Hume Council joins campaign to duplicate the Upfield train line
Hume Council has joined their Moreland counterparts in the push to urgently duplicate the Upfield train line, with frequent cancellations continuing to create havoc for users of the service.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hume Council has joined their Moreland counterparts in the push to urgently duplicate the Upfield train line.
Councillors voted to launch a campaign to urgently bring forward the duplication of the line between Upfield and Gowrie stations.
The campaign — spearheaded by the Upfield Transport Alliance — is also pushing for the extension of the line to Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn and eventually Wallan.
HAVE YOU HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE? TELL US BELOW.
Councillor Jodi Jackson — who raised the advocacy motion — said the duplication of the single track at the end of the Upfield line was critical to enable more frequent services.
“Currently the trains are only running every 18 minutes at peak hour, with many trains being terminated early at Coburg, leaving passengers at stations north of Bell St stranded,” she said.
MORE UPFIELD NEWS:
WHY SUBSCRIBE: THE BENEFIT OF GREAT LOCAL JOURNALISM
TRAVELLERS LEFT WAITING AS POOR SERVICES CONTINUE
CANDIDATES SPLIT ON FUNDING COST FOR UPFIELD DUPLICATION
FED UP COMMUNITY CREATES OWN SKY RAIL DESIGNS
“This practice is known as short shunting. Sort shunting creates significant pain for train users who live and work in our city.”
Cr Jackson said it was one of the worst lines for the practice because of the single track and platform at Upfield.
Alliance spokeswoman, and Moreland Councillor Sue Bolton said it was fantastic that Hume was “on board”.
She said she was aware of people who had lost jobs and missed exams and medical appointments because of train cancellations.
“We need to expand the transport options,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people outside the urban Melbourne border where they are driving looking for public transport.
NORTHERN NEWS:
FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE MAN FROM BURNING HOUSE
SCHOOL THREAT OVER AFTER NEARBY ARMED SIEGE
MOTORIST PAINTS DIY DIVIDING LINES
“It’s more than inconvenient because if you lose your job, it could be life changing.”
A petition created by the Upfield Transport Alliance has garnered more than 3400 physical and online signatures calling for a duplication of the track past Gowrie train station.
Hume Mayor Carly Moore said she was absolutely supportive of residents getting what they need.
“We’re very keen to make sure everybody is getting the same level of service that people all over the city are getting,” she said.
Hume Council will consider its advocacy role at a briefing in the near future.
The State Government said earlier this month the completion of the Metro Tunnel in 2025 would create room for 45,000 more passengers on the line.
But Cr Bolton said the tunnel would not solve the issues on the line as long as the single track remained.
jack.paynter@news.com.au
Former boxing star bashes guard at maximum security prison
A boxer mentored by one of Australia’s best fighters punched a prison officer in the face during a violent outburst at a high security jail.
‘Karen’ from Brighton’s family pub let disabled teen play pokies
A security lapse at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in Brunswick — owned by the family of Melbourne’s infamous Covid-era Karen — led to a disabled boy playing the pokies.