Category: Geelong
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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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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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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 calls for Action Following Tragic Fatality at North Shore Level Crossing
Last month, a tragic collision occurred between a train and a truck at the North Shore Road level crossing in Geelong, resulting in the loss of a life. The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The PTUA urgently calls for the removal of this dangerous…
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Public transport users welcome Geelong rail duplication agreement
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed the commitment by the federal government to fully fund its share of the planned duplication of the rail line from South Geelong to Waurn Ponds. PTUA Geelong Branch convener, Paul Westcott, said that the project had been on the agenda ever since the opening of Marshall station…
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IA assessments questionable
The Geelong Branch of the Public Transport Users Association has queried the logic of Infrastructure Australia’s negative response to the business case for the duplication of the South Geelong-Waurn Ponds rail line. Branch convener Paul Westcott noted that Infrastructure Australia seems to be saying that the project would stack up if some changes were made.…