Leader and RACV On Track survey rates Melbourne’s best and worst train stations

THOUSANDS of Melbourne commuters have joined forces to rate the state’s train stations. So where are the best ones?

Overcrowding was one of the top three issues for commuters. Picture: Nathan Dyer

THOUSANDS of Melbourne commuters have joined forces to rate the state’s train stations and some of our biggest don’t fare too well.

Almost 18,000 Victorians rated their stations and services in the RACV and Leader News On Track survey.

Respondents were asked to rate their local station out of 10, taking into account factors such as safety, parking, ticketing, shelter, staffing, cleanliness, seating, lighting and toilets.

Wyndham Vale station was rated best in Victoria with a 8.95 rating, while Ashburton (8.38), Mitcham (8.12) and Westall (8.11) were in the state’s 10 best list, otherwise dominated by regional stations.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Did the survey get it right? Tell us below

Of the more than 200 stations rated, Southern Cross was the 45th best; Richmond was 99; Flinders St 161 and South Yarra 181.

The worst stations in the state are Aircraft, Hallam and Lalor and Melbourne’s worst line is Werribee according to the survey.

The results will be used to lobby for rail network improvements.

THE 10 BEST STATIONS

Wyndham Vale

Drouin

Waurn Ponds

Ashburton

Kangaroo Flat

Echuca

Castlemaine

Kyneton

Mitcham

Westall

... AND THE 10 WORST

Aircraft

Hallam

Lalor

Hoppers Crossing

Albion

Ginifer

Regent

Roxburgh Park

Altona

Beaconsfield

The lack of car parking at stations remains one of the biggest bugbears for travellers along with personal safety and lack of toilets.

The average train station rating across the state was 6.95 out of a possible 10.

Aircraft station in Laverton received a 4.86, with carparking identified as the main concern.

Personal safety concerns were particularly high for commuters at Albion, Dandenong and Moorabbin stations.

Thanuja Gunatillake from the RACV at the Wyndham Vale train station, which was rated Victoria's best in a Leader News and RACV survey.

The state average rating for train services was 6.93 with insufficient seating, overcrowding and trains not running on time identified as the top three issues.

Commuters said the Werribee train line (4.67) was Melbourne’s worst because trains were often late, missed stops and were too crowded.

The Sunbury train line (8.86) was rated best in the state with the South Morang (7.93), Glen Waverley (7.87), Alamein (7.85) and Sandringham (7.84) lines among the top 10.

RACV public transport and mobility manager Thanuja Gunatillake said “the fact that 18,000 people felt compelled to tell us what issues they’re facing” meant that the results must be taken “very seriously” by the State Government.

Ms Gunatillake said it was concerning that one-third of respondents said they did not always feel safe at stations.

The lack of permanent parking at train stations is a major bugbear for commuters.

This related to issues such as poor lighting, location and car parking, she said.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said more should be done to accommodate people “doing the right thing and using public transport”.

“Car parks will never be big enough to meet demand — we’d like to see better, more frequent connecting bus services so people can easily reach the station, even if they don’t drive,” Mr Bowen said.

Level crossing removal would help authorities run more trains and cut bus and tram delays while the Regional Rail Link had freed up track capacity enabling more Metro trains to run.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan’s spokeswoman Sacha Fenton said about 600 improvements across the metropolitan rail network were in progress, including canopy installation for shelter, landscaping and upgraded toilet facilities.

Overcrowding was one of the top three issues for commuters. Picture: Nathan Dyer

“The Government is aware that parking plays a key role in the development of a sustainable and usable train network and that’s why we’ve committed $20 million to upgrade commuter car parking facilities at train stations,” Ms Fenton said.

“(Protective Service Officers) play an important role in safety across the metropolitan network and work every night from 6pm until the last scheduled service, and throughout the entire night at key locations on weekends, as part of the Night Network trial.”

Ms Fenton said Public Transport Victoria’s latest research (July-September 2015) showed satisfaction with Metro and V/Line train stations was at record highs, scoring 70.1 and 76.9 respectively.

Stations that received fewer than 20 On Track survey responses were not included in the results.

Aircraft Station in Laverton has been voted Melbourne’s worst by commuters.

AIRCRAFT GROUNDED

IT’S a small station which takes it name from its proximity to the RAAF base at Laverton, but Aircraft is anything but flying.

Not only was it voted the worst station in the RACV and Leader News On Track survey, it sits on the Werribee line which was named the worst train line.

In a survey where stations and lines were rated out of 10 by commuters, Aircraft station scored 4.86, with inadequate shelter, lack of toilets and carparking identified as the main concerns.

But providing more car spaces was not the answer, said the Public Transport Users Association and Hobsons Bay Council.

Instead, better bus services should be provided to encourage people to leave their cars at home and instead catch buses to train stations.

“It’s lack of land more than anything else,” Hobsons Bay councillor Colleen Gates said.

“But because Laverton station is so close and provides 1000 spaces, I certainly would not advocate for more parking at Aircraft, especially if it creates more traffic congestion.

“I would be advocating for better bus connections.”

PTUA president Tony Morton said Aircraft train station was in a perfect location to receive buses travelling from Point Cook along Point Cook Rd, as it had done in the past.

But traffic congestion on Point Cook Rd was a problem.

“We would suggest something needs to be done to improve bus network connections,” he said.

The state average rating for train services was 6.93 with insufficient seating, overcrowding and trains not running on time identified as the top three issues.

Commuters said the Werribee train line (4.67) was Melbourne’s worst because trains were often late, missed stops and were too crowded.