By ALESHA CAPONE
MORE than 300 commuters have signed a letter expressing outrage at the state of train services running through the Altona loop.
Last Friday morning Western Region Greens MP Colleen Hartland and other campaigners from the Altona Loop Group collected the signatures on a giant card.
The document will be presented to Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder this week in an effort to improve the Altona loop.
Last week Star reported passengers who used the loop were the most dissatisfied out of all Melbourne train users, according to a customer satisfaction report conducted for operator Metro.
Ms Hartland said Altona loop travellers have been the “most dissatisfied on the whole train network” since a new train timetable was changed last year.
The letter signed by commuters on Friday called for a new timetable which did not require loop commuters to change trains at Newport or Laverton.
The petition also appealed for trains to arrive on time, stop bypassing the loop and partial duplication of the single rail track to provide a more frequent and reliable service.
“The action I ask of the minister is that he take on board these requests and take the necessary action to fix this public transport black spot,” Ms Hartland said.
Ironically on the day of the Altona protest two morning trains travelling through the loop stations were cancelled.
“We’re often ‘dumped’ at Newport station when the trail fails to go through the Altona loop,” Ms Hartland said.
“As a result, many have abandoned the trains altogether or drive to Newport station to get a Werribee or Williamstown line train, causing parking problems at Newport.
A Public Transport Victoria spokesperson said a new train timetable beginning on 18 November would “significantly reduce connection times at Newport Station for Altona loop shuttle services from seven minutes to four, improving transfer times for passengers”.
