By ALESHA CAPONE
A WESTERN Metropolitan Region MP has called on train operator Metro to improve its communication with Williamstown and Werribee line commuters.
Across the past few months, members of the Altona Loop Group Facebook site have condemned Metro’s website for continuing to state “good service” is available on the lines even when trains are delayed and cancelled.
Commuters have also complained about the late delivery Metro’s official text-messages, which sometimes arrive after the departure time of a cancelled train.
Last week Greens MP Colleen Hartland said it was “false advertising” for Metro to claim services would turn up on time, when in fact they had been delayed and cancelled.
“If a private company advertised that they provide a service, when in fact they don’t, it could be seen as false advertising,” Ms Hartland said.
“Metro is the same as any other private company and has a responsibility to the customer – us.”
Last Tuesday, an Altona Loop Group member said she was on a 5.25pm train which was running 15 minutes late from Footscray Station, only to be cancelled at Newport.
However, her mobile phone showed Metro was still stating ‘good service’ was running on the line.
A male commuter said on 17 January a Laverton train from Flinders Street was cancelled – but he received an SMS notification 10 minutes too late.
Several similar incidents are listed on the Altona Loop Group site.
Star contacted Metro about the issue and a spokeswoman said they were “continually working to improve communication to customers”.
“Text messages can sometimes be unreliable due to issues related to mobile phone carriers,” she said.
“And trains can be cancelled at late notice at times, meaning messages can sometimes arrive close to or after the scheduled departure of a service.”
