Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 16h

On 12th October 1995, 30 years ago today, tram route 86 was extended to Bundoora RMIT.
Extending further to connect with trains at South Morang station would improve connections to RMIT and La Trobe Uni, and make it easier to get around the northern suburbs.

Passengers boarding a route 86 tram to Bundoora RMIT

5 17

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 2d

PTUA members! Check your email for the latest PTUA newsletter.
Not a member? Join to get our regular updates and support our campaigns: www.ptua.org.au/join

(guys, can we stop using these AI images? They're really bad.)

4 2 9

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 5d

Finally announced! The Metro tunnel will open in early December, initially with a part-time 20 minute service. This won't really show off the benefits, but a phased opening does make sense to avoid major issues if there are hiccups with the new line. www.thesenior.com.au... #Melbourne

'Lessons learned': rubbery open date for $15b rail line

A $15 billion underground rail line has been given an opening date, but full turn-up-and-go services for passengers...

www.thesenior.com.au

3 3 18

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 8d

On a nice day, Point Ormond (Elwood) is a great place to watch the sunset🌇😎
But the local buses aren't coping. They're packed after dusk, just as the frequency and capacity drops - more services needed! #Melbourne #Route246

Crowds at Point Ormond. Pic: writtenbymeaghan on Threads - Also shown with photos of crowded route 246 bus.

1 3 18

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 8d

Tomorrow! Bus fest!
Stop by from 10am-1pm in Werribee to enjoy some live music and activities for the kids.
Share your story of using public transport in Melbourne's West. Show your support for a system of fast, frequent, and connected buses!
More details www.melbournefoe.org...

A person holding a baby, looking at a bus at a stop

7 10

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 10d

Why the extra track? One brochure says: "to enable flexibility, network resilience and a future tram connection from Swanston Street to the Arden precinct."

So will a new tram route be introduced? Definitely maybe?
yarratrams.com.au/media/3krceo...

yarratrams.com.au

1 2

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 10d

🚧🚋Major works starting next week will disrupt Elizabeth Street trams. It's all in the name of progress - new and expanded tram platform stops and additional track.
See the Yarra Trams web site for more details: yarratrams.com.au/pr...

Yarra Trams disruption map of the area around Queen Victoria Market

2 5 9

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 12d

For some, tram is the quickest way to the #Melbourne Royal Show - but the service is in dire need of improvement. #YarraTrams #accessibility

6 19

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 14d

Brisbane clearly won the AFL Grand Final, but which team has better public transport to their home ground?🦁🐈
Looks like it's Geelong. Recent upgrades mean more trains more often on the Geelong line, more travel options, which gets more people on public transport.🚉🏈👍 #AFLGF

Images of South Geelong station (via Big Build web site) and Springfield Central (by Chocolate Train, via Wikimedia Commons) and a count of trains per day. Weekdays: Sth Geelong 55, Springfield Central 48; Saturdays: Sth Geelong 47, Springfield Central 36; Sundays: Sth Geelong 42, Springfield Central 30

1 4 13

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 15d

45 years ago this week the Lonie Report was released - it proposed closing numerous tram and suburban and regional rail lines. Thankfully, as a result of widespread community protest, including from the PTUA (then TTA), most of the closures didn't happen.
en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Cover of the Victorian Transport Study (aka the Lonie report)

Page from the Lonie report recommending closure of rail lines to Port Melbourne, St Kilda, Upfield, Williamstown, Altona, Sandringham, Alamein, Hurstbridge

Excerpt from the Lonie Report proposing the replacement of all Victorian regional trains with coaches. (An exception was made for the Geelong line, which they envisaged as running like a suburban line)

Article excerpt from The Age about the Lonie Report. From https://books.google.com.au/books?id=z_FUAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA11&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q&f=false

1 3 11

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 16d

We highlighted this Journey Planner issue to PTV - they were able to fix it pretty quickly👍
There are definitely more improvements to be made. Timely accurate relevant information for passengers is vital when navigating around on public transport.

Journey Planner showing "There may be 56 disruptions affecting this journey".

2 1 9

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 20d

We're not as trusting of the PTV data as the Guardian, but the best way to ensure revenue comes in to run the network is to make public transport good value for money, with reliable services, affordable fares, make it easier to pay and difficult to avoid.

Sydney has the highest fare evasion rates in Australia. What can it learn from Melbourne and Brisbane?

Expert says the best way to support a growing public transport network and keep revenue coming in is to keep services reliable and ticket costs affordable

www.theguardian.com

1 9

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 22d

Great to see the State Government funding upgrades for buses around Craigieburn starting on 5th October. More buses means more people on board. Keep the upgrades coming!
Details: transport.vic.gov.au...

3 15

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 23d

🎂🚉Happy 161st birthday to Elmore station on the Echuca line, opened 19 Sep 1864.
Like many V/Line stations, Elmore has a platform that's too short for 6 car trains. Extending platforms on the busiest lines would help safely cater for longer trains to meet growing travel demand.

Old station building on the platform at Elmore

1 4

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 23d

⚠️More severe bus disruptions today in Ballarat (none running!), Geelong (many routes not running), Melbourne (reduced services). Details at the link below.
If CDC cannot resolve this dispute, the State Government must intervene to help get it settled.
transport.vic.gov.au...

1 5

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 24d

No surprise - Myki touch-on rates on buses have plummeted, jeopardising ridership stats and fare revenue.
Bank card payment options, a short trip fare, and better services would all help.

'Like I run a free service': touch-on rates declining on Melbourne buses

Documents say less than a third of Melbourne bus commuters are touching on their Myki card to pay the fare, with the revenue loss potentially climbing into the millions.

www.abc.net.au

2 4 13

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 25d

PTUA is campaigning for better public transport that more people can use, and less time stuck in traffic.
Support our work by joining, as a free supporter or a paid member.
ptua.org.au/join

Image of motorway traffic with "Less" and image of people walking towards a bus with "More".

4 9

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 26d

Bus 506 is a busy route in Melbourne's inner-north, but it doesn't have a Sunday service, when lots of people are trying to get around. Click the link and sign this petition to help get this critical east-west link running every day.
www.parliament.vic.g...

2 4

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 28d

🚋🎳🏆🤩World Tram Driver Championship coming to Melbourne in 2027! A chance to exchange ideas, learn from other cities, and a home ground advantage - what's not to like?!

Vienna tram with Melbourne team competing in tram bowling

Victorian government media release: Melbourne will host the next World Tram Driver Championship in 2027, bringing the global spotlight to the world’s largest tram network for the first time. This comes as the World Tram Driver Championship takes place this weekend in Vienna, where two tram drivers and their coach are representing Australia and competing against 24 other countries to take out the top spot.

13 40

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 28d

When infrequent services are standing room only, it's a clear sign that an upgrade is needed. More trains more often = more convenience, a better experience, and encourages more people out of the traffic and onto public transport. #SundayMorning

The 8:50am train arrives at Footscray. The next two trains are in 42 and 82 minutes.

Six passengers standing in a train doorway

1 4 25

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · Sep 11

🚉🎂Happy 171st birthday to Flinders Street station, first opened 12th Sep 1854!

Soon some lines will move to the Metro tunnel, adding network capacity. Govt must follow through with investment in more trains more often - the key to a more useful usable network for #Melbourne.

Flinders Street station main entrance in 1926 showing crowds and trams. A banner for the Railway Nursery is displayed. Via State Library Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/135660

Recent photo of Flinders Street station main entrance at night. Crowds of people cross the street in front of the station.

1 6 23

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · Sep 10

⚠️Catching #Melbourne buses on Fri 12th, Mon 15th or Tue 16th September? Reduced services due to industrial action on some routes run by CDC.
Details from Transport Victoria: transport.vic.gov.au...

2 5

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · Sep 9

🎂🚉Happy 141st birthday to Coburg station, opened 9th Sep 1884, and rebuilt in 2020.
The Upfield line is constrained by single track north of Gowrie. Duplicating and extending to Wallan would help frequency and reliability, and boost services for #Melbourne's fast-growing north.

A steam train at Coburg station circa 1910, via Coburg Historical Society https://www.picturevictoria.vic.gov.au/site/coburg/chs/17088.html

Modern entrance to Coburg station rebuilt in 2020

3 14

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · Sep 6

🚉🎂Happy 140th birthday to Sunshine Station, opened 7th September 1885.
This area is now a major development precinct, growing fast.
To really make this work well, Sunshine needs more frequent train and bus connections, 7 days a week.

Aerial shot of Sunshine station, circa 1954. By Charles Daniel Pratt, via State Library of Victoria (cropped) http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/386137

Passengers wait to board an arriving train at Sunshine

1 3 11

Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · Sep 5

It's spring! Hopefully you don't have too long to wait for your train, tram or bus... but while you do, beware of The Swooping🐦‍⬛

A platform display at a station that says "Passengers please be aware of swooping birds". An image of a magpie has been added (via Wikimedia by JJ Harrison https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ CC BY-SA 3.0)

3 18