Finding a parking space at Craigieburn train station is about to get a little easier, with up to 50 extra spaces to be added to the car park in the coming months.
Work on the new spaces will begin in the coming weeks, increasing the car park’s capacity to about 320 spaces.
The work is stage one of a three-stage project by the state government to improve parking at the Hothlyn Drive station.
The second stage of the project will use land near the station to create up to 50 more spaces.
The government will investigate the use of a nearby site for extra parking as part of the third stage.
The work is part of a $20 million fund to expand station car parks in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and regional Victoria, which was created as part of the state budget.
The announcement follows years of community campaigning.
The number of spaces at the station hasn’t increased since trains to Craigieburn were electrified in 2006, despite Public Transport Victoria data showing that 48 per cent of commuters drive to the station.
Yuroke MP Ros Spence said increased patronage was putting pressure on the car park.
“This first step will help reduce the daily scramble to get a park and mean more choice for more people in Craigieburn about how they get around,” she said.
Hume mayor Helen Patskikatheodorou said the work would make a real difference to commuters.
“It’s something that makes my heart sing and everyone who catches a train from Craigieburn should feel a little better because relief is on the way,” she said.
