EXTRA train services on the Werribee line haven’t eased peak-hour overcrowding, new figures reveal.
The latest passenger loading surveys show that Werribee line trains, which cover the Altona loop, are struggling to handle patronage despite 10 extra peak-hour services lifting capacity by about one third.
Peak-hour trains with more than 798 passengers are considered crowded.
Overall, ‘crowded trains’ dropped from 17.9percent of all services in October 2010 to 14.4percent in October last year.
An Auditor-General’s report this month stated train-loading surveys were a “snapshot of overcrowding but insufficient to measure passengers’ experience of crowding”.
Greens MP Greg Barber has obtained, under a freedom of information request, timetable changes due to come into effect late next month that show no additional peak-hour weekday services on the Werribee line.
Weekend changes included slowing trips on the Werribee line by two minutes.
Wyndham Transport Advisory chairman Jim Giddings said the group was “very disappointed” there were no extra peak-hour services promised under the new timetable.
