Article: Train relief ahead

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Article from the Courier (Ballarat) click here!

Train relief ahead

Train relief ahead
CHRIS PEDLER
4/12/2008 12:38:00 AM

A POSSIBLE $1.5 billion rail development in Melbourne's western suburbs could ease congestion on the Ballarat and Geelong train lines.

The new rail line is rumoured to run between Werribee and Deer Park and should reduce passenger numbers on the Ballarat line.

The State Government is set to release its transport plan before the New Year.

Overcrowding on trains has been a common complaint by travellers with some people describing the trains as being "like a cattle truck".

Another said a two carriage train had every seat taken before it left the station and that passengers were forced to sit on luggage racks.

Western Victoria MLC John Vogels said the complaints were a damning indictment of the mismanagement of the "fast rail system."

V/Line said it was acutely aware of the overcrowding and also announced that it has 50 new carriages being built and that Ballarat should receive extra carriages in the new year.

"We started building them in August and we build around one a month," a V/Line spokeswoman said.

"They will go to services that are most in need and Ballarat is in line."

On average about 200,000 passenger trips are recorded between Ballarat and Melbourne each month.

V/Line said it was aware how popular rail travel had become and hoped the new carriages would alleviate the problems.

"(Passenger trips) have gone through the roof," the spokeswoman said.

"It is a combination of petrol prices, reduction of fares and the convenience of travel.

"The extra trains had a huge impact, it is an increase of 27 per cent for Ballarat in the past year."