How to use the PTV Android app

When you first open the app, the default page (Home) contains your nearby stops and stations. Once you save favourite stops, stations and journeys they will also appear here.

You can also view your nearby stops and stations on a map by tapping the PTV logo icon in the top left hand corner or swiping right. This will display the menu, and you can then tap on Map.

You can also type your address or station/stop into the search bar shown in the sliding menu.

View the Icon legend which provides an explanation of all the app icons.

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To view your next departure, from the Home screen, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Next 5. Then type in the route, line, station or stop to view its next departures.

When in the Map, once you have found your stop or station, tap the Locate Me icon and then tap the Next 5 icon  that appears in the pop-up at the bottom of the screen. This will give you the next departures from this stop.

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To plan your journey, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Plan Journey.

Type the address or station/stop from which you are departing or leave the default option which will be your current location.

Next, enter the address or station/stop you wish to travel to.

You can then tap on the options as they are displayed to get more detail about the journey.

If you wish to make any changes to this journey, tap the blue Set journey preferences > button and you can change:

• Whether you wish to depart now or at a future time/date.
• Your preferred transfer method
• Your preferred maximum transfer time
• Your walking speed (default is Average)
• Your trip preference
• Your preferred modes of transport
• Accessibility preferences.

You can also save this as a default preference

To view the journey in reverse, tap the reverse arrow icon .

To refresh the view tap the refresh/reset icon at the top of the screen.

There are a few ways you can save your favourite station/stop:

• Via the map
• Via the search bar
• Via Next 5
• Via Journey Planner

Map: Tap the mode icon of the relevant stop, then at the base of the screen tap the Next 5 icon . You can then tap the star icon in the top right corner. This will allow you to select your favourite services. The star will turn yellow when selected.

Search bar: Type in the station, street, or address that you wish to favourite. This will then open the map. You can then tap the ‘List’ icon to ensure you can then find the relevant stop for the mode you are looking for.

Then, tap the Next 5 icon at the base of the screen, then tap the star icon at the top of the screen, to select your favourite stop.

Next 5: In Next 5 search for your desired stop and then tap the star icon at the top of the screen. The star will turn yellow when selected.

Journey planner: Simply plan your journey and at the results page, tap the star icon in the top right hand corner. The star will turn yellow when selected.

To access your favourites, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Home. This is also your default home screen that will display when you open the app.

If you wish to change the list of favourites or reorder the position you have on the app, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Home.

Once in Home, tap the Edit button in the top right corner. This will enable you to delete any favourite journeys or stations and stops. To reorder the list of favourites hold down the list icon beside each favourite and slide up or down to reorder.

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Tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner to see the menu and then tap on Disruptions. This will display all planned disruptions for every mode of transport. You can also filter the list based on transfer mode by tapping the list icon on the top right of the screen.

Disruption information can also be displayed within Journey Planner.

If you have planned a journey and you see the information icon, tap on the journey option and then tap on the information icon which will give you a brief description of the disruption.

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While you are taking your journey, you can follow your progress on the map. This is particularly useful if you are taking a new journey as it will help you know where to alight.

NOTE: You will need to have GPS (Location services) enabled on your phone for this to have optimal accuracy.

View Turning GPS (Location Services) settings on/off

When using the Journey Planner, you can also tap the Map my journey icon which will detail the route for your journey.

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To view transport mode maps, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner to see the menu and then tap on Transport Maps.

Currently you can view:

• Metropolitan train
• Metropolitan tram
• Regional train and coach
• NightRider

To change between different modes, tap the List icon at the top right of the screen and specify the map you wish to view.

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If you are unsure about what a particular option can do, tap the Help icon in the top right corner of the screen. This will give you help information for that particular menu item.

There may be more than one screen of help information, just swipe to the left to view the next screen and swipe right to go back to the first screen.

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The default setting for your Home screen is to show your nearby transport options. If you wish to turn this off, tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Settings.

Un-tick the box beside ‘Nearby transport’ to turn this function off.

Please note that this information is based on the GPS (Location services) data as provided by your phone. If your GPS is turned off, you will not get as accurate a ‘nearby transport’ option.

View Turning GPS (Location Services) settings on/off.

To view nearby transport, go to Map and then tap the List icon   this will then display a pop-up where you can choose what transport or services you wish to display on the map.

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We encourage you to provide us with feedback so we can continue to improve the app. Tap the PTV logo in the top left hand corner or swipe right to see the menu and then tap on Feedback.

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In order to ensure your ‘Current location’ is always accurate, you will need to ensure that your GPS settings are turned on.

To do this, you will need to go out of the app and into your Settings > Location Services.

Ensure each of the boxes are ticked next to the following menu items:

• Access to my location
• Use GPS satellites

The PTV app uses GPS information to find your location, so if there are any inaccuracies with your precise location – this is due to the GPS data – not the app.

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All arrival and departure information for metropolitan trains, metropolitan bus, regional V/Line trains, regional V/Line coaches and regional buses is scheduled timetable information.

Tram information shown in minutes is from tramTRACKER®, tram information shown in times are scheduled (timetable) services.

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Home

Home:

View and edit your favourite station/stop/journey

Plan your journey:

Plan your journey from A to B

Next 5:

View the next five departures from a chosen stop/station/address

Map:

View where you are on a map or search for a specific stop/station/address

Disruptions:

View all planned or current disruptions for all modes of transport

Transport maps:

View a transport map for all modes except buses

Settings:

Turn ‘nearby transport’ on or off

Feedback:

Provide feedback to PTV on the app or on our service generally