Transport Minister Terry Mulder has signalled the end of overcrowding on the South Morang train line based on figures from Public Transport Victoria’s 2013 load standards survey.
But according to Mr Mulder’s statistics, growth in South Morang and surrounding suburbs will outstrip the improvements in a little over two years.
Mr Mulder said the new X’Trapolis trains had the capacity to carry 12 per cent more passengers. Yet he also mentioned that train passenger numbers were continuing to rise during the morning peak between 8am and 9am.
PTV surveys are conducted twice yearly.
The Epping Line was extended to South Morang just before the October 2012 survey.
Mr Mulder’s comments appear at odds with the latest results from the October 2013 survey that says “there was no change in the number of services on the South Morang Line during the AM peak”.
Mr Mulder said on Tuesday: “In 2011,
45 per cent of morning peak period passengers travelled on overcrowded trains. The new X’Trapolis trains that carry
12 per cent more passengers, three extra morning week-day peak-period trains, improved train and line maintenance, and the April, 2012, opening of the Epping to South Morang line extension have all made a noticeable difference.”
A typical train from South Morang to Flinders Street station carries 716 passengers, according to PTV’s latest statistics.
Darren Peters, of Doreen, says parking remains the real issue.
“It’s only getting worse. People are parking illegally because there’s no alternative,” he said. “People simply can’t get on the train because parking is at capacity.”
