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Category: Melbourne and suburbs

  • Avoid Myki for now, PTUA advises passengers

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has criticised the government’s botched rollout of the new Myki ticketing system onto Melbourne’s trains only, and has recommended that passengers continue using Metcard for the moment. “Most passengers won’t want the hassle of a flaky ticketing system, and will want to keep using Metcard until Myki works properly…

  • Peninsula Link entrenches car dependence

    From PTUA’s December 2009 newsletter. Despite having no Federal funds for its `Peninsula Link’, the State Government has announced its intention to proceed regardless, driving a motorway through precious native wildlife habitat and historic homesteads, in order to further entrench car dependence in south-east Melbourne and for visitors to the Peninsula.

  • Connex compensation for Oct/Nov

    Departed operator Connex are paying compensation to Monthly and longer ticketholders for poor performance in October and November. Unfortunately the Connex web site has gone offline, but you can get the form from the Metro Trains web site.

  • 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”,…

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

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • The truth behind South Morang

    Originally posted at Transport Textbook.com and (in abridged form) in the PTUA Newsletter. Ever since the Victorian Transport Plan last December flagged that the South Morang rail extension would finally be built, there has been speculation as to why the cost was so high. At $650 million for a 3.5 kilometre extension, many pondered if…

  • 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…

  • 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…