Category: Media releases

  • Joint release: Alliance urges Govt to rebalance transport budget

    A new report by the Rapid Active & Affordable Transport Alliance (RAATA), Investing in sustainable transport: Our clean, green transport future, urges the Federal Government to catch up on years of neglect by investing two thirds of the transport budget in public and active transport measures. Speaking today at the report launch in Canberra, ACF…

  • Station design short-sighted

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has condemned Vicroads for the lack of public consultation before releasing their concept plan for the Springvale Road Rail Separation Project. As the plan does not meet the basic design principles for a proper transport interchange, the PTUA has called for a complete redesign of the project. “A railway…

  • Hole in the bus timetable – Please fix now

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has criticised the inadequate weekend timetable for the 903 bus, stating that its lopsided frequency is resulting in overcrowding and confusion. To rectify the problem it has called for buses every 15 minutes between Mordialloc and Heidelberg. “Here we have this bizarre arrangement where Saturday buses run at mixed…

  • Trains every 10 minutes welcomed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement of a new train timetable to begin in July. PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that the introduction of trains every ten minutes on the Werribee line was a significant step forward. “This is the first step towards a ‘metro’-style rail service in Melbourne. The next…

  • Side-effects of car use costing Australia $100 billion per year

    The side effects of motor vehicle use are costing Australia at least $100 billion each year, according to a submission released by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) today. The cost of impacts such as pollution and road trauma are more than three times the level of taxes and charges on road users, based on…

  • It’s a new era of Federal funding, but are these the right projects?

    The Federal Government are to be congratulated for finally putting money into urban public transport, which will cut congestion by getting cars off the road, cut emissions, and give people more sustainable transport choices. But brickbats are due to the Brumby State Government for advancing flawed projects, says the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). Despite…

  • Brumby to blame for poor Federal transport priorities

    Public transport infrastructure announced for Melbourne in this year’s “nation building” Federal Budget may not deliver any real benefit to passengers – and the Brumby State Government is entirely to blame, says the PTUA. “All indications are that when it comes to Victorian public transport, Wayne Swan will be ploughing all the available money into…

  • PTUA Advances Liveable Transport Plan Alternative

    Melbourne’s train services would double, buses would run every 10 minutes on every arterial road, and more country rail lines would be restored. And this would only cost 40% of the government’s $38 billion transport plan, according to a new report released today by the PTUA. The Connecting to the Future report is billed as…

  • PTUA calls for station “gateway” flags

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for the Australian flags on the Westgate bridge to be moved to Footscray station, in recognition that the station carries more people through it than the bridge at peak hour. (Artist’s impression) The Westgate Bridge was fitted with two flags in 2008, costing $350,000 (plus $17,000 per…

  • Opposition to Sunbury electrification an indictment of Connex

    Community fears betray poor standard of metro train service, says PTUA Calls by sections of the Sunbury community to retain the existing V/Line service in preference to more frequent suburban train services are “an indictment of Connex’s poor standard of service”, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today, while restating its support for the…

  • Service ‘useless’ without stops

    Following intense lobbying from community groups such as the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Templestowe Road Reference Panel, recent State Government bus service reviews have finally provided two-directional public transport services along Templestowe Road. However, without any bus stops on the northern side of the road, the new service is useless if it cannot…

  • 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.…