FOR Abbie Kinniburgh, catching a train is not just a way to escape the traffic; it’s a necessity.
Two years ago, the 21-year-old moved to a house in High Street, Seaholme, because it was across the road from the station – a 30-second walk.
Born with a rare medical condition and brain malformations, and diagnosed with anxiety, Ms Kinniburgh is unable to live independently and can’t drive, meaning she relies on public transport to get to her classes at Victoria University in Footscray – four stations away.
Timetable changes last year on the Altona Loop mean she now has to change trains at Newport.
In a statement read by her mother at last Thursday’s forum, Ms Kinniburgh expressed frustration at the changes and frequent cancellations, which have turned what should be a 15-minute journey into one which can take nearly an hour.
“Since learning to navigate the train system and timetables … I have only become more confused, stressed and doubtful about my ability to access services in the community, a social life and my education,” she said.
“The unreliable transport changes my plans constantly, makes me late for medical appointments, requires me to rearrange people I rely on at uni at short notice, and puts stress on my physical condition.
“It causes me to become very ill more often and is decreasing my energy, motivation and ability to function.
“You would think leaving home five minutes before the train comes, when it’s only 30 seconds away, would be plenty of time. But still I have found myself running frantically to the station because the train arrives two to three minutes early.”
Ms Kinniburgh said the train network had pushed her to the brink of quitting her studies.
Her mother said Ms Kinniburgh’s struggle was common for commuters along the loop.
“She generally uses off-peak services and if she arrives at the station and just misses a train, she sometimes has to wait another 40 minutes.
“If she wants to go to and from the city during off-peak she now has to catch six trains, whereas she once only had to catch two.
“The public needs to be put back into public transport.”
-Cameron Tait
