Article: Commuters get to try new look Connex trains

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Commuters get to try new look Connex trains

Commuters get to try new look Connex trains
Article from: Herald Sun

Matt Johnston

March 13, 2009 12:00am

LONG-suffering train passengers say they won't mind having to stand on one of Connex's new trains, they'll just be happy to get on.

The train operator is testing three new carriages which had 44 seats removed to make way for an extra 79 standing passengers on city lines.

Passengers had a mixed response yesterday when the new design was unveiled.

Dean Kelly, 20, said that he didn't mind standing as long as he could fit on his train and not be late to work or trade school.

"In the mornings especially, people are falling all over each other, the more room the better," the Glen Waverley commuter said.

"If you get on two stations from the start (of the train line) there's no room to get a seat anyway."

Kelly Blundell, 36, said from parts of the new carriage it would be difficult to get to poles for support.

She also said it was too much to expect people to stand on Melbourne's longer train trips.

"I feel sorry for people on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line, spending over an hour standing up," she said.

Poles in the centre of the carriages provide support for passengers.

The Herald Sun saw some students swinging on them during an afternoon ride.

Glen Waverley commuter Deb said she would rather sit, but understood others just wanted to get to work on time.

Connex spent $450,000 re-fitting the carriages to give better disability access, more space near doors and more places for bikes and prams as part of a $10 million response to passenger demands.

Connex chairman Jonathan Metcalfe admitted customers preferred sitting but said the trial carriages would be more comfortable by having more space in peak hours.

"In the last four years alone, we've seen a 46 per cent increase in patronage, and that has led to increased crowding on trains," he said.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said he supported the trial because it could lead to more trains on tracks.

"Part of the reason for the change is to speed up loading and unloading to try to get more trains on to the network," Mr Bowen said.

"As long as it gets more trains on the network it will be good for commuters."

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the new train carriages were a response to passenger requests for trials of trains with fewer seats.