Metro has rejected claims that over-crowded city-bound morning peak-hour trains are forcing staff to direct commuters at Laverton to transfer platforms and catch a train through the Altona Loop.
It has also denied that it is “the norm” for outbound Altona Loop passengers to be dumped at Newport so Werribee-line trains can make up time by running express to Laverton.
Altona Meadows resident Mark Websdale said that on Monday morning last week, staff advised city-bound Werribee line passengers to catch a train from another platform because inbound trains were too full. Laverton is the fifth stop from the start of the line.
“There looked to be about six to eight people in high-visibility vests on the platform telling people that the next few trains were running late and would be too full to take on passengers,” Mr Websdale said.
“People were directed to the other platform where an Altona Loop train was waiting.
I didn’t see how that would help; they would have got as far as Newport and then faced the same problem.”
Altona Loop passenger Kate Witton said she had lodged complaints with Metro and Public Transport Victoria about “disaster train services’’ from the city between May 12 and 14.
“Three days in a row – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – I’ve caught the 5.36pm from Flinders Street to Altona, and by the time we end up at Newport the train is about 10 minutes late due to congestion and platform swapping on platforms eight and nine at Flinders Street, and congestion between North Melbourne and Footscray.
“We then get told either the train won’t be going any further or it’s going straight to Laverton so the inbound service can start on time.
‘‘We’re then waiting at Newport station in the dark for about 12-15 minutes for the next Altona Loop train to arrive and end up home half an hour later than planned.
‘‘It’s bad enough that it’s 22 minutes between services in peak hour.”
Metro spokeswoman Larisa Tait said CCTV had been checked and there were no staff redirecting commuters at Laverton.
“We have a staff member working on the platform – in the peak direction – at all times, who is available to assist or answer any questions our customers may have,” she said.
“Sometimes a late-running train may terminate early in order to contain the late-running to the fewest number of services possible – called a short arrival.
“However, we are mindful of short-arriving any service on the network because we know it inconveniences our customers, and we avoid doing it as much as possible.’’
