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Daniel Bowen

@danielbowen.au
3.9K followers 401 following 1.9K posts

Transport blogger / public transport advocate / campaigner and spokesperson for @ptua.org.au / professional geek. Opinions are all mine. Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia

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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 6h
Instagram is a strange place sometimes.
Comments on Instagram post asking to share a post
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 10h
A #Melbourne transport terminology quirk: for 45 years the only underground railway was the City Loop, so some locals refer to the new Metro Tunnel as “the new loop” - even though it’s not a loop.
A train arriving at a metro tunnel station
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 20h
Today's announcement appears to indicate the #Melbourne Airport line will open in stages, the first being to Keilor East. Which obviously means they will need to built terminating facilities there that most likely would not otherwise have been provided.
abc.net.au
Key station in Melbourne Airport rail plan to be built by 2031
A long-awaited train line to the Melbourne Airport is a step closer, with the state and federal governments announcing a timeline for completion of the nearby Keilor East station.
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 27/09/2026
Labor pledge to duplicate the Upfield Line and run more train services - will the Coalition match it? Postponing the crossings to align with this project also means an opportunity to provide Sydney Road with platform tram stops before the works close the rail line - essential for access. 📰The Age
The Age: Labor vows Upfield line fix, level crossings on hold
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 27/09/2026
Le bus passe dans une heure ? Ce n'est pas bon.
Duo Lingo: translate this sentence: Oh no, the bus arrives in one hour!
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Every Sydney Station @sydneystations.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
My first time in the other big CBD rail tunnel to open recently - first impressions of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel are its pretty damn nice 🔽 Thread of quick, offhand thoughts
Melbourne Metro Tunnel
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 26/09/2026
I don’t go for either of them, but ho boy, what a game. What a final five minutes. Commiserations Freo. Well done Lions. #AFLGF 🏉🏟️
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 26/09/2026
Urban wildlife. Very cute!
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 24/09/2026
Many cities use colours, names or numbers for their train lines. "Bayside line" would be a lot easier to remember than "Werribee, Laverton, Williamstown and Sandringham line". 🚉🏖️ What do you think? (See baysideline.com)
Bayside Line sticker next to Williamstown Beach Station signBayside Line sticker next to Sandringham Station sign
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 24/09/2026
🚇🐦‍⬛
Bird on platform of Melbourne Metro tunnel station
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 23/09/2026
Our friends at Rail Futures have released their vision for an integrated multi-modal public transport network, with frequent services and seamless connections right across Melbourne, to keep people moving as the city grows. Read about the plan here: www.railfutures.org.au/
Rail Futures: The Melbourne Public Transport Plan 2030-2060, summary reportRail Futures: Map of proposed frequent trains, trams, light metro, buses
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 23/09/2026
I’m fine with them trialling this. I’m less fine with them using American spelling for the word “trialling”. #SpellingPedant
City of Melbourne sign: We’re trialing valet parking
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 23/09/2026
This is just breathtakingly idiotic. www.theguardian.com/... #auspol
theguardian.com
Angus Taylor pledges to repeal swathe of climate policies, saying ‘Australia has done its bit’
Several measures were previously introduced or supported by Coalition, prompting claim Liberals and Nationals would ‘let climate change rip’
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Cam Walker @camwalker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
'The Coalition has vowed to detonate most of Australia’s efforts to decarbonise its economy “within 30 days” of winning power, incl slowing the advance of renewable energy, supporting nuclear power plants & scrapping the emissions-curbing industrial policy.' reneweconomy.com.au/coalition-vo...
reneweconomy.com.au
"Dumb and desperate:" Coalition panned after vowing to scrap renewable, EV and climate policies
Federal Coalition vows to detonate most of Australia's efforts to decarbonise "within 30 days" of winning power, including the advance of renewables and the emissions-curbing policy it introduced.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 23/09/2026
May have miscalculated the shortness of this haircut! ✂️👨🏼‍🦲 (That’s me on the left)
Daniel with very short hair standing next to a sculpture of a man.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 22/09/2026
Google Maps poor PT trip planning. Here it suggested I interchange from the 703 bus to the Sandringham line at Middle Brighton, even though North Brighton would save me 10+ minutes. One theory is it thinks we can't cross the street anywhere except a marked crossing, like in the USA. Yeah nah.
Google Maps showing trip with 703 bus connecting to Sandringham line at Middle Brighton. The lines also intersect at North Brighton.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 21/09/2026
I ended up writing a blog pulling apart Alan Kohler's piece on trams.
danielbowen.com
Kohler on trams
Alan Kohler does some terrific finance reporting, helping making complex concepts simple. But I think he missed the mark on this opinion piece on trams last week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhzxtR5J7RQ He's missed some of the history, which is vital to understanding where we are now. Let's go through some of what he said. "When Melbourne was laying [...]
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 20/09/2026
🚋🌍🏆Did you catch the Tram Driver Championship? It's great to see Melbourne's tram drivers competing against the world's best, and also a reminder that our trams need better accessibility, on-road priority and service frequency to be truly world class. (Video link below)
theguardian.com
The gunzels’ grand final: Melbourne Tramaroos’ campaign derails at European TramDriver Championship
The Warsaw event saw 26 teams compete across a series of demanding tasks, inspired - to varying degrees - by tram drivers’ day-to-day tasks
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Cam @camster.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Why would prices spike? Strained supply. What would cutting excise do? Increase demand. How do you boost fuel security? Reduce reliance on liquid fuels.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 19/09/2026
The 12th European TramDriver Championship is happening in Warsaw right now - and Melbourne is expected to compete in their first run just a few minutes
youtube.com
12th European TramDriver Championship in Warsaw
Experience the best moments of the 12th European TramDriver Championship in Warsaw in full - featuring all 52 competition runs by 25 teams from 24 nations. It doesn’t get more exciting than this for tram enthusiasts. Alongside defending champion Budapest and host city Warsaw, the reigning world cham
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 19/09/2026
Vale Tim Read ☹️ www.abc.net.au/news/... #SpringSt
abc.net.au
Victorian Greens MP Tim Read dies aged 64
Health promotion campaigner and Victorian Greens MP Tim Read has died after a high-profile battle with cancer.
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 19/09/2026
When we compared Sydney vs Melbourne suburban train patronage, some people asked about trams. Good question! So we added trams, and also buses. Sydney still comes out on top. One factor: a bigger network of high frequency services, making public transport easier to use, getting more people on board.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 17/09/2026
Angry AI people in local newspapers! www.heraldsun.com.au... - Ping Angry People in Local Newspapers
AI image of Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre, with headline "Feedback halted"AI image of car parks and "cafe culture"AI image of "Dustbowl chaos" construction with people in the foreground and a grandstand in the backgroundAI image of people worried about speeding cars, and a speed hump. Headline "Kids vs cars"
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 16/09/2026
I wonder how long ago Newman’s moved #Melbourne
Old sign on the side of a building: Newman’s have moved
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 15/09/2026
Tell me again that climate change is a hoax.
Chart showing global annual temperature abnormalities between 1880 and 2024
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 16/09/2026
Central #Melbourne seems to be getting new pedal bins
Rubbish bins for recycling and general waste
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The War on Cars @thewaroncars.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Seems bad to base our entire transportation system on a volatile commodity, but what do we know?
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 15/09/2026
It's that time of year again. Hopefully your wait for a train is a short one, but watch out for swooping birds! 🐦‍⬛
Sign at a station platform: Caution - swooping birds. Native birds are known to swoop in this area.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 14/09/2026
Unfortunately couldn’t make the MTF public transport forum tonight at St Kilda Town Hall - it’s live-streaming here: vimeo.com/event/6080... #SpringSt #VicVotes
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Greater Auckland @greaterauckland.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
We took the train to town yesterday, and we're absolutely chuffed! ☺️🚇 #CRL Enjoy this special bumper post, chock-full of great pics & stories, links to wider media coverage, plus some fun (and moving) reflections from our very happy team of "tired nerds": www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/09/14/a...
greaterauckland.org.nz
Absolutely chuffed: our report from CRL opening day - Greater Auckland
What a day! Sunday saw the first running of passenger trains through the City Rail Link tunnels and stations. Some of us were up before the birds to catch the very first train, while others took a mor...
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Matt Bors @mattbors.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It was exactly ten years ago today, on my 33rd birthday, that I posted this comic online.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 13/09/2026
With recent chatter about rail in Melbourne's west, I was pondering: how full are the RRL tracks from Sunshine into the city? Short answer: pretty full in peak.
danielbowen.com
How full is RRL?
A quick one, something I edited out of the recent post about the Melton line hybrid (bi-mode) train proposal: peak capacity on RRL. Currently the Ballarat and Geelong lines merge just west of Deer Park, where they run to Sunshine, joined there by trains from Bendigo (though these don't actually stop at Sunshine station). From [...]
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 13/09/2026
Alan Kohler is a smart bloke, and does some good stuff, but this is really poor. It assumes metros/subways are all underground and that cities that built metros in 19th/20th centuries didn't also build trams; compares rail tunnels with Las Vegas Tesla tunnels, and more.
youtube.com
Why Melbourne's trams were a big mistake | Alan Kohler | ABC NEWS
When the rest of the world was digging subways, Melbourne was laying tram tracks. Alan Kohler explains why the city missed the boat on building its metro, and why it's costing so much. Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated. #ABCNEWS #
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 13/09/2026
Congrats #Auckland on the opening of the City Rail Link, joining recent CBD rail tunnels opened in Melbourne (2025-26) and Sydney (2024). Brisbane expected 2029. Great to see public transport investment across AU and NZ🚇🇦🇺🇳🇿
youtube.com
All aboard: Live from Day 1 of the CRL
A journey a decade in the making, 1News business correspondent Jason Walls joins Q+A live from on board one of the brand-new train services opening up to Aucklanders on the first day of the City Rail Link. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with
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melbourne metropolitan busways board @mmbb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
gunzeldom is truly a universal language, it's beautiful
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 13/09/2026
🚉🎉Happy opening day to West Tarneit station! More upgrades are needed for Melbourne's growing west, but this station will make a big difference to the local community.👍 📷LachlanTansey, via Wikipedia CC BY 4.0
Platforms at West Tarneit stationOpenStreetMap showing West Tarneit station location
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expedtadam @expedtadam.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Today is not only the opening of West Tarneit station, but a major step forward in the Wyndham bus network, with three new every 20-minute corridors added. Explore the changes at ptmapmeb.com 🧵(1/4)
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 12/09/2026
Sydney's population is similar to Melbourne, but their rail patronage is about 50% higher. Why? One factor is Sydney has frequent trains to almost every station all day, every day. It makes public transport much easier to use for more trips, so more people hop on board.👍
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 11/09/2026
NFL in #Melbourne: big event, with no MCG public parking. Public transport is showing how good it can be - plenty of services ensuring the crowds get easily and efficiently to the game.👍🚉🏈
Crowded MCG for NFL game
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Greater Auckland @greaterauckland.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
With all eyes on the City Rail Link opening on Sunday, we’re lifting our gaze to the horizon. It’s the ideal time to refresh our vision for a Congestion-Free Network. @patrickreynolds.bsky.social asks: what’s next? What can we achieve in 3/ 10/ 30 years?🔮 www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/09/10/v...
greaterauckland.org.nz
A vision realised: what the opening of the CRL means - Greater Auckland
Celebrate! From Sunday 13th September 2026, an actual real Auckland Rapid Transit (ART) network will exist, for us all to use and enjoy! You can see it – and
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 08/09/2026
📅🚧Everyone's least favourite calendars. But it's worth checking for disruptions when planning a trip. Planned closures for upgrades might be necessary, but authorities need to ensure disruptions are minimised, info is clear and that there are plenty of staff and buses to help keep people moving.
Calendar of disruptions on the Traralgon/Bairnsdale lineCalendar of night disruptions on the Werribee and Williamstown lines
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 09/09/2026
Heading home in a 737 🚉
Daniel standing in front of a train, carriage number 737M
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 08/09/2026
I was in Sydney for a few days last month, and I finally got around to blogging a few thoughts on the Sydney Metro. Very impressive. Australian cities could do with more like this.
danielbowen.com
Some thoughts on the Sydney Metro
If you're boarding the Sydney Metro (I'll mostly use the line number M1 for short) for the first time from a CBD station, the first thing you see is the grand architecture. It’s impressive, but you also get a sense that they have designed it for scale to carry large numbers of people through the [...]
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 07/09/2026
🚉🚴Cycling and public transport make a great combination. We support the call from Bicycle Network for 5% of state transport infrastructure budget to be used to provide better cycling infrastructure. Read more here:
bicyclenetwork.com.au
5% for Safer Streets — Bicycle Network
Find your electorate, see what cycling infrastructure exists — and ask your local candidates to invest in safer streets.
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 06/09/2026
Sorry not the best ever video, but: dolphins in the Maribyrnong river this morning! #Melbourne 🐬
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 05/09/2026
High-rise at the end of the rainbow🌈🏙️
Rainbow shining on a tall building in the distance
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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 05/09/2026
More public transport systems are adding monthly or weekly fare caps, so regular users can avoid the hassle and upfront expense of preloading a Pass. Victoria should do this too, especially now we've got Tap And Go.
nowtoronto.com
No more buying TTC monthly pass upfront: Fare cap starts Sept. 1 | NOW Toronto
Starting September, Toronto commuters will only be required to pay for 47 trips, with the rest of their rides free for the month. 
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Strategic Cities @strategic-cities.com · 04/09/2026
I remember, many years ago, I first heard the phrase “climate anxiety” and thought it silly. Now here in Sydney - in the first week of spring - we face temperatures of 33*c and a total fire ban due to “extreme” fire danger… Now I’m anxious! www.nine.com.au/australia-ne...
nine.com.au
Total fire ban declared for millions as unseasonable early heatwave bears down
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 04/09/2026
uh oh. Does this mean I'm a robot? 🤖
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Daniel Bowen @danielbowen.au · 03/09/2026
James Pinder sentenced to two years and eight months jail for corruption in awarding train cleaning contracts.
abc.net.au
V/Line CEO jailed and facing deportation over secret commissions
James Pinder is sentenced for misconduct in awarding a multi-million dollar cleaning contract.
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