By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
Survey shows the squeeze on rail commuters to get to work…
COMMUTERS on the Pakenham line are subjected to some of the worst overcrowding on the network, with morning peak-hour trains being recorded carrying more than 400 passengers above their official capacity.
Data released by the Victorian Greens to the Pakenham News this week reveals the results of a four-day survey conducted in May which counted the number of passengers on each train between 7am and 9am.
Average loading across the Pakenham, Dandenong and Cranbourne lines was 855 passengers – 57 more than the 798 that Metro’s trains are designed to carry.
The highest recorded count on the Pakenham line was 1236 passengers crammed into the 8.27am service from Pakenham on the third day of the survey.
The survey shows that the situation is getting worse on the three lines which gained an extra 4454 passengers between the 2014 and 2015 surveys and had only extra service added to meet demand.
The data also revealed the added pressure that cancellations put on existing services.
On the third day of the survey, both the 8.10am from Cranbourne and the 8.20am from Pakenham were cancelled, pushing 10 of the 13 remaining services over capacity.
Passenger numbers are calculated at Caulfield station where the Dandenong, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines join with the Frankston line.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said on Wednesday morning (27 January) that the government had failed commuters in the growth corridor.
“Daniel Andrew ripped up the $30 million contract for the $2.5 billion upgrade of the Pakenham-Cranbourne railway line but has failed to offer any alternative solution for commuters,” he said.
“It is blatantly clear that the south-east is growing and we desperately need investment in infrastructure to serve our growing population.”
Despite the planned removal of 14 crossings on the Pakenham-Cranbourne line, Mr Battin said more needs to be done.
“Daniel Andrews needs to stop ignoring the south-east and fund a major upgrade of the Pakenham-Cranbourne railway line before this overcrowding becomes even worse.”
Services included in the survey were the 7.59am, 8.06am, 8.20am, 8.27am, 8.36am and 8.50am from Pakenham; the 8.03am, 8.18am and 8.32am from Dandenong, the 8.10am, 8.24am, 8.43am and 8.56am from Cranbourne; and the 8.45 and 8.58am from Westall.
