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Category: Media releases

  • Bus as slow as bicycle – Rowville train needed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has renewed calls for the immediate construction of the Rowville Railway line, describing the route 900 Wellington Road SmartBus as inadequate. “Bus services just cannot be compared with trains,” said Jeremy Lunn, the PTUA’s Outer-East Convenor. “The bus crawls along at bicycle pace resulting in travel times of over…

  • Box Hill Commuters ‘hold on’ for Toilets

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for the immediate installation of toilet facilities to be installed at Box Hill railway station, the only Premium Station in Melbourne without any toilet facilities. “Commuters have to go out of their way on a stroll through the shopping centre to find a toilet,” said Jeremy Lunn,…

  • Petition to end bus drought

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has launched a petition demanding an end to inadequate bus services along Canterbury Road and calling for a new ‘SmartBus’ service operating between Box Hill and Ringwood serving commuters, business and the community. “The bureaucrats and the Brumby Government are just not paying attention to the needs of the…

  • Federal road funding blows Geelong’s greenhouse budget

    Geelong’s transport greenhouse gas emissions will rise even faster under proposals from both major parties to upgrade major roads instead of improving public transport, the Public Transport Users Association has warned. Geelong Branch Convener Paul Westcott said both parties also risked making the region more vulnerable to high petrol prices by increasing dependence on cars,…

  • How to vote for public transport this Saturday

    While Climate Change is now a mainstream issue, the major parties continue to ignore the impact of transport — which accounts for up to half of household emissions. Better public transport would also relieve pain from petrol prices, traffic congestion, impact on obesity, access to education and work opportunities, and spread property demand better around…

  • Cut our oil addiction, parties told

    Public transport groups today urged the federal government and opposition to develop land transport plans that reduce reliance on costly and polluting oil. “The PM has highlighted the negative impacts of our oil addiction on two consecutive days now,” said Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) President Daniel Bowen. “First he said high oil prices are…

  • South Morang extension funding welcomed, but buck passing not

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the Federal Coalition’s commitment of funds to the Mernda rail extension in Melbourne’s north. “This rail extension will help to cut greenhouse emissions and fuel expenses in the heart of the mortgage belt where transport costs put major pressure on household finances,” said PTUA President Daniel Bowen.…

  • Election campaign starts, but public transport users still waiting

    With a federal election date now set, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the parties to commit to improving public transport infrastructure to reduce greenhouse emissions and provide relief from high petrol prices and congestion. “Each day the science on climate change is becoming more certain, more alarming and clearer in the…

  • Call for decisive action on train network

    In the face of growing delays and overcrowding, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has urged the government to take decisive action to overhaul train services, to cut waiting times, improve reliability, and to handle and encourage further patronage growth. In releasing the PTUA’s “Getting Melbourne’s Rail System Back on Track” document, Mr Bowen said…

  • Roads Minister keeps passengers stuck in traffic

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) today expressed frustration with Roads Minister Tim Pallas’ failure to speed up road-based public transport, especially buses, due to lack of action on priority measures. “Roads Minister Tim Pallas needs to stop dragging his feet and start listening to the community, transport experts and his own advisors who all…

  • ‘Dead Time’ tolls trams

    Traffic lights “designed to make trams slow”, study finds Melbourne’s trams are spending up to a third of their travel time needlessly stationary, at a cost of millions of dollars a year, according to research to be presented at a major transport conference today. “We call it ‘dead time’,” said Tony Morton, who carried out…

  • New timetables welcomed — Now more trains needed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement of extra train services onto Melbourne’s overcrowded rail network, but warned that this should only be the first step to addressing the problems plaguing the system. “Premier Brumby knows he has to work to solve our transport crisis, and this is a good first step”,…