Calls for more Route 109 Box Hill trams during Level Crossing works

The level crossing removal works on the Belgrave-Lilydale line are forcing commuters to be “packed in like sardines” on a busy tram route.

Whitehorse Council wants more services on the Route 109 tram from Box Hill to help commuters during level crossing removal works. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Students and other commuters are reportedly “packed in like sardines” on trams due to level crossing removal works.

The three-and-half-month partial shut down of the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, which began on February 17, has seen students flock to use the route 109 tram route from Box Hill Central to travel to and from school.

The LXRP is removing two level crossings in Mont Albert and Surrey Hills and building the new Union railway station, forcing commuters to look for alternative transport or use bus replacements between Camberwell and Box Hill railway stations until the end of May.

Whitehorse councillor Blair Barker likened the trams to overcrowded trains in India during peak times.

Cr Barker said his children, who attend Trinity Grammar, and students from elite schools such as Xavier College, Methodist Ladies College and Genazzano FCJ College were “packed in like sardines” as they tried to avoid being late for school or other activities.

“I’ve seen my own kids peel out of a tram in Box Hill, it looks like one of the trains in India, people would be riding on the roof if it wasn’t electrified,” he said.

“They’re packed in like sardines, it is unsafe, unhealthy and shows a lack of dignity.
“Its unfair, careless and sloppy from whoever’s running the removal … this should have been predicted by them and they should have put more services on.”

The council will urgently write to the LXRP and Public Transport Victoria asking to increase the frequency and capacity of services on Route 109 at peak times for the remainder of the works period.

Cr Barker claimed some students travelling from Kew were spending up to an hour and 40 minutes on tram routes in one direction due to the works.

“My kids are actually thinking of running home from school, they’re thinking they’ll do it quicker … to avoid public transport because its failed them,” he said,

Cr Amanda McNeil said the situation had forced many students to try and get lifts from their parents, which had led to “horrendous” traffic and more cars clogging local roads.

“Anyone who has been down around Elgar Rd and Whitehorse Rd since the LXRP commenced, you will see and will have experienced how everyone has jumped into their cars, it’s absolute chaos,” she said.

Cr McNeil said the tram route was the only other public transport option during the works period instead of the “slow crawling replacement buses between Camberwell and Box Hill”, and called for services to be increased between 6am-9.30am and 3pm-7pm.

Speaking in Croydon on Thursday, Labor MP and parliamentary secretary for level crossing removals Josh Bull said the government was open to talks with the council and working on the issue with Public Transport Victoria.

“We’ll need to sit down and consider that closely.. we know and understand there are significant disruptions and it’s a huge amount of work,” he said.

“I’m not in a position to announce any extra services today but we’re happy to sit down and have a look further at what some of those particular issues are around trams and other issues that may arise.”

The Department of Transport did not respond to questions by deadline.