Article: Angry travellers lash out at Metro

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Angry travellers lash out at Metro

Angry travellers lash out at Metro

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * June 22, 2010 12:00AM

MELBOURNE'S angriest commuters have been revealed in a survey of our struggling train service.

Train travellers have ranked Metro lines in confidential surveys for the Department of Transport.

The research confirms passengers from the western suburbs are getting the worst service. Commuters on the Sydenham line between Footscray and Sunshine are fuming more than most.

During the morning peak, the train is virtually full after Sunshine, leaving no room for passengers at Tottenham, West Footscray and Middle Footscray.

Those in the eastern suburbs are generally more satisfied with their trains.

The happiest commuters are between East Camberwell and Ringwood, and on the Glen Waverley line.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the level of travellers' satisfaction was linked to overcrowding.

"Crowding, delays, cancellations and infrequent services all plague the rail system. A single cancellation or delay can result in chaos," Mr Bowen said. "Stations such as Hawksburn and Middle Footscray have some of the worst crowding, with passengers regularly unable to squeeze aboard trains."

Mr Bowen said overcrowding problems were not confined to peak hours.

"It is increasingly common to face long delays, and to have to stand for long periods at off-peak times" he said.

"It underscores that we desperately need more train services, seven days a week, and that Metro and the Government need to work harder to make the system run reliably."

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said train services in the western suburbs would be improved by the Regional Rail Link project, which will be completed this decade.

"It will provide a major improvement for passengers in Melbourne's west, especially between Sunshine and Footscray," spokesman Stephen Moynihan said.

New tracks would allow regional V/Line services to run separately, providing room to run more Metro services.

[#Metro]

A lot of developments out that way. IIRC line will be extended.
Their off peak frequency, Sydenham line, is three trains per hour (~ every 20 minutes) until 8pm which is better than many lines in Brisbane.

"It is increasingly common to face long delays, and to have to stand for long periods at off-peak times" he said.

Come to Brisbane where the train is almost empty off-peak! Increase the frequency = increase in patronage.
Much to be done in Brisbane.

[stephenk]

However bad Melbournians think their suburban rail system is, they are still far better off than Brisbanites!

[#Metro]

Only Adelaide is worse (Hobart, Darwin and the ACT don't have commuter rail) and that is because they never bothered to electrify their train system and fix up their frequencies!

I can't speak more highly of the Sydney rail system. I know people like to complain and there are problems, but wow, whoever thought it up (John Bradfield?) should have been given a medal. Fast trains, high frequency, double deck, high capacity, standard gauge, lines that connect everything and overlap (Queensland is still suffering from the decision to go with the cheapest option, now look we are stuck with it!).

[O_128]

Only Adelaide is worse (Hobart, Darwin and the ACT don't have commuter rail) and that is because they never bothered to electrify their train system and fix up their frequencies!

I can't speak more highly of the Sydney rail system. I know people like to complain and there are problems, but wow, whoever thought it up (John Bradfield?) should have been given a medal. Fast trains, high frequency, double deck, high capacity, standard gauge, lines that connect everything and overlap (Queensland is still suffering from the decision to go with the cheapest option, now look we are stuck with it!).

i agree sydney has a great rail system and the people who complain about it really should move to queensland and see the alternative.