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Eastern Transport Coalition calls for improvements on Belgrave and Lilydale train lines

A PUBLIC transport action group is calling for a revamped Croydon train station and more services on the Belgrave and Lilydale train lines.

Eastern Transport Coalition chair Stuart James and deputy chair Michael Macdonald are calling for an upgraded Croydon railway station and more services on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines. Photo: Daniel Pockett
Eastern Transport Coalition chair Stuart James and deputy chair Michael Macdonald are calling for an upgraded Croydon railway station and more services on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines. Photo: Daniel Pockett

A PUBLIC transport action group is calling for a revamped Croydon railway station and more services on the Belgrave and Lilydale train lines.

The Eastern Transport Coalition will launch its Fix The Belgrave and Lilydale lines campaign tomorrow handing out flyers backing their calls at stations until November’s state election.

The group consists of representatives from seven councils in Melbourne’s east including Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, Knox, Whitehorse and Monash.

They are calling for at least four services an hour in each direction on both lines beyond Ringwood railway station during the morning and evening peak.

The group also wants upgrades to Croydon railway station and the removal of its level crossing, as well as the duplication of the Lilydale line from Mooroolbark.

Coalition chairman Stuart James said the amount of people using the Belgrave and Lilydale lines was among the fastest growing in Melbourne but had received “little to no investment”.

The group claims both lines were the equal-worst for overcrowding in Melbourne last year, while the Belgrave line was the second-worst for punctuality during peak periods.

ETC deputy chairman and Maroondah councillor Michael Macdonald said Croydon railway station and others on the Lilydale line were in desperate need of attention.

“It (Croydon station) was built in 1970s, it’s dilapidated and it brings down the amenity of the local area,” he said.
“People I’ve spoken to feel unsafe and they don’t feel its accessible.
“The whole line needs to be modernised and refurbished, and if you look at all the stations, apart from Ringwood, all of them haven’t really been touched,” he said.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said he supported ETC’s initiatives.

He also called for more services during the off-peak on both lines, which he said could be done with existing infrastructure.

“There’s clearly the capacity to run services more than every half-hour, that’s all you get on a daytime service these days, and its increasingly inadequate for community needs,” Mr Motton said.

Public Transport minister Jacinta Allan did not respond to questions about potential investments on both lines.

Commuters can sign up to ETC’s campaign by visiting www.etc.org.au/trains

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/eastern-transport-coallition-calls-for-improvements-on-belgrave-and-lilydale-train-lines/news-story/dcb3276589ab63d12fdc993d0c4d19cd