Category: PT Problem of the Day

The new X’trapolis trains have been rolling-out onto the rails for just over a year now. They’ve been wisely designed with lots of hand holds, but whose bright idea was it to place the internal signs behind them? As a result the next station and destination of the train are often obscured. Are you unhappy…

It’s not just trams and trains that are getting increasingly overcrowded: buses are too. (Admittedly on this particular bus, there is still room for some extra passengers; some are much more squishy.) While there are 50 new trams, and dozens of new trains on the way, there’s no big push for more bus services. In…

Metlink and Yarra Trams have issued a new tram map. Unlike some older versions, this one actually allows you to see where all the trams go and how they connect. Unfortunately the map has quite a number of minor errors in it. In this excerpt from the St Kilda area, errors include: Windsor Station is…

It’s only a little niggly thing of course, but many of the relatively new bins around the rail system have lost their markings. Unless you can remember that yellow is for recycling, you’re likely to end up putting your rubbish in the wrong bin… which doesn’t exactly help public transport be as environmentally friendly as…

Despite Metlink/Viclink replacing most signs around the public transport network, some old ones remain, potentially causing much confusion. This one at Footscray dates back to the Regional Fast Rail project, which was completed in 2006. Help our campaign for better public transport. Join the PTUA now. We rely entirely on member funding and enthusiastic volunteers…

Almost 18 months after Myki started on metropolitan trains, some stations still don’t have enough readers. While some Myki equipment (such as station vending machines) can’t be installed until Metcard machines are removed to make space, Myki readers take little space. At spots like this — the entrance to platforms 1 and 2 at Mckinnon,…

There were major delays to Metro and V/Line services on the Werribee/Geelong line on Tuesday night after a train hit a shopping trolley. Some V/Line passengers were stuck on their train for several hours. Obviously the root cause of the problem was the thoughtless people who dumped the shopping trolley on the tracks, but a…

Most suburban bus services, including those serving major centres such as Chadstone, are woefully inadequate. A bus every half-hour on weekdays (including peak hour) and only every hour on weekends and in the evenings is typical. Smartbuses serve some areas, but most are not that lucky — and even those only run every 30 minutes…

Yarra Trams’ own figures show trams spend an average of 17% of travel time waiting at traffic lights. PTUA figures show on some sections of road, it can be up to 30%. Lack of tram priority wastes passengers’ time, wastes resources (trams and drivers), leads to less frequent services, and leads to more overcrowding. Help…

Level crossings right across Melbourne cause delays to buses, trams, cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. They are also prone to incidents that cause long delays to trains. In Sydney they’ve worked to remove virtually all level crossings — but in Melbourne there are still hundreds in the suburban area. Help our campaign for better public transport.…

While some tram stops have been upgraded to include DDA (wheelchair) access, seats and shelters, many remain unpleasant places to wait. This stop in Kingsway is in the middle of a traffic sewer, with no shelter, and very little space. Are you unhappy with public transport? Use our online tool to write to your local…

Fortunately it doesn’t seem to have happened this week, but flooding in subways and other parts of railway stations has become a regular occurrence. Ormond, Blackburn and Surrey Hills are often unusable during heavy rain due to the poor drainage in their subways, forcing trains to bypass them. They and other stations are obviously in…