Farewell ACT Light Rail, hello Public Transport Association of Canberra

Say hello to the 'Public Transport Association of Canberra' or 'PTCBR'.

Light railers, the following announcement is a little delayed in its release, but I'm sure you'll appreciate the wait.

Following on from our success in helping to secure a light rail future in Canberra, a question was raised amongst a few of us on the ACT Light Rail committee about where we should go from here. The consensus reached was that we should continue our advocacy, not just for light rail, but also for overall better public transport in Canberra and our immediate region.

To that end, a brand new community based public transport advocacy group has been created with members drawn from ACT Light Rail, and a few new faces. We have now formally registered the 'Public Transport Association of Canberra', or 'PTCBR'.

An interim committee has been formed, a constitution written (we are using the model rules, as recommended by the Office of Regulatory Services), and a set of objectives established. The organisation has been registered with the ACT Governments Office of Regulatory Services and in the New Year we will be in a position to start inviting applications for membership, and for those so motivated, several positions on the interim committee that remain vacant.

Along with the formation of PTCBR, we'll be starting a brand new website at ptcbr.org and changing the name of the facebook group to recognise this change from a focus on light rail to better reflect a bigger focus on public transport in Canberra.

This website will no longer be updated, but remain online for future reference.

Our objectives as an organisation will be as follows:
1. Promote public transport in the Canberra region.
2. Act as the peak body for public transport consultation in the ACT.
3. Further the integration of light rail, bus services and active transport within the ACT.

Whilst we won't be asking every member of the group to join the official organisation, we are keen for as many of you as possible to do so. The more people we count as members, the greater sway we'll have to effect better public transport and planning outcomes.

We will be asking people who wish to become members to pay a $20 annual membership fee, or $10 for students/pensioners.

Your fees will enable us to hold regular public forums where we intend to invite organisations, businesses and government departments involved in public transport to come and speak with us. We intend to become a proactive voice in Canberra’s public transport and planning future, and we need to do this in a professional and organised way.

You are of course welcome to remain in this group and continue contributing as you see fit without any further commitment, and we likewise understand if you no longer wish to be a part of the group following this change.

What we can say, however, is that becoming a member of PTCBR will provide you with the opportunity to become a part of a group that will have a real, tangible impact on the quality of our city's livability. It would be great if you could all be a part of it.

Damien Haas, Chair PTCBR
(on behalf of the PTCBR Committee)

Ninety years of Canberra Buses celebrated at RATEC clubhouse

RATEC members and Minster Meegan Fitzharris in front of a vintage bus and new ACTION bus

Today Meegan Fitzharris, Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services, visited the Retired ACT Transport Employees Club house to celebrate 90 years of public transport in Canberra. In her short speech ahead of cake cutting, she remarked on the photo on the wall behind her of a horse and carriage carting children that was Canberras earliest public transport service, and observed how different the older and newer buses parked in front of the club house for the day were. Her warm comments about the efforts of the retired ACTION employees were received with grace and humour. 

Buses will always play a significant part in Canberras transport options. Even though light rail will roll out across Canberra over the coming decades taking over and expanding the mass transit role, buses will continue to circulate through Canberras suburbs taking us safely home. Today was a day for us to remember and thank the retired employees for their work over the past 90 years. 

Yes there was cake

Minister Fitzharris on front of a photo of horse and cart carrying children, Canberras earliest form of public transport

Retired ACTION driver Dick Redman gained his bus licence in this vehicle in 1950

Logo on the side of a 1950's Canberra bus

Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris MLA released the following media release on 19 July 2016:

MEEGAN Fitzharris has joined Transport Canberra staff and members of the Retired ACT Transport Employees Club (RATEC) to celebrate 90 years of bus services in the ACT.

“Public transport in the ACT has come a long way in 90 years, and it is great to be able to celebrate this milestone at what is a really exciting time for public transport here in Canberra,” Meegan said.

“We recently launched our brand new transport agency, Transport Canberra, our new bus timetable launched yesterday, and construction on our light rail network has started, which I know will play a huge part in the next 90 years of public transport here in Canberra.

“Public transport has been an integral part of our city from its earlier days and it will continue to play an even more important role into the future with more than 500,000 people expected to call Canberra home in the next 15 years.

“In July 1926, the Federal Capital Commission started the first public operating bus service in Canberra, which was known as the Canberra City Omnibus Service.

“Parliament House opened the following year and a number of Commonwealth Government Departments began to move to Canberra. This led to an increase in people living in the ACT. To support this, the Omnibus Service grew the size and frequency.

“This service continued to grow and, by 1977, the Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network, known to most of us as ACTION, was formed.

“Looking back, a lot has changed. The city has grown from less than 10,000 people in the early days of the Canberra City Omnibus Service, to over 390,000 people today. Our buses now provide 3,306 weekday services, 1,186 services on Saturdays and 816 on Sundays. Technology has also improved with paper tickets replaced by the more efficient MyWay cards.

“These changes are certainly apparent in the difference between ‘Matilda’, the restored 1949 AEC Regal III Omnibus, and the Scania CB80, the newest of ACTION’s bus fleet, which is fully accessible, low emission and fitted with heating and cooling.

“Of course the next stage of our public transport journey will include light rail, and we will be working hard to ensure our buses integrate seamlessly with light rail when the first stage starts operating in early 2019.

“But what today is really all about is ensuring ACT residents continue to have access to quality public transport. This is one of the ACT Government’s highest priorities, and I’m proud to be able to celebrate this milestone today as we look forward to making our public transport system work even better for the people of Canberra.”


As part of the celebrations for the day, Minister Fitzharris visited the RATEC clubhouse and viewed a range of ACT public transport memorabilia, including old driver shift cards, photographs, timetable books and signage. The Minster donated a new Transport Canberra MyWay card to the collection.

Statement ends.

As well as this website, the facebook group 'Light Rail for Canberra' carries frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news. 

ACT Light Rail meet the people

On a chilly zero degree Sunday morning Committee members of ACT Light Rail arrived at the Jamison Trash and Treasure markets in Belconnen. We were there to talk about the 'all of Canberra' benefits of light rail and integrated transport with members of the public that aren't along the Capital Metro stage one corridor, and who may not be engaged in the public transport policy debate. And to give away stickers and buttons supporting light rail. 

Stickers old (top) and new (bottom)

The cardboard trams were a hit with the kids.

Deputy Chair Ian Ruecroft and Committee Member Robert Knight

Former Chair and current Committee Member Mark Loney instructing in the fine arts of cardboard tram assembly

Our table of information - stickers, buttons, Capital Metro mythbuster cards (popular), cardboard trams and route maps.

The morning was a resounding success. Many people asked us questions and we managed to provide factual information that allayed concerns about the project. It is clear that people are looking a a reason to support light rail. They have also absorbed some of the anti light rail rhetoric, but when introduced to the facts (the Mythbuster cards are great) they do come around. Of course, we encountered many disinterested people and a few anti light rail people, but overwhelmingly it was a positive experience. 

It was also great to meet some of the nearly 500 members of the 'Light Rail for Canberra' Facebook group. 

Jamison in Belconnen was chosen because it isn't along the Capital Metro corridor. We will be going to other places across Canberra to do more promotion of light rail. If you know an event that would suit us, please leave a comment or send us an email.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Meet ACT Light Rail and get a free sticker!

What are you doing on Sunday morning on July 5th?

If you would like to meet some of the Committee members of ACT Light Rail and pick up one of our free stickers or buttons, come along to the Jamison Markets in Macquarie, Belconnen between 8AM and midday on Sunday.

We will be manning a stall with information about light rail and the Capital Metro project, and handing out stickers and buttons for FREE!

We look forward to talking to the public about the benefits of public transport and the Capital Metro project.

Many thanks to Transit Graphics who donated the design and contributed to printing costs.

Information on the Jamison Trash and Treasure is here.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Gungahlin Light Rail Community forum a tremendous success

The Gungahlin Community Council and Canberra Loves 40% jointly hosted a community forum on Monday 8 Sep 2014, where members of the community could come together and speak to planning and transport experts, and representatives from Capital Metro, about the light rail line from Civic to Gungahlin. It gave the community the opportunity to have input into some design aspects, and from their experiences, offer suggestions and solutions. 

ABC news covered the event

As did WIN Canberra

It was a valuable opportunity for members of the community to speak directly to Capital Metro and other ACT Government officials on the impact of light rail and how it may affect their community. The day began with presentations from Capital Metro and other light rail and planning experts, and after lunch attendees participated in a Design Workshop, giving residents the opportunity to ask questions, and offer advice about quite specific parts of the proposed route. This outstanding example of community driven consultation will ensure that the delivered product will meet current and future needs. 

ACT Light Rail promoted the event on our Facebook page. If you are interested in attending other events like this, please join the Facebook group Light Rail for Canberra. 

Active Transport Forum - Thursday 30 August

Canberra Loves 40% are holding a public transport forum on Thursday 30 August. There will be several speakers, and also a panel that will field questions.

The main speakers will be Professor Cameron Gordon from UC, Jason Ward from GoldLinq (Gold Coast Light Rail)  and Simon Corbell, ACT Transport Minister.

Ian Ruecroft, ACT Light Rail Deputy Chair will be on the panel.

The event will be chaired by Alex Sloan from ABC666 local radio.

I would urge anyone interested in public transport in Canberra to attend, listen and ask questions. Details below.

Raiders show their support for light rail

(From the Canberra Loves 40% website)

Canberra Loves 40%, a local community group promoting a sustainable, vibrant and emissions free city, have created a short video that will be aired at Canberra Stadium throughout the rest of the Raiders’ 2012 season.The video shows a new future for Raiders fans, traveling to and from games on a light rail system. It promotes integrated rapid transport as an environmental and social solution for the city.

“The Raiders are demonstrating a real commitment to Canberra by airing our promo,” Canberra Loves 40% spokesperson Phoebe Howe said.

Corbell assures Molonglo residents they will experience road congestion due to poor planning by his government

'Yes we will see more congestion on roads here in Weston Creek and around the city' Simon Corbell.

The local ABC ran an item on its '7.30 report' on Friday Night looking at the new suburbs of Molonglo and the inadequate infrastructure in place to deal with a population expected to grow by a minimum of 15,000 within 5 years. It also looked at the concurrent infrastructure demands that would be felt by Weston Creek, as residents of Molonglo lacking any infrastructure of their own, sought access to services. 

These include: schooling, shopping, recreation (sport, swimming) and of course - transport. Tom Anderson, of the Weston Creek Community Council articulated clearly the lack of existing infrastructure in Weston Creek, and how his area will be expected to shoulder the burden. 

Clearly this government has learnt nothing from 20 years of serious problems arising from a lack of infrastructure in Gungahlin at its inception. ACT Light Rail have previously called for better public transport to be in place before residents begin to move into Molonglo. 

After looking at the lack of public transport infrastructure, the ABC report concluded with the following:

Reporter: "perhaps what Weston Creek needs is Light Rail ?"
Corbell "(nervous giggle)... I'll take that as a comment"

Competition to design Civic light rail terminal

Ask your kids to submit a design for this great competition! More details at the Canberra Loves 40% website. 

ACT Light Rail to speak at GCC Forum on 13 June 2012

Look for Alexander Bunyip and you have found the Gungahlin Library!

ACT Light Rail have been invited to speak at the Gungahlin Community Council public forum next Wednesday. Damien Haas, Chair of ACT Light Rail, will discuss the recent ACT Budget, the Gungahlin to Civic transport corridor and the future of light rail in the ACT.  

GCC Public Forum
7.30 PM
Wednesday 13 June 2012
Gungahlin Public Library - Meeting Rooms

ACT Light Rail are happy to talk to your community group.

Build a Smarter Canberra - Canberra Love 40%

Canberra  Loves 40% are a local group that are committed to lowering the Territories carbon dioxide emissions by 40% in line with State and Federal government policies. They have been quite active in lobbying Territory politicians and conducting activities to raise public awareness on this issue. 

Part of this strategy to lower carbon dioxide emissions is to convince people to reduce private vehicle use, by using alternatives such as public transport, cycling or walking. They are also keen to support change to the primary mode of mass transit from diesel buses to electric light rail vehicles. 

Although support for light rail is only one part of their overall strategy, I urge you to read their 'Build a Smarter Canberra' proposals.