Whittlesea council and disability advocates are accusing the Level Crossing Removal Authority of compromising the safety of commuters with disabilities by failing to include ramps in designs for the new Mernda and Hawkstowe train stations.
Designs for elevated stations include lifts on each platform to enable disabled or elderly commuters and parents with prams to access the trains.
The council is concerned that the lifts will not sufficiently meet the needs of commuters and has voted to write to Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett and local state and federal politicians to advocate for the inclusion of ramps at both stations.
Cr Mary Lalios questioned the safety of commuters in the event of an emergency.
“If there is a fire, bomb threat or the lifts are out of order, how do people with disabilities get off the platform?” she said.
Cr Lalios said the Whittlesea Disability Network had raised the issue, but felt their concerns had been ignored.
Project director Graeme Chambers said the stations’ designs were proposals only, and that disability access was a key consideration.
“We are committed to ensuring new stations can be accessed by all. Lifts and escalators are subject to stringent reliability and safety requirements,” he said.
