It’s been nine years in the making, but Caroline Springs residents finally have their own train station … albeit one with an issue.
The station opened on Sunday, January 29, offering 280 services a week, with trains running every 30 minutes during the peak and every hour off-peak.
But commuters and councillors are already concerned the 350-space car park won’t be enough for the area’s burgeoning population.
The station is surrounded by grasslands, home to a critically endangered shrub, and it is in an isolated location where there aren’t any off-street parking options.
Melton mayor Sophie Ramsey told reporters during the opening she would consider lobbying to get a high-rise car park, expecting the current one to be “full by about 7.30am”.
“The city of Melton is a growth corridor, and we’re going to have hundreds of thousands more people coming into this corridor,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cambridge ward councillor Steve Abboushi, who’s been using the station every day, is also worried the 350 spaces won’t be enough to meet the demand.
He raised a notice of motion at Monday night’s council meeting urging it to write to Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan and Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz “seeking an urgent review of the number of car-parking spaces” at the new Caroline Springs station.
“Throughout my [election] campaign, a lot of residents had asked me when the Caroline Springs station is going to open and if they’d have sufficient car parking,” Cr Abboushi told Star Weekly last week.
“In a hugely dense and congested area, car parking is always going to be an issue.”
When Star Weekly visited the station last Wednesday – three days after its opening – there were about 150 empty car park spaces.
One commuter, Moses, said he was impressed with the design of the station and was pleased buses had serviced the area from day one.
Caroline Springs student Bea said she doesn’t have to travel to Watergardens to catch a train.
“I’ve heard that there’s limited spaces for car parking, but I think you just have to try out the station first and see what happens.”
V/Line spokeswoman Catalina Filip said V/Line and Public Transport Victoria would monitor patronage at the station, making any changes as required.
“We are thrilled to welcome Caroline Springs Station to our network, to provide public transport services for one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing suburbs,” Ms Filip said.
“This new station means locals have better access to train services as well as improved bus connections, so they can travel for work, study and recreation.”
