Train fiasco plea

By Paul Dunlop
URGENT talks will be sought with Transport Minister Peter Batchelor in a bid to change new train services that commuters claim will leave them stranded.
Cardinia Shire Council has backed residents’ objections and are seeking to lodge a plea on their behalf with Mr Batchelor.
Mayor Bill Ronald held informal discussions with the Mr Batchelor on Friday and an official approach is expected as well.
The move come amid protests from residents in country areas who are angry at proposed changes to train services along the Gippsland line.
Residents from Nar Nar Goon to Longwarry have strongly opposed plans to cut seven local stops from VLine’s daily peak hour service out of the city.
Councillors weighed into the issue at their meeting last week, with Bunyip Ward representative Bill Pearson labelling the new train timetable a “fiasco”.
VLine has said the changes expected later this year would speed up the train and were part of moves to improve services right along the Gippsland line.
Cr Pearson said Cardinia residents had been forgotten.
“We are smack bang in the growth corridor, we are providing houses and building sites yet we don’t get train services. We deserve better than this,” Cr Pearson said.
As previously reported in the Gazette, the controversy centres on plans to make the new flagship 4.59pm train from Flinders Street nonstop between Dandenong and Drouin.
But local commuters who rely on the peak hour train are loudly protesting the change.
A report to council’s meeting last Monday acknowledged that the new timetable did provide greatly increased services on the Gippsland line but said the changes had disadvantaged Cardinia residents.
Cr Pearson said they deserved better.
“The socalled fast train is only fast because it misses seven stops. It is a fiasco,” he said.
Nar Nar Goon resident Jenni Orton, in the gallery at council’s meeting, also said local people felt left behind.
“We are not happy commuters,” she said.
Residents say VLine’s timetable changes will add up to an hour to their travelling time each day.
Cr Ronald said his discussions with Mr Batchelor had been fruitful. He said the Minister and State Government officials were aware of the concerns and was confident compromises could be made.
“Peter Batchelor gave me an assurance that they were aware of the situation and were looking at it.
“Whenever there is change, it is not always possible to please all of the people all of the time but they are looking at it and we are keeping our fingers crossed.”
Commuters are also angry by what they say are plans for:
ONLY one afternoon service from Melbourne stopping at Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Garfield and Bunyip between 4.10pm and 7.28pm.
SOME trains not to stop at Clayton (university, hospital and employment) and Caulfield (university, employment and links to other public transport).
STUDENTS at St Thomas Aquinas School in Tynong having to wait an extra hour for a train travelling east as their usual train will no longer stop at Tynong.
Ms Orton said many residents had moved to small towns along the railway line because they could still easily commute into the city for work.
“Now some people are saying they will have to move,” she said.