this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Of course, this means that anyone who values their comfort and has a car will drive instead, leaving public transport as a soup kitchen service.
@AllNewTypeFace @just_kitten I think this is really only happening on the Albury line - other services have likely seen a decent increase in patronage, but it's likely going to make rural services more viable in terms of numbers, and on the really popular routes hopefully a real increase in services. In 2019 I took rural PT to a bunch of different places in Victoria, East West and North from Melbourne, and only North was really even half way busy.
You must be joking. Passenger volumes on the Ballarat line just keep increasing as they build more dormitory suburbs along the corridor. Morning peak trains are routinely at crush capacity before reaching Melton, making it very difficult to actually catch a train to work in Melbourne from Melton.
@cuavas that sounds like they need to increase services at rush hour - I'll admit I've only travelled that route off-peak.
The lines are at capacity already, and they've cancelled the signaling upgrades for the western lines promised before the last election because they can't afford it. They've also cancelled building additional track to Melton to increase capacity (yet another broken promise). They're saying they'll extend platforms to allow 9-car trains, but I doubt it will be enough.
@cuavas yeah, it's pretty shit. I guess allowing more flexibility on when people start and finish work plus continuing work from home options might help a bit. But yeah, there needs to be serious investment to improve things.