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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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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 sign

Bayside Line sticker next to Sandringham Station sign

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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 report

Rail Futures: Map of proposed frequent trains, trams, light metro, buses

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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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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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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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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

OpenStreetMap showing West Tarneit station location

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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.👍🚉🏈

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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 line

Calendar of night disruptions on the Werribee and Williamstown lines

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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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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 06/09/2026

There's heavy traffic and travel demand 7 days a week in Melbourne and our regional cities. It's time public transport services caught up. More frequent services means more people on public transport.

Traffic congestion on Kingsway on a Sunday morning

Bus timetable showing services once an hour on Sundays

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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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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 02/09/2026

With so many suburban and regional town buses offering inadequate services on the weekends, we're calling for Sunday timetables to be scrapped, upgraded to Saturday - to ensure more 7 day routes - and for key routes to have improved frequencies. www.busnews.com.au/p...

Bus timetable showing no services on Sundays

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 31/08/2026

⚠️From Tuesday: Watergardens to Sunbury and Dandenong to Cranbourne trains are replaced by buses due to industrial action affecting train maintenance. We hope this is resolved soon and doesn't spread - if you're on these lines, keep a look out for updates from Metro.

Metro: Buses replace trains between Dandenong and Cranbourne, due to external industrial action / Buses replace trains between Watergardens and Sunbury, due to external industrial action

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 31/08/2026

Whether or not SRL proceeds or is paused, it's important that the rest of the public transport network gets more upgrades to make it fast, frequent and reliable. We've outlined initiatives for buses, trams, Metro and V/Line that our politicians should be prioritising. ptua.org.au/posts/20...

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 28/08/2026

Upfield line: every 10 minutes between Coburg and the City? Yes, it is possible! It's happening all this weekend due to Craigieburn/Werribee/Williamstown line works. Great to see... maybe they should try this more often... for instance every peak hour? 🤔

Upfield line timetable for 29th August 2026 showing trains every 10 minutes from Coburg to the City, every 20 minutes from Upfield.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 28/08/2026

When it comes to infrastructure, the best outcomes come from well researched independent advice. We're incredibly disappointed that the State Government has taken the short-sighted decision to shut down Infrastructure Victoria, putting an end to their good work.

abc.net.au

Government to shut down independent body Infrastructure Victoria

Independent advice to help the Victorian government prioritise spending on infrastructure will be axed under the latest pivot from Premier Ben Carroll.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 25/08/2026

Minimising project costs is important, but convenient easy interchanges are not "unnecessary extras" - especially for a project designed primarily to connect existing rail lines. They are key to ensuring the benefits of the investment are maximised.

abc.net.au

Victorian premier plans to make $2b saving on Suburban Rail Loop

Underground station interchanges and "complex pedestrian bridges" are among the things to go, according to the state government.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 22/08/2026

Goodbye to the worst of the worst long waits on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Mernda, Hurstbridge and Sandringham lines starting today! More services on other V/Line and Metro lines too from today - it's great to see. We'll keep pushing for further improvements around the network. Want to help? Join us.

Pictures showing long wait times on Metro lines

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 22/08/2026

Part of the problem: "We have transport projects, but no plan – the Big Build *is* the plan." Read more: ptua.org.au/posts/20...

PTUA: “since 2010 Victoria has been required by law to develop an integrated land use and transport plan. Instead, we have major developments without a proper land use planning process. We have transport projects, but no plan – the Big Build is the plan.”

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 21/08/2026

Great to hear V/Line has been testing 6-car trains for the Warrnambool line to help boost capacity. Short trains aren't coping, especially on weekends. Read more: www.warrnambool.vic....

Crowded platform waiting for a V/Line departure

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 21/08/2026

This Sunday's train boost cuts the wait time for this connection from 32 minutes to 12 minutes. More frequent services make public transport useful for more people. We'll keep pushing for further improvements, but this is progress! 👍

Transport Victoria Journey Planner showing Melbourne Airport to Glenroy on Sunday 16th August at 8:15am, including a 32 minute wait at Broadmeadows.

Transport Victoria Journey Planner showing Melbourne Airport to Glenroy on Sunday 23rd August at 8:15am, including a 12 minute wait at Broadmeadows.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 19/08/2026

Frequent fast connections make public transport a pleasure.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 18/08/2026

We've been campaigning on poor train frequencies for years. Here's our video from 2024. It's great that the State Government has listened! Sunday 40 minute waits will be fixed from this weekend. There's more to do, but this is progress✅ #ItsAboutTime

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 15/08/2026

It's the last Sunday morning of 40 minute gaps on Metro! Cutting waiting times to 20 minutes will encourage more passengers to use trains more often. Further upgrades are needed for public transport services around #Melbourne and Victoria, but this is a great step in the right direction.

Image of crowds at Moonee Ponds station boarding a train at 9:21am. The next one is 40 minutes later. Caption: 40 min gaps fixed from next week! Sunday morning trains double to every 20 minutes on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Mernda, Hurstbridge and Sandringham lines from 23rd August.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 15/08/2026

There are fewer railway crossings in Melbourne nowadays, but many remain, including around regional Victoria. Stay safe around trains. #RailSafetyWeek2026

Red lights flashing? Stop. Stay safe. From the Tracksafe Foundation

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 14/08/2026

📢 PTUA's Ballarat Branch meeting, next Tuesday 18th August at 5:30pm. www.facebook.com/eve...

PTUA Ballarat August branch meeting: 5:30pm Tuesday 18th August, Sebastopol library. Closest PT stop: CFA/Albert St, route 22.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 11/08/2026

The Royal Commission is an opportunity to look into not just the Big Build, but also the policy and governance issues that lead to project planning failures. Read our join open letter here: ptua.org.au/posts/20...

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 10/08/2026

🎂🚉Happy birthday to Beaufort station, opened 11th August 1874. With V/Line patronage growing, problems like yesterday's track fault cause huge disruptions to people. More must be done to improve reliability, capacity and frequency of public transport across regional Victoria. 📷via PROV

Old photo of the platform at Beaufort railway station

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 09/08/2026

More services more often makes public transport more useful for more people, especially for journeys with connections. Under the new timetable (starting 23rd August) more frequent trains mean this trip will be 27 minutes faster.👍

Google Maps showing journey from Glenroy to Gardenvale on Sunday at 9am. 23rd August takes 1 hour 33 minutes.

Google Maps showing journey from Glenroy to Gardenvale on Sunday at 9am. 23rd August takes 1 hour 6 minutes.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 07/08/2026

Good news! More trains running from 23rd August, on Metro and V/Line. Upgrades like this help provide a more usable public transport network that encourages more people on board. Official info here: transport.vic.gov.au...

Upgrades coming 23rd August "This is a good step forward in terms of cutting or removing those 40-minute waits, which passengers, quite frankly, hate. It’s all helping to bring Melbourne’s rail network up to scratch." - PTUA in The Age

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 05/08/2026

Barkly Street, Footscray: a plan for improved walking, safer cycling, better bus stops. Looks good to us. See more details here: www.yourcityyourvoic...

Sign asking for feedback on Barkly Street upgrades

Render of proposed Barkly Street upgrades

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 05/08/2026

Not too late to register for what should be a fascinating discussion tomorrow night!

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 03/08/2026

Arguably it was the $10b North East Link cost blowout that delayed Airport Rail. Better assessment of major projects before they start, including benefits and costs, is vital. Read our letter in The Age today.

Victorians recall with regret the Allan government’s announcement postponing the Airport Rail project. It was in the same 2024 budget that affirmed a $26 billion price tag for the North East Link, after its $10 billion blowout was revealed in December 2023. It doesn’t take much imagination to conclude the one followed directly from the other.
...
When it comes to stopping fiscal and environmental loss from big projects, there really only is one right time, and that’s at the original decision to proceed or not. For these decisions to serve the public interest it’s necessary that they tick all the ‘process’ boxes but as we’ve seen, not sufficiently enough.
There must be a transparent assessment of their merits, including in comparison to good-faith alternatives.
Tony Morton, president, Public Transport Users Association

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 01/08/2026

More frequent services can't come soon enough

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 29/07/2026

High capacity high frequency public transport is the best way to move people around big cities.👍

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 27/07/2026

Good to see new low floor trams entering service soon! #Melbourne also needs more platform stops to give us an accessible tram network that everyone can use.🚋👍

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 27/07/2026

For the Suburban Rail Loop's benefits to be maximised, interchange between lines needs to be quick and easy, including full weather protection, good signage, and frequent trains ensuring a short wait. Read our comments in The Age yesterday.

Signage in State Library station pointing to Melbourne Central Station 60 metres

Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen said connections between stations needed to be as quick and easy as possible to match the ambition of the rail loop to connect to the city’s existing network.

“That’s what you see around the world internationally,” he said. “The big cities where they have different train systems all connecting, it’s not an issue as long as it is convenient to step off one train, walk down a passageway, and hop on another.”

Bowen pointed to how passengers at Flinders Street Station and Melbourne Central could transfer to the new Metro Tunnel entirely within a paid area, without having to touch off.

“You’re inside all the way, so you’re protected from the weather,” he said.

Bowen said it was possible commuters would not see this level of connection on the SRL, which would be a “great shame”.

“It does mean that the new line will not be as beneficial to passengers as it otherwise could be,” he said.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 26/07/2026

Many public transport timetables are written as though nobody wants to travel on Sundays. Some routes don't even run. In truth, travel demand is similar to Saturdays. More routes running on Sundays, and running more often means more people can use the network seven days-a-week.

Geordi La Forge meme: bus timetable with no service on Sundays vs tram timetable with services every 10 minutes most of the day

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 24/07/2026

Spotted: toy 1:70 scale tram platform stops for $17. If only that meant that full size tram stops cost just $1190! On the real tram system, more is needed to ensure the whole network is accessible for everyone.

Toy tram platform stop, 1:70 scale $16.95

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 23/07/2026

Join us for our upcoming Volunteer-Member meeting with Peter Parker, the public transport and network planning advocate behind the Melbourne on Transit blog. We look forward to a night of casual discussion on Peter’s work, in person at Ross House. Hope to see you there! RSVP: ptua.wildapricot.org...

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 22/07/2026

Good to see Toronto is trialling cameras to catch motorists illegally and dangerously passing stopped trams. When can we get this in Melbourne? www.thestar.com/news...

Toronto Star: TTC launches streetcar camera pilot Monday to catch drivers illegally passing open doors

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 21/07/2026

On this day in 1954, electric trains were extended to Warragul, only to be withdrawn in the 1990s. It's time to re-extend electrification on V/Line's commuter lines to reduce reliance on diesel.

Victorian Railways electric train. Pic from National Library of Australia.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 19/07/2026

Congratulations Spain! ⚽🏆🇪🇸 In Barcelona, and in many other cities worldwide, they understand that for public transport reach its potential, high frequency services are vital. Cutting wait times is the best way of getting people out of their cars, and out of the traffic.🚇

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 19/07/2026

Infrequent services make connections difficult. To get people out of cars, a big city like #Melbourne needs better than trains every 20, 30, 40 minutes.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 18/07/2026

Good to see people out today in support of accessible tram platform stops on Sydney Road before the Upfield line closes for level crossing removal works. All of Melbourne's tram network should be accessible to everyone. Check out the local campaign here: www.facebook.com/SAT...

People in wheelchairs and others with a high floor tram

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 15/07/2026

We support the Monash Graduate Association's call for concession fares for full-time graduate students. Find out more and sign their petition here: mga.monash.edu/polic...

Every other state gives grads a concession fare. Victoria doesn't.

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 14/07/2026

🚌Do you live or travel in Bendigo? Local bus routes are being reviewed. Longer hours, more direct, better connected, more frequent bus services mean a better public transport network that more people can use. Have your say here: engage.vic.gov.au/be...

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Public Transport Users Association @ptua.org.au · 14/07/2026

🚌New bus timetables started in Melbourne's south east last week, including new route 886 from Hastings to Mornington. More buses means more options to get around by public transport. A step in the right direction. Details here: transport.vic.gov.au...

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