Monday, February 22, 2010

The NSW "Metropolitan Transport Plan" Has Been Released

The NSW Government has release their Metropolitan Transport Plan and given it a website of it's own. It is sub-titled "Connecting The City of Cities". The plan can be downloaded in parts and they are encouraging people to make a submission. April 30 is the deadline for submissions.
Here is the website
http://www.nsw.gov.au/shapeyourstate

Friday, February 19, 2010

Comfortable Seats Study - Your Rear-End Is Needed!

"Lloyd’s Register Rail Ltd is conducting a seat comfort study for a leading rail rollingstock manufacturer, based in Granville.
Lloyd’s Register Rail Ltd is seeking participants for this study. Participants will be asked to provide input to ensure that the next generation of passenger seating is comfortable.
If you are a regular rail user between the age of 20-50 who can spare half a day on weekdays between 8 and 19 March we would love to hear from you.
Successful participants will be paid for their participation and reimbursed travel costs (on production of a valid receipt).
If you would like to take part in this study, please contact Averil on 02 8299 4109 or via e-mail on seat.comfort@lr.org"

Monday, February 15, 2010

South Penrith Residents Reported In the Media About MyZone

Several stories in the local media about the new MyZone ticketing system quoted the South Penrith Resident's Action Group coordinator and WSPTU member Sue Day. See here

Mt Druitt Save Our Buses Held Another Public Meeting

There has been a lot of activity by the Mt Druitt Save Our Buses group recently. They have been to see the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure as well as holding another public meeting. Find out more here

SMH Independent Transport Inquiry Report Released

The report from the Independent Transport Inquiry sponsored by the Sydney Morning Herald has been released and is available via the internet. The SMH had an 8 page lift-out today describing the main ideas in the report. Here is a link to the report, but be careful, there are some big downloads in this!
http://www.transportpublicinquiry.com.au/

Monday, February 8, 2010

Your Tickets Please!

Dear Folks,

When MyZone, Sydney's new public transport ticket system, starts in April 2010, most of the current tickets will be withdrawn, either immediately, or when they expire.

I would like to acquire samples of as many types of tickets as possible before they disappear, and I am asking if you can assist in collecting some for me - I'm interested in all tickets, including all the specialised tickets like travelpasses.

If you can manage to collect some, please let me know and I will make arrangements to receive them.

Thanks

Allan Miles
(email wsbustop@gmail.com and we will pass your message to Allan)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MyZone Ticketing - A Great Day For Public Transport Users In Western Sydney

The WSPTU says that the new MyZone ticketing is an excellent step towards an integrated ticketing system in Sydney and provides valuable new public transport ticketing products for the people of Western Sydney at very good prices.

For the first time, this is a system-wide, zone-based approach, to integrate public transport fares (not just the ticketing) for all people in Sydney. This enables the public transport system to compete more effectively with the private car for flexibility, convenience and value; particularly in Western Sydney, South Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

The MyBus Travel Ten tickets will now be available for everybody, including people using the private bus system, and with discounts of 20% because it is a multiple trip purchase. The MyBus Travel Ten has no time restrictions. The MyBus Travel Ten will overcome the lack of flexibility which devalues the current weekly bus tickets available on the private bus system.

The $57 cap on the MyZone Multi ticket is fantastic value for long-distance commuters in the outer parts of Sydney and is a real enabler for people to broaden their range of job opportunities. The fact that it does not limit mode-changes is a real breakthrough change to the system in Western Sydney.

These new tickets are also very likely to benefit low-income people and people with busy families because they will be able to take advantage of the flexibility, unlimited changes of mode and discounts available in the MyZone Multi tickets and the MyBus Travel Ten tickets. In fact, most daily trips that people take are for journeys that are not related to work and these, more flexible, MyZone tickets will help with these journeys, more effectively competing with the choice to use a private car.

For the Future

WSPTU suggests that MyZone Multi tickets be made available for use in Zones 2 and 3 alone or combined. For people travelling locally, near home for reasons other than work (the majority of trips taken), a MyZone Multi for use in Zone 3 or 2 would be very useful.

The recent update on the State Plan sets targets for getting people into the Western Sydney regional cities of Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith by public transport (15%, 50% and 20%). A MyZone 2 or 3 would encourage people to work in these regional cities. To reach the State Plan targets and to get good sustainability outcomes a MyZone Multi 2 or 3 would be a great addition to the new MyZone ticketing system.

It would also be worth considering incorporating the light-rail, monorail and private ferry system into the MyZone ticketing system, particularly if the light-rail system is expanded into other parts of Sydney.

To see a more detailed WSPTU analysis; click here

To see an analysis by Action For Public Transport; click here

Monday, February 1, 2010

MyZone - New Public Transport Tickets, Coming April 18

Today, the NSW State Government released a set of new tickets for the public transport system in Sydney to commence on April 18. See the information and all the ticket options here: www.MyZone.nsw.gov.au