Commuters at Laverton station have complained of being unable to board overcrowded trains in last week’s morning peak despite being just five stops from the start of the Werribee line.
Altona Meadows resident Mark Websdale was among passengers running late for work after being unable to squeeze on to two trains in a row soon after 8am on Thursday.
“It is kind of weird being the fifth station from the start of the line, and having two consecutive trains turn up in peak hour so overcrowded that nobody could get on without getting aggressive,” he said.
“This, after I managed to snare the very last parking space in the station car park.
“A lot of money is being promised for a new underground line connecting South Yarra to Southern Cross.
“Is it necessarily the best use of the money, given the extensive train and tram network that already connects South Yarra to the CBD?
“What are the barriers to a higher capacity on the outer suburban lines?
“This kind of overcrowding should be a big concern if we are contemplating merging zones 1 and 2, as that could only lead to more people in the outer ’burbs getting on the train.”
Jess Maguire, a spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder, said that since October, 2010, the Werribee line timetable had been improved with 181 extra services a week and a new station at Williams Landing.
“In May, 2011, the Coalition Government significantly boosted the Werribee line timetable with three extra trains in each of the morning
and afternoon peaks, meaning there is now a train about every 11 minutes during the peak, as well as more express trains for faster journey times,” she said.
“We know that Wyndham is rapidly expanding; that’s why the Regional Rail Link is such an important project.
“Regional Rail Link will build two new stations in Wyndham, in Wyndham Vale and Tarneit, connecting these growing communities to the rail network for the first time. This will provide choice for the Wyndham community and disperse commuters across two lines.”
She said the state budget also provided funding for new bus routes serving the two new stations.
