More trains needed on Mernda line to South Morang, commuters demand
COMMUTERS along Mernda’s new rail line are feeling the pinch already, taking to social media to voice their frustration at the lack of seats available as early as 6.30am.
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PASSENGERS are feeling the squeeze on the new Mernda line despite 115 additional services reaching South Morang.
Commuters have voiced their pain on social media, claiming there are no seats left at Keon Park as early as 6.30am.
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Public Transport Victoria spokesman Tim Clare said timetables were regularly reviewed to identify where more services were needed.
“We extended all South Morang trains to Mernda when the extension opened and at the same time added more than one hundred extra services to the line per week,” he said.
And the latest data released by PTV showed Mernda line performance was above average in September and 99.4 per cent of trains were delivered as scheduled.
Lucinda Young wrote on Facebook saying she couldn’t get a seat at 7am and was frustrated the train still had to wait for other services before entering Clifton Hill station.
“The line needs express trains desperately to clear congestion. How about no stops between Clifton Hill and the city occasionally?” she wrote.
A new timetable, introduced with the opening of the extension, enabled an additional 1700 passengers to start using the train.
Julie O’Brien wrote that the level crossing removals and station improvements would go a long way towards improving services.
“The process will probably be painful but the outcomes will be worth it in the end,” she wrote.
The state government announced a rail bridge would be built over High St, Reservoir with major construction expected to commence in early 2019.
The Andrews government made an election commitment to remove the crossings at Oakover Rd, Bell St, Cramer St and Murray Rd.
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