Werribee line commuters are Melbourne’s unhappiest train users, according to a new survey.
The On Track survey of 1100 passengers, commissioned by the RACV, found only 3 per cent of Werribee line users were happy with Metro’s service.
The happiest commuters were on the Alamein line, with 19 per cent satisfied.
Werribee commuters complained the most about late trains, with 10 per cent of respondents noting that trains were often not on time.
The line also had the third-highest number of complaints about infrequent services – behind only the Alamein and Upfield lines.
Eleven per cent of passengers said trains were overcrowded.
Recent passenger load statistics released by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) revealed that 12 peak-time Werribee line trains were overcrowded during May, making it Melbourne’s second most-crowded line.
Werribee line commuter Nathan Street agreed that trains were overcrowded, but said Wyndham’s congested roads were to blame.
“[Overcrowding] is to be expected because it’s still quicker to catch a train than drive,” he said. Mr Street said the train services were not bad, but bus connections and station parking were “atrocious”.
He called on PTV to better integrate bus and train services so buses didn’t arrive at stations after trains had departed.
Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said there were long-standing problems with the Werribee line caused by chronic signal and equipment problems around Newport.
RACV public transport and mobility manager Thanuja Gunatillake said there was a need for major investment in Melbourne’s rail infrastructure, which was struggling to keep pace with population growth.
PTV spokeswoman Helen Witton said that in the past year, an average of 89.9 per cent of Werribee line services were on time.
She said $100 million had been allocated for track, signal, power and maintenance works on the Werribee, Williamstown and Frankston lines to allow the spacious X’Trapolis trains to use the lines.
She also pointed to the construction of two new stations, at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale, as part of the Regional Rail Link project, saying they would allow an increase in services.
