Article: Record train usage on Geelong line, but passengers are still frustrated

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Record train usage on Geelong line, but passengers are still frustrated

Record train usage on Geelong line, but passengers are still frustrated

Peter Begg

03May08

DESPITE some customer frustration, V/Line says it has had record passenger numbers on its Geelong services.

The regional carrier's March figures show it broke a 60-year record.

But a lot of those same passengers are not happy with the service.

One text messager to the Geelong Advertiser echoed the thoughts of many.

"V/Line trains are perfectly punctual, you just need to set your watch to V/Line Standard Time, ie: 10-30 minutes later than AEST," the text said.

In the peak hour from 6.43am at Geelong railway station yesterday, five trains departed for Melbourne.

But while the flagship express services, comprising three double sets of V/Locity fast trains were full, there was still room on the slower services, which stop at all stations.

One commuter, who stood waiting on Platform 3 for the 7.26am "slow train" to arrive as the packed 7.23am express left from Platform 1, said he preferred to travel in first class on the slower train because it had more room.

Michael, who catches the train from North Geelong, said he caught the slower train because he could never get a seat on the express.

Pauline, who only moved to Geelong a couple of weeks ago, also preferred the slow train because of the guaranteed seat.

Public Transport Users' Association Geelong convener Paul Westcott agreed many commuters preferred the less crowded, but slower trains.

"I know V/Line is annoyed because people will crowd onto the express rather than taking the slightly earlier train, because obviously the express gets there about 10 minutes quicker," Mr Westcott said.

"It's understandable why people would want to do that, but on the other hand the 6.56 (from Geelong), which leaves a little earlier, apparently isn't as crowded."

Mr Westcott said the recent installation of concrete sleepers between Geelong and Corio meant all late-night services had been substituted by buses, and there had been other interruptions.

"They are resignalling Southern Cross (station), so there are limitations on platforms there, plus there have been other unscheduled breakdowns of various sorts," he said.

"It has been poor. Particularly in the past week or so it's been very bad."

Another commuter, Brian, said he caught the express train, but those getting on at North Geelong and Lara struggled to get a seat.

"From the 6.43am through it's packed," he said.

Brian said he'd caught many buses lately, and in some ways they were more reliable.

V/Line issued a new timetable this week which refers to all services on the Geelong line being train services.

But in the past month scores of services have been replaced by buses.