Thousands of commuters battle worsening evening train crush
Melbourne train commuters are suffering more than ever during crush hour as new data shows about 18,000 passengers are squeezing into trains during the evening peak. But as the population soars, is there a solution in sight?
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Melbourne’s afternoon crush hour is getting worse for train commuters, with new data showing a sharp rise in the number of overcrowded services.
The Department of Transport’s annual passenger load survey has revealed that 10 per cent of Metro rail passengers heading home from work — about 18,000 people — are now packed in like sardines.
In May each year, officials spend a week counting the number of trains carrying more than their capacity of 900 people.
This year they recorded a daily average of 20 overcrowded late afternoon and early evening services, compared to 15 in May 2018.
The Craigieburn line was among the worst, with a fifth of its trains over capacity at that time.
Figures improved for the morning commute, due in part to the extended Mernda line receiving more trains. But there were still an average of 19 overcrowded services daily, down from 25 in 2018.
Population growth is also hurting peak-hour commuters in Melbourne’s middle ring suburbs. They are being left stranded on their platforms, unable to get on trains that filled in outer suburbs.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said the state government was failing in the public transport sector and had not properly “planned for population growth”.
“This train system just isn’t working,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We need to see more trains or larger trains. When you have got 30 per cent of Hurstbridge (line) trains in the morning peak overloaded, people being crushed it is just not working.”
There are now 14.7 million more annual train trips made across Melbourne than in 2014.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said: “There is worsening crowding on some lines”.
Mr Bowen said: “After a big reduction in crowding in 2017 thanks to the reconfiguration of trains and removal of seats, patronage continues to grow around the network”.
The surge is based around Melbourne’s growth areas on the Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines.
He added: “In coming years, particularly while the Metro Tunnel is being built, it will be important for authorities to run as many trains as possible on the network.
“They should look at scheduling more services to run direct to Flinders St to make use of track capacity, and more off-peak trains to help spread passenger loads across the day.”
Metropolitan trains were altered in 2017 to provide more standing room, increasing the official capacity of each service from 798 passengers to 900.
Metro Trains has invested to reduce overcrowding on platforms, including better markings, more staff and better station design.
The passenger load survey also found overcrowding on the tram network had improved, with 493 new services added this year, but there was still population pressure on busy lines.
Mr Bowen said commuters had benefited from larger trams being added.
“There’s been huge growth on some routes such as trams along Collins St to Docklands, and this is only going to get worse as Docklands continues to expand,” he said.
“The state government needs to get serious about on-road tram priority, which would allow the fleet to run more services, and continuing the replacement of small trams with larger vehicles.”
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A Department of Transport spokesman said: “The government is investing over $50 billion in major transport projects to help reduce crowding on public transport and to get Melburnians where they need to go sooner”.
A Metro spokesman said: “We’re trialling measures to reduce platform congestion and to ensure trains can depart on time”.