Commuters forced to hang on despite population boom

Diggers Rest commuters have been locked out of their station toilets for seven years, with more than 200,000 caught short last year alone. And there’s no relief in sight, with the government revealing why it refuses to open them.

Diggers Rest train station’s toilets are locked and unused.

There’s no relief in sight for frustrated Diggers Rest commuters who have been locked out of their station loo for seven years.

The toilets were built as part of the $270 million Sunbury Electrification project in 2012, but have remained shut tight ever since.

And despite Transport Department data revealing patronage at the station has swollen by 234 per cent over the past five years, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) spokeswoman Georgia Main said there were no plans to open the bathrooms.

About 66,000 passengers passed through Diggers Rest 2013-14.

That number skyrocketed to 221,000 patrons in the 2018-19 financial year.

But so far the c ommunity’s campaign to have the bathroom opened has fallen on deaf ears.

Diggers Rest train station. Picture: Mike Keating

Diggers Rest resident David O’Connor told the Leader the new patronage numbers had reignited a push to see the bathrooms reopened.

“Despite the significant spike in passengers using the Diggers Rest park-n-ride station, the toilet and waiting room facilities remain locked and unavailable to the public.” he said.

“Toilets and waiting room facilities were operational at Diggers Rest until the completion of the Sunbury Electrification Project.”

Figures showed more than 14.7 million rides more were recorded across Melbourne than five years ago, with particular pressure placed on stations in Jacana and Officer.

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Ms Main said Diggers Rest was an unmanned station.

“Toilets are regularly vandalised when there is no Metro staff member present,” she said.

“For this reason, there are no plans to reopen these toilets to the public.”

Mr O’Connor said residents were never informed the toilets wouldn’t be open to the public.

“At no time during the consultation phase did PTV provide feedback to suggest that the improved facilities were only cosmetic and would remain closed,” he said.

Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull confirmed he was working with residents and had written to the Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.

“I will keep advocating to the minister and to Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne on this matter as I know it is a concern for a number of Diggers Rest residents,” he said.