Ticket inspectors at Southern Cross Station say it’s too cold — and promised heaters don’t work

BOY, it’s cold outside. And Melbourne’s bitter winter is enough to drive ticket inspectors off the rails. To add insult to injury, the promised heaters don’t even work.

Rail staff are said to be freezing cold manning the gates at the station airbridge "wind tunnel" to Etihad Stadium. Picture: Nicole Garmston

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FREEZING ticket inspectors at Southern Cross Station have complained that they’re too cold to work with newly installed heaters not working.

Both Metro Trains and V/Line have provided shelters for their barrier staff but only V/Line has provided heaters.

However, the overhead heaters have providing little respite to shivering staff as they are yet to be connected to power.

Metro Trains says it is planning a new “employee shelter” at the Etihad Stadium end of the station and is “prepared to explore the installation of heating” as an additional measure.

A Metro Staff member standing in the cold. Picture: Nicole Garmston

One V/Line staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, said staff were freezing on the Bourke St footbridge.

“It was so cold this morning that I literally could not feel my hands,” he said.

“It’s like a wind tunnel up here.

“As you can see we’ve been given heaters but we are unable to plug them in as there is no power.”

Rail, Tram and Bus Union branch secretary Luba Grigorovitch said she visited the station and it was “freezing”.

“The Bourke Street airwalk is extraordinarily cold, especially when it is windy,” she said.

“This is not something new and both companies should be prepared ahead of the season change.

“Metro has made their staff feel like the poor cousins to V/Line as they are yet to even commit to installing a heater.

“This is absurd given the barrier staff for both operators stand in the same position, just metres apart.”

V/Line spokeswoman Catalina Filip said the heater in the Myki barrier booth was installed about a fortnight ago.

She said V/Line was working with Southern Cross Station maintenance providers to install a power point and connect the heater to electricity.

“We’ve listened to our employees and have installed heaters in the myki barrier booth at Southern Cross Station to keep staff warm during the colder months,” she said.

“The comfort of our team members is a priority and we’re always looking at ways to create a more comfortable workplace for our staff.”

Metro spokeswoman Sammie Black said all its station staff were provided with gloves, scarfs, beanies and a range of winter jackets.

“We are currently commissioning a replacement employee shelter at the Etihad Stadium end of Southern Cross Station and exploring the installation of heating in this shelter as an additional measure,” she said.

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