Scores of train users fined for illegal parking at overcrowded stations

Do you struggle to get a park at your station? More than 130 Melbourne commuters are fined every day for nabbing disabled spots, using permit zones, and parking in non-spaces. We reveal stations where you’re most likely to get stung.

More than 14 per cent of total parking fines were slapped on cars at Box Hill Station.

Thousands of commuters are being caught parking illegally in Melbourne’s crowded station carparks.

More than 7000 parking fines were issued across Victorian stations last year — nabbing about 137 motorists a day — down from 9895 in 2017, new Department of Transport figures reveal.

The most common offences were not parking within bays, halting in no-stopping zones, using spots designated for people with disabilities and stopping in permit zones.

And the total figure of 7153 didn’t include fines slapped on cars parked illegally in streets around stations.

This amounts to $318,137 in total, not including any outstanding fines or ones referred to Fines Victoria for further enforcement.

And for the worst spot in Victoria?

That dishonour went to Box Hill railway station, which accounted for more than 14 per cent of fines issued statewide, with 1044 tickets.

Sunshine (401 fines), Coolaroo (397), Watsonia (380) and Werribee (339) made up the top five.

>> SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE TOP 10 WORST STATIONS FOR PARKING FINES

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said commuters needed a range of options to get to stations, which included more frequent, reliable buses and better bicycle facilities.

PTUA spokesman Daniel Bowen said people shouldn’t have to rely on their car to get to the station.

Coolaroo Station is the second worst in the state for parking fines.

“It’s great to see that more people want to catch trains but we need more frequent and reliable buses to serve residential areas,” he said.

While the State Government says it has added nearly 10,000 new parking spots at stations over the past four years, Mr Bowen said bigger carparks were expensive, not an efficient use of space and would never satisfy the demand.

“People need more options than using their cars, which also add to congestion on the roads during the morning peak,” he said.

“Often in the outer suburbs people can be waiting 30-40 minutes for a bus in the evenings.

“Even if you precisely timed your walk to the bus stop in the morning to catch a bus, in the evenings getting from the station to the connecting bus can be affected by delays or cancellations, or simply missing the right train.”

Although Box Hill station was seemingly well-served by buses — with 15 routes flowing through the interchange — Mr Bowen said some of these routes were infrequent and people didn’t feel safe waiting at the stops.

It’s a long walk from Box Hill Station to the bus stops. The PTUA says infrequent buses and safety issues at the interchange are making more commuters drive instead.

He said Smart Bus routes, which had more frequent services and provided better information for passengers, should be the model for all buses.

MORE: THE INTERSECTION RAKING IN $32,000 A DAY IN FINES

COUNCILS CONCERNED UNPAID PARKING FINES WILL BE WIPED OUT

COMMUTERS REVEAL MELBOURNE’S MOST HATED TRAIN STATIONS

RACV public policy general manager Bryce Prosser said councils needed to work with the State Government to provide safe bike and pedestrian access to stations.

“More frequent bus services and secure bicycle parking would also mean fewer commuters needing their cars,” he said.

>> DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET A PARK AT YOUR STATION? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

A Department of Transport spokesman said they were working hard to give people more options to get to their nearest station, including building thousands of extra car spaces across the network.

“At stations such as Box Hill, we are always looking at ways to make it easier for people using the station to interchange with other modes of transport,” he said.

MELBOURNE’S TOP 10 STATIONS FOR PARKING FINES 2018

1. Box Hill — 1044 fines

2. Sunshine — 401

3. Coolaroo — 397

4. Watsonia — 380

5. Werribee — 339

6. Albion — 293

7. Berwick — 263

8. Narre Warren — 256

9. Williams Landing — 219

10. Heidelberg — 209

The number of fines issued could, in part, depend on the number of inspectors deployed at stations.