Closest schools to train stations revealed
Victorian families are paying more to send their children to schools with convenient public transport access. See our graphic on which schools are well serviced and which are missing out.
Education
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Victoria’s public transport divide can be revealed with some secondary schools minutes from stations while others in outer suburbs miss out.
A Herald Sun analysis found train lines Belgrave and Lilydale, in addition to Frankston and Hurstbridge, have many schools within easy walking distance of stations.
On the Frankston line, Loreto Mandeville Hall is only 500m from Toorak station, while Sacred Heart Girls’ College on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines is 250m from Hughesdale station.
However, suburbs such as Rowville and Doncaster miss out on easy train access and are serviced only by bus routes.
The Herald Sun last month reported schoolkids had been left on the side of the road in Lilydale and Yarra Glen because their morning bus was too full.
Since 2017, the Whittlesea community has also been campaigning for a train line to Wollert.
Daniel Bowen, spokesman for the Public Transport Users Association, said Melbourne’s buses, trains and trams were a “mixed bag” for schools.
“Some schools have excellent access to trains and trams to help large numbers of students to and from school under their own steam,” he said.
“In other areas it’s more difficult where there is limited access to transport. This includes newer suburbs such as the southeast corridor towards Rowville where there’s a gap in the train line.”
Mr Bowen said areas missing out included schools around Carrum Downs and the outer west “where students catching buses are forced to wait, especially if timetables don’t line up”.
He said effective public transport around schools saved parents time and money because they did not have to drive their children.
The Herald Sun analysis shows students who attend Mount Alexander College in Flemington are within walking distance of three stations: Kensington, Newmarket and North Melbourne.
Selective school Melbourne High School is a 700m walk from South Yarra station, while Collingwood College is within walking distance of North Richmond, Collingwood and Victoria Park stations.
Melbourne High School principal Tony Mordini said the school community was “very lucky” to have easy access to stations and trams.
“Public transport is what enables some of our students to select coming to the school because if they get a place at least they know they can catch a train and get home easily as well,” he said.
Sarah Loh, executive manager, Future Healthy Group at VicHealth, said walking to school encouraged children to develop healthy, active habits while young.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokeswoman said: “Trains are one of the easiest and safest ways of getting around Melbourne with thousands of students catching the train to school each day.”
“The Victorian Government has put on almost 1200 new weekly train services in Metropolitan Melbourne since 2014,” she said
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