By NICOLE VALICEK
COMMUTERS who use the Altona Loop train service have abandoned their trains according to latest data from Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
Patronage data released by PTV over a four year period between 2008 and 2012 reveals that passenger numbers at the Altona Loop’s three bay side stations fell by 30 per cent.
Meanwhile passenger numbers on the Werribee line that the Altona Loop runs off have climbed dramatically and patronage at Werribee line stations west of the Altona Loop has increased.
The patronage on the Werribee line has jumped by 19 per cent, Hoppers Crossing, 22.5 per cent and Laverton by 10 per cent.
In light of the figures, Greens MP for the Western Suburbs Colleen Hartland has called on the Napthine Government to duplicate the Altona Loop single track.
“The train services on the Altona Loop certainly were poor to begin with, but the timetable changes introduced in 2011 slashed the train services,” she said.
She said Altona loop commuters have become the most dissatisfied on the whole railway network.
“While the timetables could be tweaked to improve the services, we know that only when the single train track is duplicated will the Altona Loop commuters get a decent train service.”
Mother of three Elizabeth Lalor who caught public transport from Altona station near her house now drives to the Newport station because of the line’s unreliability and frequent cancellations.
“This is just the dilemma – they’re unreliable, with small children to pick up from child care and school I’ve started driving into the city or Newport.”
“I work three days a week, this happen once a week, that’s a third of my time.”
She said it was frustrating to have to catch three trains to get to a City Loop station, and as part of changes to the service have the Altona Loop had peak-hour trains cut to once every 22 minutes.
“You really need an hour of space around the train just in case, that’s the issue … if you have to be somewhere you can’t rely on it.”
Jennifer Williams, an Altona Loop commuter and member of community advocates the Altona Loop Group said she knew people who have abandoned the trains and drive to stations at Newport, North Williamstown or Laverton.
“When the timetable changed in 2011 I noticed an immediate drop in the number of cars parked at Altona station and I also noticed there were less people on the station,” she said.
She said described the Altona Loop train service as “pathetic” and consistently poor, with frequent cancellations, bypasses and signal faults.
“There have been no commitments to a better train service to Altona loop residents,” she said.
“We want a train that goes through to the city like we use to have.”
According to PTV, improvements will be possible when the Regional Rail Link opens in 2016 and Altona Loop trains run through to Flinders Station so passengers won’t need to change trains at Newport.
“PTV and Metro are improving services for Altona passengers,” a PTV spokesperson said.
They said longer term plans for track duplication and a grade separation of Altona Junction will see increased services on the Werribee line.
“Recent timetable changes have improved connections at Newport. And there’s been a dramatic reduction in the number of trains making unscheduled bypasses of the Altona Loop, down from a high of more than 1000 in 2010, to around 300 loop bypasses in the past year.”
