Sunbury residents push to install elevators at Sunbury station

Sunbury commuters are fighting for better access at their local station, with the elderly, the disabled and parents with prams battling to move between platforms.

Sunbury residents are calling on authorities to incorporate elevators at Sunbury station for better accessibility.

A group of Sunbury commuters are calling for better access to their railway station with the elderly, disabled and young mothers struggling to move between platforms.

President of the community group Sunbury Residents Association Graham Williams said the lack of accessibility for crossing between platforms at the Sunbury railway station was a “long-running” and a “major issue”.

“Community members with any walking hindrance have long indicated they really struggled to get between the platform; even young mothers with kids in prams struggle,’’ he said.

“We’ve got two platforms, and you can’t get across unless you go up over the ramps, and it’s really difficult,” he said.

There are no elevators for commuters to get across platforms and car parks at Sunbury station. Photo: supplied.

Mr Williams said the Sunbury community felt its needs were being ignored, especially since every other major station going into the city had elevators except Sunbury.

“It’s the last station left... the local community or at least a large number of us feel left out or forgotten,” he said.

“We’re a long way away from the city and a long way away from the centre of Hume, which is Broadmeadows, so we feel like we’re last in the line.”

Mr Williams said Sunbury residents also expressed “angst” about the state government, in conjunction with Hume council, building a multi-storey car park with multiple elevators for commuters at the side of the railway station, yet little consideration was given to the station.

“So you’re going to be able to park your car on the fourth floor of the car park, take the elevator to the ground, walk up to the station, and then climb stairs to get across to the other side,” he said.

Sunbury resident Bronwyn Hayes said it was “utterly painful” to watch people trying to get across the train line safely, especially in the heat or pouring rain.

“We urgently need elevators at our train station, especially for our elderly, those with disabilities and parents with young children in prams,” she said.

“The steepness of the ramps makes it almost impossible to control a walking aide.”

An online petition calling for urgent upgrades to Sunbury station by installing elevators has so far registered 1000 signatures.

Sunbury residents want elevators installed at Sunbury station. Photo: supplied.

Mr Williams said the residents’ association would formally present the petition to local member Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull to then raise it with the Department of Transport.

“We understand there’s not a lot of money and that it’s not something that will happen immediately, but we’d certainly like to get it into the budgeting planning process and perhaps get a target date,” he said.

A Hume city council spokesman said railway stations fall under the jurisdiction of the state government but that the council supports residents’ advocacy for better accessibility options and necessary upgrades.

“Trains and buses provide vital public transport services throughout Hume city. However, they do not always meet the accessibility needs of our rapidly growing community...we encourage residents to contact the Department of Transport and Planning to voice their concerns about Sunbury station,” he said.

The Department of Transport and Planning and Mr Bull were contacted for comment.