Category: Regional
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V/Line owes passengers answers on its lack of backup plans
No public transport service should rely on a single point of failure to function, yet that is exactly the position V/Line found itself in this week, and passengers paid the price. Telstra’s network outage on Wednesday shut down the entire regional train network. With disruptions continuing into Thursday, well after the Telstra network had recovered,…
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Shaping the Future of Geelong’s Bus Network
The PTUA Geelong Branch has made a detailed submission in response to the Department of Transport and Planning’s Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and Bannockburn Bus Network Review. We believe Geelong’s current bus network provides a solid foundation and does not require a wholesale route overhaul. Instead, the priority should be a dramatic increase in service frequency:…
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Free PT in April
Free public transport from 31st March to the end of April will make a big difference to the people who already use the network or can easily move their trips from driving onto public transport. There’s obviously less benefit for people for whom public transport is not a viable journey choice, due to lack of…
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Ghazeepore Road Bus Stops Highlight a Bigger Problem with Transport Planning
A recent Councilor Column by City of Greater Geelong councillor Andrew Katos in the Geelong Times raised concerns about newly constructed bus stops on Ghazeepore Road that remain unused due to accessibility compliance issues. While the article focuses on the inconvenience to motorists and the frustration of delayed activation, it misses a more fundamental point:…
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Letter to The Age: Tax misuse
While it’s appropriate governments incentivise the shift from petrol and diesel cars to cleaner transport, FBT exemptions for personal use of motor vehicles are the very worst way of doing so. FBT tax breaks mean taxpayers meet up to a third of all purchase and operating costs, and all GST, for personal vehicles, with the…
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Short-term thinking – Geelong Advertiser
Funding further duplication of the Barwon Heads Road is a sad example of short-term thinking regarding transport planning in Greater Geelong. Politicians are keen to finance road expansion, rather than investing in an effective solution to our growing congestion problem; public transport. Additional road space provides only temporary relief before it fills up again, increasing…
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Calls for Immediate Action on Station Parkiteer Cages
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Bike Geelong are calling on the state government to address ongoing issues with Parkiteer bike cages at upgraded train stations in Victoria. Parkiteer bike cages provide secure bike storage and are an essential service for cyclists commuting via public transport. However, the cage at Marshall station remains closed,…
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Geelong NYE services welcomed but promotion needed
The Public Transport Users Association Geelong Branch welcomes the additional bus services that were provided for New Year’s Eve 2024–25. These services, which included three extra trips on Route 30, four on Route 31, and three each on Routes 42, 53, 55, and 60, represent a positive step toward making public transport a viable option…
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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…
