CHANGES to the metropolitan train timetable next month will increase journey times on weekends for western suburbs commuters.
And the latest passenger loading surveys shows peak-hour trains servicing the outer west are struggling to keep up with patronage.
Twice-yearly surveys are taken at Jolimont, Richmond and North Melbourne stations in morning and afternoon peak periods.
Trains carrying more than 798 passengers in peak hour are considered crowded.
The Werribee line, including Laverton trains, showed no signs of improvement, despite 10 extra peak-hour services lifting capacity by almost one third.
Overall, the number of
‘crowded trains’ dropped from 17.9percent of all services in October 2010 to 14.4percent in October last year.
Eight trains on the Sydenham line had more than 798 passengers, an improvement on 10 trains the previous year.
Three out of 10 passengers rode on overcrowded trains, down from four out of 10 the previous year.
For the second consecutive year, no Williamstown line trains exceed the 798-passenger benchmark.
An Auditor-General’s report this month stated the train-loading surveys were a “snapshot of overcrowding, but (were) insufficient to measure passengers’ day-to-day experience of crowding”.
Timetables changes to come into effect late next month, obtained by Greens MP Greg Barber, show no extra services during weekday, peak hours for the Werribee, Williamstown, Sydenham or Craigieburn lines.
Weekend changes include slowing the trips on the Craigieburn and Werribee lines by two minutes and one minute on the Sydenham line.
