Article: Train commuters face chaos

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Train commuters face chaos

Train commuters face chaos

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * June 07, 2010 12:00AM

TRAIN commuters are in for a shock on Monday morning thanks to service cuts under a new timetable.

Seven stations on the Cranbourne-Pakenham and Frankston lines will get fewer services in the morning peak.

An analysis of the schedule by the Herald Sun also found that eight will get no additional services.

Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula and Metro maintain the new timetable will deliver a better service for all, despite cuts.

"Some stations are getting a couple less trains stopping there in the morning peak, but extra trains stopping there in the evening peak," Mr Pakula said.

"There will be more services running on that line during both the morning and the afternoon peak."

Mr Pakula said the changes meant that incidents on the Pakenham line would not create delays on the Frankston line.

Stations getting fewer services in the morning peak are: Armadale, Bentleigh, Hawksburn, Moorabbin, Toorak, Westall and Yarraman.

Those getting no extra morning services are Beaconsfield, Carnegie, Cranbourne, Highett, Hughesdale, Malvern, Merinda Park, Murrumbeena, Officer and Pakenham.

During the afternoon, there will be fewer services at Westall and Yarraman, while Cranbourne and Merinda Park will get no extras.

Metro spokesman Chris Whitefield said the new timetable would help balance the passenger load during peak times.

"This means there will be more room on the services that do stop at stations such as Moorabbin or Westall," Mr Whitefield said.

"By adding more services particularly during the peaks, we will help to reduce overcrowding."

Richmond station was expected to be hectic on Monday morning, with many Frankston line services running direct to Flinders St instead of through the City Loop.

Similar changes to the Werribee line were expected to cause confusion at North Melbourne station.

Metro chief executive Andrew Lezala has advised passengers wanting loop trains to go to Flinders St first.

"At Richmond, you will be picking up Loop trains that are already pretty crowded," Mr Lezala said.

Trains from platform one at Flinders St will run clockwise around the loop and should be relatively empty, he said.