Metro has vowed to investigate why Laverton-bound trains which are meant to stop at all stations are dumping Altona commuters at Newport and bypassing the Altona loop.
Angry commuters at last Wednesday’s public meeting in Altona labelled the train service “Third World” and aired grievances about infrequent and cancelled trains, being forced to catch two trains to the city and being kicked off at Newport on the way home.
Star Weekly asked Metro deputy chief executive Mike Houghton why Altona loop passengers were being made to get off at Newport after catching a train that was meant to stop at all stations.
“They shouldn’t,” he said. “I don’t understand why that is. We shouldn’t be doing that.
“The only reason I would expect that to happen is if there’s a problem between Newport and [Altona]. If nothing’s happened … there’s no reason not to bring you through.”
Metro spokeswoman Pauline O’Connor said there would be an investigation in light of Mr Houghton’s comments.
“We’re investigating the root cause of any Altona loop service that terminates at Newport to clarify the performance of this line,” she said.
Mr Houghton blamed 53 per cent of bypasses on external events such as trespass, police operations and vandalism, and 19 per cent on infrastructure failures, followed by “fleet failures and driver issues”.
“The bypasses are around one a day,” he said. “Out of 102 services, one a day is bypassed.” But numerous commuters at the public meeting said Metro’s figures did not match their experience on the ground.
‘Botched’ timetable
Altona Loop Group spokeswoman Jennifer Williams said bypassing should be investigated with a view to improving reliability.
“Trains bypass because of late running and we’ve all been dumped at Newport to watch three Werribee and Williamstown services go by as we wait up to 22 minutes for the next Altona loop train,” she said.
She said the “botched” timetable was also disappointing and Labor had failed to deliver on a promise to reintroduce direct city-bound trains and improve frequency once the Regional Rail Link was completed.
Metro said a new timetable would be introduced next year but could not give a date or say what the changes would be.
