ‘Zombie project’ a victory for Victoria
State, Feds must now get moving on positive agenda, says PTUA. The Public Transport Users Association has welcomed the settlement between the Andrews Government and the East West Link consortium for the sum of $339 million. “After many months of claim and counterclaim from all sides of this affair it is a great relief for…
