Category: Regional
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Geelong Candidates Survey Highlights Public Transport Priorities
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Geelong Branch has released survey results from candidates standing for election in the City of Greater Geelong Council, aiming to gauge their perspectives on transport issues and provide insights for voters. With rapid growth in Lara and Armstrong Creek, along with a new employment precinct at Avalon Airport, Geelong…
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PTUA Members welcome news of Ballarat Station Upgrade but it needs to be done right
On the 3rd of May, the Public Transport Minister announced that the Victorian government will at long last upgrade the station to meet modern accessibility standards. The upgrade will include the construction of a new pedestrian overpass with stairs and lifts on both platforms. Ballarat station has long lacked crucial accessible connectivity making the station…
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V/Line: coming fare cuts set to worsen crowding
Service upgrades, including full length trains, are needed to cope with crowding.
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Australia must ‘move on’ from freeway fantasy, not High Speed Rail
In response to the Grattan Institute’s calls for Australia to ‘move on’ from High Speed Rail, the Public Transport Users Association notes the limitations of their analysis, and calls for urban megaroads projects to receive the same level of scrutiny. Evidence has shown again and again that urban motorways induce more traffic, rather than “busting”…
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PTUA welcomes Overland reprieve, calls for long-term investment
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement that the Victorian government will contribute funding to keep the iconic Overland train running for another three months. When the South Australian government withdrew its contribution to subsidising this vital passenger link at the end of 2018, the Victorian government stepped up to fund the…
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PTUA congratulates King on new portfolio, calls for state-federal cooperation on infrastructure
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has congratulated Catherine King on her re-election as the member for Ballarat, and on being appointed Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. PTUA Ballarat Branch Convener Ben Lever said that this portfolio was crucial to the future of Ballarat and western Victoria. “One of the keys to…
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PTUA welcomes government intervention to save The Overland
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the announcement that the Victorian government will provide additional funding to assist the Overland passenger train to continue running between Melbourne and Adelaide – and has renewed calls for the government to support reinstatement of regular passenger trains to Horsham. The Overland has been supported by the…
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What year did your railway station open?
What year did your local station open? Before you were born? Probably before your grandparents were born! Our population is growing, and our public transport network needs to keep growing too. Click here to view the map larger. The rail network grew rapidly between 1854 and 1930… but since then almost nothing. Expansion of rail,…
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PTUA welcomes improvements to Shepparton line
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the government’s announcement that the introduction of a fifth daily train to Shepparton will be brought forward. Enabling work, including a new crossing loop and more train stabling, was originally to be completed by 2020, but the state government announced on Wednesday that construction will begin sooner…
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Regional rail upgrades welcomed
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the agreement between the federal and Victorian governments which will see the release of $1.7 billion for improvements to the state’s regional rail network. The PTUA’s Regional Spokesperson, Paul Westcott, said there was a need for significant improvement of the state’s longer-distance regional rail lines. The funding…
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PTUA welcomes Coalition plan for new long-distance trains
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the Coalition’s pledge to order new VLocity trains for use on long-distance lines in Victoria, if elected in November. PTUA Regional Spokesperson, Paul Westcott, said the existing long-distance trains were overdue for replacement. The Coalition promise would see older locomotive-hauled trains replaced by more modern modified versions…
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Ballarat commuters shortchanged by piecemeal track duplication
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has today criticised the state government’s piecemeal approach to track duplication works near Bacchus Marsh. The Melbourne Metro Authority, which is delivering the Ballarat Line Upgrade (BLU) project, announced changes to the project in December 2017, including changing the location of one of the crossing loops. The project originally…