Public Transport Corporation.html



Green and Gold "The Met" logo from the 1990s

Tangerine V/Line logo from the 1980s

The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1989 to manage the responsibilities of the State Transport Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. In suburban Melbourne it traded as "The Met" while in regional Victoria it operated as "V/Line". The corporation was privatised in 1999 by the Kennett Government.

Formation

V/Line branded train in 1993

V/Line Freight livered locomotive X43

The Public Transport Corporation was formed under the Transport (Amendment) Act 1989 from the State Transport Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The functions of the Corporation was an amalgamation of its two predecessors. The green and gold livery on vehicles was retained, though with a new "double arrow" logo.

The Public Transport Corporation was subject to the control and general direction of the Director-General of Transport and, ultimately, the Minister for Transport. A fourteen-member Public Transport Corporation Board was appointed by the Minister to provide advice to the Chief Executive of the Corporation.

Demise

See also: V/Line , Freight Victoria , Connex Melbourne , and Yarra Trams

Privatisation of the Victoria Public Transport Corporation commenced under the Kennett Government of the 1990’s. V/Line was split into Passenger and Freight divisions and “The Met” was divided into “Hillside Trains”, “Bayside Trains”, ”Swanston Trams”, and “Yarra Trams”. These separate bodies were all sold separately:

• V/Line Freight -> 1999 Freight Victoria -> 2004 Pacific National

• V/Line Passenger -> 1999 National Express Group -> 2002 State Government

• Bayside Trains -> 1999 National Express Group (M>Train) -> 2002 State Government -> 2004 Connex Melbourne

• Hillside Trains -> 1999 Connex Melbourne

• Swanston Trams -> 1999 National Express Group (M>Tram) -> 2002 State Government -> 2004 Yarra Trams Consortium

• Yarra Trams -> 1999 Yarra Trams Consortium

The remainder of the functions of the PTC were transferred to Metlink.

References

• Public Record Office Victoria - Metropolitan Transit Authority
• Public Record Office Victoria - State Transport Authority
• Public Record Office Victoria - Public Transport Corporation