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Category: Media releases

  • New minister faces big challenge

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has wished departing Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky well, noting that her successor will have a big job ahead to reform Melbourne and Victoria’s public transport network. “Lynne Kosky has been much maligned, but she inherited a number of problems from former minister Peter Batchelor, including poor maintenance practices…

  • It’s called Metro, let’s run it like a Metro

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed Metro Trains Melbourne on its first day of operation, and called for the government to boost services across the week. “Around the world, the name ‘Metro’ means a service with frequent trains, from early to late, seven-days-a-week. This is what the government must commit to for Melbourne”,…

  • SmartBus stops short

    Most of the Victorian government’s flagship SmartBus routes fail to meet the defined SmartBus service standard, which itself is well below the level of service provided by Melbourne’s trams, a study by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has found.

  • Myki: swings and roundabouts for passengers

    The Public Transport Users Association said today that the introduction of the new multi-million-dollar Myki ticketing system to Melbourne, and later to V/Line services would bring benefits to passengers, but also some problems. “Myki does bring advantages”, said PTUA president Daniel Bowen. “It will provide much better access to the cheapest fares, such as $3…

  • Full-time bus priority needed for Hoddle Street

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has today called for the immediate introduction of full-time bus lanes in Hoddle Street to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times for bus commuters travelling along one of Melbourne’s busiest corridors. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that the current situation must be fixed. “More people can be moved…

  • 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.

  • Call to increase minimum bus levels

    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…

  • Cross out Melbourne’s level crossings

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has renewed calls for Melbourne’s level crossing elimination program to be reintroduced, highlighting the safety benefits for the community, and listed ten crossings on Melbourne’s tram and orbital SmartBus networks as the first priority. (Jump to map) PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that “Sydney actively removed its level crossings…

  • PTUA welcomes pledge for more reliable trams, trains

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed new operators KDR (to trade as “Yarra Trams”) and MTM (“Metro”) to Melbourne, but warned that they with the government will have to work hard to improve public transport reliability. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said the companies had their work cut out for them. “It’s great to…

  • Senate inquiry backs transport planning reforms

    The Federal Government should insist that State transport bureaucracies reform their planning processes in order to receive public transport funding, a Senate committee has concluded.

  • 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…

  • PTUA greets new operators, but warns real reform needed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has extended a marvellous Melbourne greeting to new train operator Metro Trains and new tram operator Keolis / Downer, but reminded the government that it still needs to do more to coordinate services and fix infrastructure problems on trams and trains. “We hope both the new operators will do…