Rail squeeze to ease

CASEY rail commuters are set for some relief with the announcement this week of extra services on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines.
Mr Brumby said six new morning peak services and three new afternoon peak services each day would be delivered across the Greensborough, Pakenham and Cranbourne, Frankston, Sandringham and Werribee lines.
“Improving public transport is one of the Government’s top priorities and today we are delivering a new timetable that will better meet the needs of people using the city’s train system,” Mr Brumby said.
“In devising the new timetable we have worked closely with network operator, Connex, to get as many services as possible on the rail network, specifically during peak periods.
“This timetable is about trying to provide relief to the many rail passengers who are feeling the squeeze from unprecedented patronage growth of almost 20 per cent over the past two years.
“This new timetable uses existing capacity to better meet the unprecedented passenger growth.”
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the new timetable would come into effect from Sunday 30 September with the first new peak-time services to begin on Monday 1 October.
“As well as adding new services, we’ve worked with Connex to make changes to the timetable to improve passenger loadings and the operational efficiency of the whole network,” Ms Kosky said.
Copies of the new timetable are available on line today at www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au and from Connex stations from Monday 17 September.