Daniel Bowen
@danielbowen.au
Transport blogger / public transport advocate / campaigner and spokesperson for @ptua.org.au / professional geek. Opinions are all mine.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia
#Melbourne #MetroTunnel opening publicly tomorrow. City Square and the new stations looking good. I’m told lots more test runs over the next few months before they ramp up to the full service.
November 29, 2025 at 2:34 AM
#Melbourne #MetroTunnel opening publicly tomorrow. City Square and the new stations looking good. I’m told lots more test runs over the next few months before they ramp up to the full service.
Don't believe the narrative that the #Melbourne Metro Tunnel was first proposed by Eddington in the 2008 transport plan. The idea was floated publicly as early as 2005 by Prof Graham Currie.
I hope he's pleased that it's finally opening this Sunday.
web.archive.org/web/...
I hope he's pleased that it's finally opening this Sunday.
web.archive.org/web/...
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Don't believe the narrative that the #Melbourne Metro Tunnel was first proposed by Eddington in the 2008 transport plan. The idea was floated publicly as early as 2005 by Prof Graham Currie.
I hope he's pleased that it's finally opening this Sunday.
web.archive.org/web/...
I hope he's pleased that it's finally opening this Sunday.
web.archive.org/web/...
There's only one thing worse than messing up the usual Myki card 15 minute walk through/Change Of Mind feature, and that's the knee-jerk reaction to say they'll leave fare gates open for the benefit of a vanishingly tiny number of people. www.hepburnadvocate.... #MetroTunnel
Backflip on plans to charge pedestrians using underpass
Locals and tourists will no longer be charged for touching on and off between two connected CBD train...
www.hepburnadvocate.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM
There's only one thing worse than messing up the usual Myki card 15 minute walk through/Change Of Mind feature, and that's the knee-jerk reaction to say they'll leave fare gates open for the benefit of a vanishingly tiny number of people. www.hepburnadvocate.... #MetroTunnel
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
Today is World Sustainable Transport Day! Public transport can help reduce emissions, noise pollution, air pollution, and more. And the more the service is upgraded, the more people will use it.🚉🚌🚋🚆
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Today is World Sustainable Transport Day! Public transport can help reduce emissions, noise pollution, air pollution, and more. And the more the service is upgraded, the more people will use it.🚉🚌🚋🚆
hmm, that #Twitter account location stuff is not accurate. I rarely look at it these days, but I may have done so once or twice from France last month. (The icon to the right links to info admitting it may not be right.)
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
hmm, that #Twitter account location stuff is not accurate. I rarely look at it these days, but I may have done so once or twice from France last month. (The icon to the right links to info admitting it may not be right.)
In my Europe trip blog, I'm up to the day we went to the Louvre (a few days before it was robbed) and climbed the Arc de Triomphe danielbowen.com/2025/10/15/a... #Paris
November 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
In my Europe trip blog, I'm up to the day we went to the Louvre (a few days before it was robbed) and climbed the Arc de Triomphe danielbowen.com/2025/10/15/a... #Paris
Seems like everyone discovered the internal railway abbreviation for Frankston today. (It's not new) #Melbourne
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Seems like everyone discovered the internal railway abbreviation for Frankston today. (It's not new) #Melbourne
New Comeng layout just dropped. #MelbourneTrains #ai
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 AM
New Comeng layout just dropped. #MelbourneTrains #ai
Anybody else remember this ad? Back when governments at least pretended to prioritise young people. www.youtube.com/watc... #Australia
Countdown (Australia)- Priority One Promo- December 1, 1985
A segment from the long running Australian music TV series Countdown, which aired on the ABC from 1974-1987.
This particular segment aired during the Countdown episode which originally aired on December 1, 1985, on the ABC.
This clip features a promotion for an Australian Commonwealth Government
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Anybody else remember this ad? Back when governments at least pretended to prioritise young people. www.youtube.com/watc... #Australia
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
From our recent Annual General Meeting:
Covering the windows with ads is prioritising advertisers over passengers. Elsewhere they have ads but leave the windows clear, improving visibility and security.
Covering the windows with ads is prioritising advertisers over passengers. Elsewhere they have ads but leave the windows clear, improving visibility and security.
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 AM
From our recent Annual General Meeting:
Covering the windows with ads is prioritising advertisers over passengers. Elsewhere they have ads but leave the windows clear, improving visibility and security.
Covering the windows with ads is prioritising advertisers over passengers. Elsewhere they have ads but leave the windows clear, improving visibility and security.
In the race to get bank card fare payments on public transport (aka Contactless aka Tap And Pay), Perth is about to cross the finish line. Looks like Victoria may be lucky last.
Blog:
Blog:
Who’s got bank card fare payment?
Perth is about to join the list
danielbowen.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:13 PM
In the race to get bank card fare payments on public transport (aka Contactless aka Tap And Pay), Perth is about to cross the finish line. Looks like Victoria may be lucky last.
Blog:
Blog:
Just noticed this: you can no longer search for residential info on whitepages.com.au
In recent years I've occasionally used this to track down the correct address for misdirected mail, though fewer and fewer people are in it due to landlines dying out. #australia
In recent years I've occasionally used this to track down the correct address for misdirected mail, though fewer and fewer people are in it due to landlines dying out. #australia
November 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Just noticed this: you can no longer search for residential info on whitepages.com.au
In recent years I've occasionally used this to track down the correct address for misdirected mail, though fewer and fewer people are in it due to landlines dying out. #australia
In recent years I've occasionally used this to track down the correct address for misdirected mail, though fewer and fewer people are in it due to landlines dying out. #australia
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
Melbourne and Sydney have similar populations - but their trains are a lot more frequent than ours, especially on weekends.
Frequent services make it so much easier to use public transport - especially when heading to events or appointments, or interchanging from other lines.
Frequent services make it so much easier to use public transport - especially when heading to events or appointments, or interchanging from other lines.
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Melbourne and Sydney have similar populations - but their trains are a lot more frequent than ours, especially on weekends.
Frequent services make it so much easier to use public transport - especially when heading to events or appointments, or interchanging from other lines.
Frequent services make it so much easier to use public transport - especially when heading to events or appointments, or interchanging from other lines.
Slowly writing up my European holiday in the blog. I'm up to the day we caught the train from London to Paris... me in Seat 61 🙂
danielbowen.com/2025...
danielbowen.com/2025...
November 22, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Slowly writing up my European holiday in the blog. I'm up to the day we caught the train from London to Paris... me in Seat 61 🙂
danielbowen.com/2025...
danielbowen.com/2025...
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
We all like freebies, but with little or no extra capacity expected to be added to V/Line trains over summer, services are likely to be packed.
V/Line travel is free on weekends this summer in Victoria but will you find a seat?
Victorians will benefit from free public transport on weekends this summer, but not all travellers are excited for the freebie.
www.abc.net.au
November 22, 2025 at 12:22 AM
We all like freebies, but with little or no extra capacity expected to be added to V/Line trains over summer, services are likely to be packed.
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
See Betteridge's law of headlines
V/Line travel is free on weekends this summer in Victoria but will you find a seat?: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-22/fears-free-ptv-will-further-strain-regional-train-services/106010924
V/Line travel is free on weekends this summer in Victoria but will you find a seat?
Victorians will benefit from free public transport on weekends this summer, but not all travellers are excited for the freebie.
www.abc.net.au
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
See Betteridge's law of headlines
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
At this rate, Melbourne won’t have a fully accessible tram network until the year 2160.
Read our statement calling for more State Government action on tram accessibility. www.ptua.org.au/2025...
Read our statement calling for more State Government action on tram accessibility. www.ptua.org.au/2025...
November 20, 2025 at 6:15 AM
At this rate, Melbourne won’t have a fully accessible tram network until the year 2160.
Read our statement calling for more State Government action on tram accessibility. www.ptua.org.au/2025...
Read our statement calling for more State Government action on tram accessibility. www.ptua.org.au/2025...
Who wants to tell them? (From "The Source" in the HS) #Melbourne #Munnel
November 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Who wants to tell them? (From "The Source" in the HS) #Melbourne #Munnel
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
The Auditor General has published their update on tram service accessibility... the progress by the State Government in the past five years has been minimal.
Read more: www.audit.vic.gov.au...
Read more: www.audit.vic.gov.au...
November 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Auditor General has published their update on tram service accessibility... the progress by the State Government in the past five years has been minimal.
Read more: www.audit.vic.gov.au...
Read more: www.audit.vic.gov.au...
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
We agree with Albo - public transport is the best way to move people around big cities. We hope to see more State and Federal investment to make public transport faster, more frequent, more accessible, and easier to use. #auspol
November 18, 2025 at 2:48 AM
We agree with Albo - public transport is the best way to move people around big cities. We hope to see more State and Federal investment to make public transport faster, more frequent, more accessible, and easier to use. #auspol
A brain dump of things we know about the #Melbourne Metro Tunnel opening
What we know about the Metro tunnel opening
So now we know the when Metro Tunnel will open: Sunday 30th of November, with a temporary timetable dubbed the "Summer Start" - then the full service commencing on Sunday 1st February 2026. Summer free rides I've been told by the State Government that the previously advertised free fares on weekends in December and January [...]
danielbowen.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
A brain dump of things we know about the #Melbourne Metro Tunnel opening
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
I've steadily removed sources of #emissions from my house, but I still have a petrol car (below average KMs/year, but not zero), and take flights for holidays etc. Anybody know of good reputable offset schemes (preferably in Australia) that can help me get to net zero?
November 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I've steadily removed sources of #emissions from my house, but I still have a petrol car (below average KMs/year, but not zero), and take flights for holidays etc. Anybody know of good reputable offset schemes (preferably in Australia) that can help me get to net zero?
There's a certain irony that for the West Gate Tunnel "Discovery Day" they discouraged people from driving to the event, and boosted public transport frequency. If only this type of thinking was in place when they consider building these big motorway projects in the first place. #Melbourne
November 16, 2025 at 7:52 AM
There's a certain irony that for the West Gate Tunnel "Discovery Day" they discouraged people from driving to the event, and boosted public transport frequency. If only this type of thinking was in place when they consider building these big motorway projects in the first place. #Melbourne
Reposted by Daniel Bowen
A long wait, then a train so packed you can't get a seat? This is a regular occurrence on Melbourne's rail network every weekend (V/Line too!), despite plenty of spare track capacity and many trains sitting idle.
More services needed.
More services needed.
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
A long wait, then a train so packed you can't get a seat? This is a regular occurrence on Melbourne's rail network every weekend (V/Line too!), despite plenty of spare track capacity and many trains sitting idle.
More services needed.
More services needed.