COMMUTERS struggled to score a space in the car park in the first week at the new South Morang station.
Service began at the station last week, marking the completion of a $498 million rail project to extend the train line from Epping to South Morang.
NW was told the station’s new 450-space car park was full by 8am on Monday.
Mernda and District Residents Association secretary Matt Ferrantino said the car park was half full at 6.15am on Monday and one-fifth full at 6am on Tuesday – a Rostered Day Off.
“Shift workers or people who may not start work until later are probably going to struggle to get a car park,” he said.
He said it was too early to judge if the new bus connection timetable was working.
“If the bus connections are a success and whether people are willing to make the mode shift, time will tell,” he said.
Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the
station’s popularity showed how important the project was.
He said it was proof of an urgent need to extend the rail line further to Mernda to meet population growth.
“The bottom line is that providing good-quality public transport makes a real difference to local communities,” he said.
“It helps get cars off the road and provides relief from traffic congestion and high petrol prices.”
