Melbourne train capacities exceeded? Double deckers?

[ozbob]

It seeems there needs to be some increase in capacity on the Melbourne Suburban network.  Any progress?

OVERCROWDING on Melbourne's trains has worsened dramatically, resulting in contraventions of load limits and raising questions about how the State Government can achieve its goal of increasing public transport use. High petrol prices and population growth along rail corridors have led to booming train patronage in the past year ? and regular breaches of passenger limits on major suburban lines, Government figures have confirmed.
Public transport advocates have accused the Government of having no immediate plan to alleviate the crisis, and have called for urgent action to expand the suburban fleet.
According to the franchise agreement under which Connex runs the system, a six-carriage train should carry a maximum of 798 passengers. Department of Infrastructure figures reveal that between 7.30 and 8.30am, average passenger loads on most train lines are near or above that limit ? indicating that some services during that period are exceeding the load standard. On four lines ? Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Pakenham and Sydenham, the average number of passengers per train during the peak hour is above the limit. On the Sydenham line it is 950.
The news comes as city commuters are being hit for the first time by increased parking fees, the result of a new tax designed to encourage a shift towards public transport. The cost of all-day car parking in the city rose yesterday by as much as $4, while rises of about $2 were seen across the city.
http://slowtraincomin.blogspot.com/2006/01/melbourne-has-big-train-problems.html

[ozbob]

Some good news for Melbourne.

THERE will soon be room for an extra 30,000 commuters a week on some of Melbourne's packed train services.
New peak-hour services will be added to the Broadmeadows, Sydenham, Werribee and Williamstown lines from September 4 under the first stage of a network overhaul.

Connex announced the services yesterday to coincide with new fast-rail V/Line timetables for Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Late-night trains departing after 1am will also be added to the timetable on Fridays and Saturdays from October 15.

More ---> Herald Sun