Category: Geelong
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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…
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Transport review must include the regional rail link
The PTUA has called on the Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder, to include an evaluation of the Regional Rail Link (RRL) in the review of the former government’s transport plan. PTUA Geelong Branch convenor Paul Westcott noted that in his recent announcement of the review, Mr Mulder said all projects proposed in the Victorian…
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Users welcome more frequent Geelong trains – but what about network planning?
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed Labor’s policy, announced today, to run more frequent Geelong trains during the day on weekdays. But they have also called for better planning to help passengers get to stations, saying many new buses will only meet every third train. The Labor Party policy promises trains every twenty…
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Users welcome Greens support for a Geelong public transport authority
Public transport users have welcomed the Greens’ support for a dedicated public transport authority for Geelong, which promises to give the region a greater say over its public transport services. Convenor of the Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association, Paul Westcott, congratulated the Greens for being the first major party to pick up…
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Call for more V/Line services to cut waiting times
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…
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Crucial interchange bypassed by Regional Rail Link
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…
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Half-hourly services way to go
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has refreshed calls for an increase of services running on the Geelong rail line, calling for half-hourly services all day to Victoria’s largest regional city to better meet the needs of thousands of commuters and ease congestion on roads.
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Users ask the government how much slower the new rail link to Geelong will be
In a submission to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry, the Geelong branch of the PTUA has called on the State Government to clarify how much time the Regional Rail Link will add to the journey for Geelong travellers. The Legislative Council Select Committee on Train Services is inquiring into the “failures in the provision of metropolitan…
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Passengers give thumbs-down to failed Myki
The Public Transport Users Association has flagged the first week of operation of Myki on Geelong’s buses as a failure, following feedback from Geelong commuters. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said the association’s Geelong Branch had closely watched the introduction of the multi-million dollar Myki ticket system, and passengers had given it a big thumbs down.…
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Bus Users Welcome Council’s Tick for Moorabool Street
The Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association has congratulated the council on its decision to reinstate a central bus interchange in Moorabool Street. Geelong Branch convenor Paul Westcott said that the decision would make Geelong’s bus system more user-friendly and remove a major obstacle to future upgrades. “It’s very pleasing to see the…
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Council stalls on bus stops
The City of Greater Geelong Council has stalled again on approving the location of Geelong’s central bus interchange, blocking $80 million of State Government funding for improvements to the whole bus system. At its meeting on Tuesday night, the Council deferred, for the second time, any decision to approve the recommendation of council officers to…
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Call for Council Candidates to Come Clean on Central Buses
The Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association has called on all candidates for the City of Greater Geelong council to declare their support for the return of a bus interchange to Moorabool Street. Branch convenor Paul Westcott said Geelong voters had a right to know if their councillors were going to stand in…