Melbourne public transport operator Metro is rumoured to be announcing “good news” at public meeting tonight (March 20) organised by people angered at the neglect of Altona loop commuters on the Werribee Line.
Passengers told the Weekly they were sceptical, while Metro would not provide a comment.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the service was so poor that Altona loop commuters had abandoned trains, as demonstrated by patronage data.
As reported by the Weekly this month, Metro used declining patronage figures to justify why trains that were meant to go to Altona instead were dumping passengers at Newport and running express to Laverton.
“Altona loop is home to the most dissatisfied commuters on the whole metropolitan network, as has been shown in every customer satisfaction survey since the train services were cut in 2012,” Ms Hartland said.
Trains that are meant to stop at Westona, Altona and Seaholme stations – the Altona loop – often run directly between Laverton and Newport to make up time.
After more than 300 trains skipped the Altona loop in the 2012-13 financial year, Metro received a $2.4 million state government performance bonus for meeting targets.
Altona Loop Group spokeswoman Jennifer Williams said commuters had coined the term “kidnap express” for trains meant to stop at all stations to Werribee but which then ran express with passengers trapped on board.
Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) Andrea Duckworth said she was not aware of any new announcement, but there would be future improvements when the Regional Rail Link was completed in 2016.
“Improving services for Altona loop passengers is a key priority in PTV’s rail plan. After the completion of Regional Rail Link, off-peak Altona loop trains will be able to run through to Flinders Street so that passengers will no longer need to change trains at Newport and peak services will be able to operate more reliably.”
Attendees at tomorrow’s meeting are expected to include Metro chief executive Andrew Lezala, Melbourne University transport expert John Stone. The meeting is from 7pm today (Thursday) at Altona RSL, 31 Sargood Street, Altona.
