Categories
Consumerism transport

So is it flexible, or not?

I’m sorry, I know I’m being terribly dim here, but these adverts: Can someone explain what it means? I appreciate that a physical printed bus timetable is generally made out of paper, and is therefore flexible. But what with online timetables and journey planners, a lot of people never use a paper timetable anymore. Especially,  ... [More]

Categories
PTUA transport

Those Brits look like Aussies!

Dear London Daily News, that photo you’ve used was taken by me for use by the PTUA. I don’t recall providing permission for you to use it, and I don’t see any attribution on it. I wonder if anybody clicked through to look at the detail in the picture and wondered whereabouts Caulfield station is  ... [More]

Categories
Melbourne transport

Walkability and churches

I found the video below on the Walkscore.com blog. Amusing, and quite thought-provoking (if a little preachy). On this topic, I’m not quite sure why, but I had noticed there’s an enormous variety of places of worship in my suburb. Seems whatever your faith, there’s probably a local place for you. Seriously, within about fifteen  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Baaaa!

Level crossings like the one at Glen Huntly slow down trams, cars, pedestrians and trains alike… in fact due to the tram/train crossing (one of four in Melbourne), trains have to slow down to 15 km/h. And the confined pedestrian

Categories
transport

How much has really changed?

I’ve been using Glenhuntly Station for about fifteen years, since when I first moved to the suburb. I still go there even though I live in Bentleigh, on days when I’ve dropped off the kids at school. In that time, about the only thing that’s changed is that there used to be a booking office  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Bike hire

Pre-state budget, there were strategic leaks of various initiatives. One that got a lot of press is the bike hire scheme. It’s a $5 million dollar scheme to have a bunch of inner-city bike stations where people can hire a bike. Obviously there’s some detail to come out here. Where will they put them? How  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Non-identical twins

These two are dizygotic twins. That is, non-identical. They used to be identical. How did it happen? Here’s the potted history. These Comeng trains were built during the 80s. As part of privatisation, the then-two operators M>Train and Connex took half each, and refurbished them (via EDI and Alstom, respectively). Added CCTV, automated announcements and  ... [More]

Categories
transport

It’s all part of the spin

The new 903 Smartbus runs from Mordialloc to Altona, every 8-15 minutes in peak hour, 15 minutes off-peak, 30 minutes evenings and weekends. I don’t for a moment believe anybody in their right mind will catch it from end to end, but it feeds into most of the city’s rail lines, connects major shopping centres  ... [More]

Categories
Friends and loved ones Net PTUA transport

On the public record

I think I might have out-done myself this time. Last month I represented the PTUA at a senate hearing into Commonwealth investment in public transport. During questions, the topic of public transport for special events came up, and as I had the night before been to such an event, I drew on that personal experience  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Advice ignored

“Particularly during peak period where we know it has been a difficult period, but we’ve had patronage growth in such a short period that no other jurisdiction around Australia has experienced,” [Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky] said. “Indeed, I’m not aware of any other location around the world that has had the levels of patronage  ... [More]

Categories
transport

The train with less seats

OK, so I’ve finally seen the modified test train in the flesh. Here’s a short video explaining the changes. Both the video and a Flickr slideshow are over on the PTUA web site. I think it’s okay. In an age where people struggle just to squeeze on board the train, this design encourages people to  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Going underground

Andrew notes a certain fascination among some people with the London Underground. For me, it’s the concept of an entire network of railway services where you don’t need a timetable. You just turn up and go. The result is people treating the trains as the default way of getting around for a lot more trips  ... [More]