By Ewen McRae
A group of concerned residents is petitioning the state government to reinstate the Caroline Springs to city bus route, claiming there are serious safety concerns with the new routes.
The 216 bus route was altered in November 2017. It previously went from Caroline Springs to the city, but now starts in Sunshine. A new 426 route takes passengers from Caroline Springs to Sunshine.
Petitioner Pauline Farrugia said having no continuous service from the outer western suburbs to the city had had a big impact on many passengers.
“Previously we could get on a bus in Caroline Springs, or other places west of Sunshine and have an uninterrupted ride to the city,” she said.
“Now we have to change in Sunshine, and if you miss the connection you have to wait. A lot of the people who use the service are elderly, or travelling alone, and if you get stranded by yourself at night it can be quite scary.
“I had a situation where I was by myself until 1am, and I hid so no one could see I was alone. It’s a real concern for many people.”
Ms Farrugia said it was a case of inequality.
“It’s another case of the western suburbs being overlooked,” she said.
“In the eastern suburbs you have more options, and out here we seem to get neglected. We only have trains and buses to get into the city, and if you have to keep hopping on and off, sometimes with a walker or shopping, it’s very inconvenient.”
A Public Transport Victoria spokesperson said the change in route was brought in to improve service reliability.
“PTV continually looks for ways to improve our public transport network and to improve links between services,” they said.
“Route 426 gives passengers better reliability and timetabled connections to train stations on the Sunbury line.
“PTV works closely with Victoria Police, and our bus, tram and train operators, to ensure the ongoing safety of our passengers.”
The petition can be viewed at tinyurl.com/yb8m2bay
