Metro trialling new speeds for escalators at busy CBD stations

Metro Trains has put the brakes on escalators at some of its busiest train stations in a new bid to stop people hurting themselves on the morning commute.

Metro Trains has put the brakes on escalators at some of its busiest train stations in a new bid to stop people from slipping over and hurting themselves on the morning commute.

The rail operator has slowed down the speed of its long escalators at Flagstaff and Parliament stations as it cracks down on an alarming number of accidents.

But the new change may also spark some frustration by adding as much as 20 seconds to trips during peak hour.

More than 600 serious injuries and accidents have been recorded on the Metro network over the past decade but most of these took place at underground CBD stations.

The trend last year sparked a new public awareness campaign urging people to be more careful and now authorities have taken the matter into their own hands.

A man takes the escalators at Flagstaff Station.

Metro general manager of stations Nicholas Sleigh said the company was trialling the system to help people get on the train during busy periods.

“Since the trial started more than a month ago, Metro has seen significant improvements to safety throughout the afternoon peak,” he said.

“We’ve improved congestion and passenger flow onto and along the platforms.

“This means faster boarding with trains spending less time at the station and more time moving people around Melbourne.

“We remind all our passengers to take care on escalators and to spread out across platforms so they can get on their way sooner.”

Melbourne's longest escalators at Parliament train station.

Escalators at City Loop stations are normally sped up during morning and afternoon peaks and slowed during less busy parts of the day.

But Metro believes the new policy will reduce crowding at platform entrances and extend the life of each escalator by preventing breakdowns.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said the project must show an obvious improvement.

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“It may come as frustrating for passengers tyring to move through the station quickly,” he said.

“Some people could miss their trains because of this but if there’s a clear safety improvement it could be the right call.

“If it makes little difference they should change it back.”

Mr Bowen said Metro needed to get the formula right as Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel stations would also feature very long and potentially dangerous escalators.

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