POINT Cook residents who attended a ‘sneak peak’ of Williams Landing train station ahead of its opening this Sunday doubt it will be as successful as the state government expects.
Hundreds of people attended the station’s open day on April 21, but excitement was dampened by worries about insufficient parking and new bus links adding to morning peak-hour traffic snarls. Point Cook Action Group spokeswoman Alice Osborne said the 500-space car park was about three-quarters full on the open day.
“The station itself is fantastic news – with a level crossing, and pedestrian ramps from both Williams Landing and Point Cook – it can only help our public transport needs,” she said.
“There are, unfortunately, several issues . . . and only time will tell which of these will become serious problems for commuters after the station is open.”
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There are five bus links to the new station, including three routes through Point Cook, one from Hoppers Crossing via Wyndham Vale and Truganina and another from Hoppers Crossing via Point Cook. The new routes will operate on a 22-minute timetable and replace the 413 and 416 Hoppers Crossing-Laverton buses, which run at 40-minute intervals.
But without a separate bus lane on Palmers Road, Ms Osborne said buses wouldn’t be able to get through traffic to the station.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said the new bus routes would ease congestion in the short term.
