Article: Public transport winning support

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Public transport winning support

Public transport winning support
Adam Carey
February 29, 2012
SATISFACTION with Melbourne's public transport network is at its highest level in five years, according to the Department of Transport's most recent passenger survey.

The city's trains, trams, taxis and buses were given an overall score of 62.7 out of 100 in a phone poll of almost 3000 people who use public transport in Victoria.

The result, for the December quarter, is an improvement of 0.8 points on September-quarter results, and the highest passenger satisfaction recorded since December 2006.
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But the news is not all bright - satisfaction with V/Line country train services continues to decline, falling to 71.5 points, its lowest in many years.

V/Line spokesman James Kelly said the decline in passenger satisfaction had much to do with overcrowding, as passenger numbers had risen without increased capacity.

''Some of the challenges that we are facing at the moment are a continuing rise in patronage, but without the ability to be able to expand services with additional carriages,'' Mr Kelly said.

Melbourne's trains scored a satisfaction rating of 64 points, still well below V/Line trains, but their best survey result since 2005-06.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/public-transport-winning-support-20120228-1u0yi.html