Melbourne rail rage soars as passengers feel squeeze
More than 150 etiquette complaints have already been lodged by Melbourne public transport users this year, as train commuters get fed up with the poor train behaviour of other passengers. SEE THE MOST COMMON ISSUES.
VIC News
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Train rage could become a reality in Victoria as etiquette complaints on Melbourne’s crowded public transport network soars.
More than 160 passengers have already made complaints to Metro Trains this year — triple the grievances lodged for all of 2017.
Gripes include passengers not moving down the aisles, general pushing and shoving, people playing loud music and talking loudly on phones.
Passengers not moving down the aisles, wearing backpacks, not giving up priority seating and pushing and shoving were also reported, as were passengers who tried to enter the train while others were trying to leave.
It comes as passenger numbers soar and new data shows that 10 per cent of evening peak passengers — about 18,000 people — are being squeezed like sardines.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said issues were possibly aggravated by congestion and said it was a reminder “to be considerate” of others.
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“Certainly the crowding has been getting worse and that may be adding pressure,” he said. “You occasionally see others calling for people to move down the aisles and that is low level but things (larger incidents) do happen.”
Passengers have reported to the Herald Sun being pushed and arguments breaking out on platforms during the afternoon rush as people jostle to board trains.
Metro general manager of passenger experience, Tilly Loughborough, said passengers should plan for delays and urged them to be courteous.
“Simple behaviour change can go a long way to improving a passenger’s experience — whether it’s removing a backpack to make room, moving down inside the carriage, or giving up a seat for someone who needs it more than you,” she said.
“For their own safety and comfort, passengers are also encouraged to give themselves plenty of time to make it to the station so that they’re not rushing for the train.”
Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne said the government was committed to improving the rail network.
“We’re investing over $50 billion in major transport projects to help reduce crowding on public transport and get Melburnians where they need to go sooner. These include the Metro Tunnel which will untangle the City Loop to run more trains and create space for over half a million additional passengers every week to catch the train during peak periods.”
While, opposition transport spokesman David Davis said more needed to be done to avoid tension on the rails.
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“Commuters are exasperated with plummeting punctuality performance and worsening overcrowding as they are packed onto Melbourne’s trains like sardines,” he said. “Station skipping, cancellations, short running services and bypasses were up in August with 2409 Metro train services failing to get to their destination as scheduled; it’s no wonder we are witnessing more train rage.”