By Christine de Kock
THE lack of adequate train services during peak periods for Yarraville and Seddon residents will come under scrutiny at a community forum this Thursday.
The meeting was called by Maribyrnong City Council’s Sheoak Ward councillor Colleen Hartland after locals complained about being left behind on the station platform due to carriage overcrowding.
“There have been a lot of complaints about over crowded carriages,” Cr Hartland said.
“There would usually be six carriages but they’ve dropped that to three carriages and people are left behind.”
She said the reduction in the number of carriages was noticed last year by travellers who take the Williamstown line into the city.
“It is a frequent issue but it is not constant. The problem is that people never know when it is going to happen and can’t prepare.”
CrHartland said the reduced number of carriages indicated that rail service provider Connex would prefer not to run the Williamstown line through Yarraville and Seddon.
“But if they cancelled the service the government would fine them. I’m not sure why they would not want to run a service.”
Connex spokesperson Lea Jaensch said six carriage trains were run during the morning and afternoon peak periods, with three carriage trains run at most other times “when patronage is lower”.
“During the day, running three carriage trains releases other carriages for maintenance. It also helps to protect against vandalism on lightly loaded services, where unruly activity can occur,” she said.
“Train faults can also reduce the number of trains we have available to run services.
“If enough faults occur at one time, we run out of ‘spare trains’ and we have to make a decision between running three carriage trains or cancelling services completely.”
She added that a Connex representative would attend the forum to address the community’s concerns.
The issue regarding a lack of adequate train services in the Sheoak Ward concerned Cr Hartland for more than one reason.
“One of the things council wants to do is to encourage people to use the trains and not rely on cars. As a Greeens councilor I take that very seriously,” she said.
“I haven’t had a car in four years. I walk to work. Although my husband has a car.”
Other issues to be discussed at the forum include the need for an overpass or underpass for pedestrians to access the train station, particularly from the Anderson St side.
“Sometimes there is a 20 minute wait at peak times,” CrHartland said.
She said trains travelling to and from the city, along with VLine trains, caused the long wait as their passage was timed close together and the boom gates were not lifted between times.
“The longest I’ve waited is 11 minutes.”
Representatives from the Department of Infrastructure will also be attending the meeting to discuss residents’ concerns.
