Article: Free train travel for early commuters

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Free train travel for early commuters

Free train travel for early commuters
Article from: PerthNow

Carmelle Sander

March 08, 2008 05:00pm

FREE train rides could be offered to early-morning commuters in a bid to reduce overcrowding.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said she was considering ways to spread the number of people using trains during peak times.

This week, Melbourne trains offered free rides for all its passengers before 7am.

Ms MacTiernan said she had not ruled out a similar initiative here.

In Victoria, commuters must arrive at their destination by 7am, and the offer is available from Monday to Friday.

After a trial of free early-bird travel on two of its lines, which began in October, the Victorian Government decided to expand the program to all 15 metropolitan lines, starting on March 31.

"We are looking at various ways to spread the peak along our train lines and we are exploring all options,'' Ms MacTiernan said.

"Some of our trains are experiencing overcrowding and the Government has responded by ordering 45 new rail cars to cater for the growth on existing lines.''

Ms MacTiernan said the Midland line was the most overcrowded.

"I am expecting the arrival of the additional rail cars in December,'' she said.

"It has been an absolute pain waiting 2 years to get them, but it seems everyone is buying trains at the moment.''

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said statistics showed there were close to 35 million trips on WA trains in the 2006-07 financial year.

"Even before the Mandurah line opened this figure was climbing,'' he said.

Mr Hynes also said there were no immediate plans to introduce free train rides in WA.

"We will be watching with great interest what happens in Victoria though,'' he said.