Sunbury train line feeling peak hour crush
Sunbury line commuters are feeling the pinch of jam-packed morning trains, with one in 10 services carrying more than the recommended 900 passengers. But advocates say problems extend far beyond peak hour.
North West
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Sunbury commuters are being crushed by overcrowded peak hour trains.
The Department of Transport’s annual passenger load survey revealed almost 12 per cent of Sunbury line commuters were travelling on overcrowded trains each morning, dipping to 10.6 during the evening rush hour.
In May each year, officials spend a week counting the number of trains carrying more than their capacity of 900 people.
Sunbury Train Association spokesman Paul Campbell said the line needed more frequent services both on and off peak hour.
“With more land being released around Sunbury and through the growth corridors, the situation is only going to get worse,” he said.
“The frequency of services, especially off-peak, is also really unacceptable. We need more trains running through town.”
Mr Campbell said he wanted to see trains run from Sunbury every 5-10 minutes during peak hours and 20 minutes during off-peak.
Works already underway for the Metro Tunnel will see high-capacity trains run more frequently along the Sunbury line by 2025.
Sections of the Sunbury line have been closed until October 11 to allow work on the project. Buses are replacing trains between Flagstaff and Sunshine during the week, and North Melbourne and Sunshine stations on weekends.
The passenger load survey found the rush hour surge was felt across Melbourne’s growth corridor with increases recorded on the Craigieburn, Pakenham, and Cranbourne lines.
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While Mr Campbell welcomed the Metro Tunnel development, he said other transport issues, such as commuter parking and the level crossing removal, had to be addressed.
“Any increased services for Sunbury is welcome,” he said.
“Hopefully once the Metro Tunnel is finished, it’ll get somewhere in catching up.”
A Department of Transport spokesman said the government was investing more than $50 billion in major transport projects, while Metro said it was “trialling measures to reduce platform congestion”.