I READ in last week’s Gazette an article including the State Opposition Leader and local councillors complaining about the recent change to disallow metropolitan commuters to use the V/Line service.
While I note you sought and included comments from a government spokesperson in the article, there were some important facts missing. These facts are why V/Line passengers are frustrated with the access given to their metropolitan counterparts:
Fact 1: Patronage is increasing rapidly.
With high urban growth rates experienced along the railway corridor, particularly in Warragul and Drouin, the congestion on trains is increasing.
Fact 2: Unsafe, overcrowded services.
Particular services, such as 7.40am from Pakenham and the home-bound 4.16pm from Southern Cross (arriving Pakenham 5.25pm) are overcrowded. The 7.40am service was typically crowded to the point where the conductor tried to arrange to avoid picking up Pakenham passengers by calling ahead to Pakenham and stopping the train short of the busy end of the platform. But Pakenham passengers would get on no matter what is done as if their rights to this service compared with those of the regional passengers. A deluge of passengers at Pakenham entered the train on all services, creating unsafe and uncomfortable conditions for the longer-travelling passengers.
The 4.16pm home-bound service was crowded with many passengers standing or on the floor until Pakenham – 45 minutes later. At this point, a large number of passengers disembarked, leaving seats behind for the standing regional passengers.
Fact 3: Service and price discrimination.
A simple comparison of ticket costs exposes an obvious discrimination. Pakenham passengers enjoy a daily myki money charge of $7.52 to the city (full fare). Neighbouring Nar Nar Goon passengers (less than 10 kilometres west) pay $20.80 for the same trip (peak period). In addition, metropolitan travellers from Pakenham enjoy a free “earlybird“ service on trains before 7.00am; regional passengers do not receive this benefit.
Ironically, when the timetable was amended last year to account for additional metro services, V/Line passengers experienced a longer journey for more! Performance data supplied by V/Line consistently shows that Gippsland is the worst off across the Victorian network.
Pakenham passengers, on the other hand, could choose from a smorgasbord of regular services at a much lower price.
Given the distinct difference in costs to V/Line travellers accompanied by an even lower level of service (in terms of regularity and punctuality). Simply, unless fare discrepancies are rectified, the government should not permit V/Line services to metropolitan train travellers at Pakenham.
Peter Morison,
Garfield.
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