Overcrowding rising across Melbourne’s train network, new figures show

OVERCROWDING has soared across Melbourne’s train network, with new figures showing passengers are being squeezed onto overloaded peak-hour trains multiple times a day. Find out which Melbourne train line is the worst affected.

OVERCROWDING has soared across Melbourne’s train network, with new figures showing passengers are being squeezed onto overloaded peak-hour trains more than once per day.

Transport for Victoria’s annual passenger load survey, recorded over the course of a month, counted as many as 40 peak-period weekday trains carrying more commuters than they should.

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Since 2017, the government’s benchmark has been that any service with more than 900 passengers is officially above capacity.

During the AM peak the survey counted that 13.6 per cent of passengers were stuffed into overcrowded trains while 7.6 per cent were crammed into similar services in the afternoon.

Public Transport User’s Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said the problem was getting worse just after the network had made progress in recent years.

“The government will need to keep investing in the rail system to make sure capacity keeps up with growth,” he said.

New data shows overcrowding is rising in peak-hour trains. Picture: Mike Keating

“While the metro tunnel will provide a big boost, this is years away from completion. In the meantime, authorities should do all they can to get as many services running on the current infrastructure as possible, including upgraded signalling to improve track capacity.

“They should also run more trains outside traditional peak periods, to cut waiting times and encourage passengers to make their trips throughout the day, not just during rush hour.”

Passengers on the South Morang were the most likely to be stuck on overcrowded services, with close to a quarter of commuters cramming into trains during both peak hours.

Trams also reported more instances of overcrowding, with routes 1 and 6 the worst affected.

“Over the last four years we’ve invested in a $4 billion pipeline of new and upgraded rolling stock, adding more services, laying new track, upgrading decade old signalling to get Victorians where they need to go,” a government spokeswoman said.

But Opposition Transport spokesman David Davis said the data showed a decentralisation policy was essential to Melbourne’s future.

“The new metropolitan train load data shows our trains are bursting at the seams with passengers crammed like sardines,” he said.

“The percentage of passengers on services in breach of the benchmark has surged by 40% in the AM peak and 130% surge in the PM in a year.

“This is despite the Government’s decision to redefine the measures in 2017 with the reconfiguration of seats — read tearing out seats to make more standing room — from 798 to 900.”

A Public Transport Victoria spokesman said they were working closely with operators to add more services.

“This year we added 190 new and 957 extended weekly metropolitan train services to increase capacity and give people more choice about when they travel,” he said.

“Major projects are already underway to help increase capacity on the metropolitan rail network including the construction of the Metro Tunnel, the removal of 50 Level Crossings and the introduction of High Capacity Metro Trains.”