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Category: Media releases

  • Signalling could boost rail capacity by 50%

    Installation of high capacity signalling across Melbourne’s rail network would improve the capacity of the network by 50%, the Public Transport Users Association says. Speaking at the 5th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference, PTUA President Dr Tony Morton outlined how an upgrade to Melbourne’s network would increase the capacity of lines into the city, accommodating…

  • Three cheers for $3 billion on Melbourne rail – but be flexible and take advice

    Uncertainty still shrouds Melbourne’s transport future, says user group The Public Transport User Association has backed a $3 billion commitment in the Federal budget to the Melbourne Metro rail project. But with another $6 billion needed from the State Government and the private sector, concerns abound still about the likelihood of the project proceeding, including…

  • Transport group slams government ‘obsession’ with east west toll road

    Government has one chance to redeem itself on public transport, says PTUA The state government has “abandoned reason for madness” in committing to a $15 billion road project in the face of falling GST revenue, declining car use per capita and mounting private sector toll-road failures, the Public Transport Users Association said today. Meanwhile there…

  • Funding Rail is Vital but Avoid Hasty Promises, urges PTUA

    The Public Transport Users Association today released a list of urgently needed Victorian rail projects they say should take priority over the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel and East West tollroad for Federal funding. “We are encouraged by the Gillard Government’s strong stand in favour of Federal funding for urban rail in Australia,” said PTUA President…

    Funding Rail is Vital but Avoid Hasty Promises, urges PTUA

  • Another Myki mess – Government scraps our most popular ticket

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) revealed today the Victorian Government will scrap the use of short-term tickets on Geelong buses in the middle of next month. PTUA Geelong Branch Convenor Paul Westcott said that move was the worst decision since the introduction of Myki itself, and would cause huge problems for bus users in…

  • Plan will sit on shelf unless priorities change, says PTUA

    Welcome news on high capacity signalling, but must be fast-tracked Public Transport Victoria’s new Rail Network Development Plan risks joining previous attempts and gathering dust on a shelf, due to its reliance on expensive, unfunded and premature tunnels, the Public Transport Users Association said today. “This plan has all the right individual elements in it,”…

  • Doncaster Rail Report is “Topsy-Turvy Planning”, says PTUA

    Making the Doncaster rail extension conditional on undergrounding the South Morang line is unnecessary and an excuse to kill the project, the Public Transport Users Association said today. “The government all but promised to build the Doncaster extension in 2010, but they failed to confront a bureaucracy that’s too fond of making excuses to do…

  • Ditch road tunnel and remove level crossings instead, Liberals urged

    The Victorian and federal Liberal parties should forget the uneconomic East-West road tunnel and instead direct road funding to a widespread program of level crossing removals, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “Even being optimistic, the Eddington study found the East-West tollroad would cost several billion dollars more than any benefits it would…

  • Rowville Rail possible with Dandenong upgrade, no Metro tunnel

    Get cracking on Dandenong line upgrade, but Metro tunnel a distraction: PTUA Signalling upgrades and grade separations on the Dandenong line should proceed immediately to boost service to growth suburbs and enable the Rowville rail extension. But claims that the Melbourne Metro tunnel from Footscray to South Yarra is a prerequisite to Rowville rail are…

  • Baillieu urged to invest in public transport to save time, money and lives: PTUA

    A renewed focus on improving public transport is needed to save Victorians time and money, and to cut the toll of death and injury on the roads, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “Car dependence means more money has to be spent battling road congestion, more time is wasted in traffic, and more…

  • Train, tram, bus users slugged to pay for Baillieu’s roads

    7% fare rise cannot be justified, says PTUA The Baillieu Government appears to be using its predecessor’s budgeted fare hikes to help bankroll its destructive East West motorway, the Public Transport Users Association said today. The 7% fare rise takes effect today, three days after the government abolished Metcard, forcing all passengers onto the troubled…

  • Users group welcomes reintroduction of paper tickets

    The Public Transport Users Association is encouraged by the re-introduction of a conveniently priced paper ticket option as an alternative to Myki – although it will only be available to Seniors Card holders travelling on Mornington Peninsula buses. Seniors have been up in arms in recent months as it became evident that the Seniors Daily…