By Alesha Capone
A politician has called for direct trains from Melbourne’s lockdown-areas to regional areas, to help protect regional passengers from commuters living in lockdown suburbs and towns.
Geelong radio station Bay FM last week reported that West Victorian MP Bev McArthur has also requested the state government consider introducing carriages reserved only for regional passengers, on V/Line trains.
Some regional V/Line trains run travel through Geelong to Wyndham Vale, Tarneit, Deer Park, Ardeer, Sunshine and Footscray.
Ms McArthur said that if regional Victorians needed to travel to Melbourne for essential reasons, their risk of exposure to people from “highly-infected areas” – such as Wyndham – should be minimised.
“Dedicated carriages for passengers boarding outside of the stage three restricted areas would be an effective solution to try to minimise intermingling of passengers,’ Ms McArthur said.
“Alternatively, direct trains that run express through suburbs that are highly contaminated could be a good way to get regional Victorians in and out of the city with minimal contact with people from high risk areas.”
A Department of Transport spokesperson said stage three “Stay at Home” restrictions are currently in place across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire based on advice from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, with people only permitted to travel for the reasons of shopping for food and essential items; medical care and caregiving; and work and study, if they cannot do it from home.
“Public transport services across the state continue to run as normal to support those who need to make essential journeys in line with the three reasons to travel, except for V/Line services which usually cross the NSW border,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re keeping passengers and our frontline workers safe on public transport by cleaning high touch surfaces regularly and deep-cleaning trains, trams and buses every night.
“We ask passengers to help us by travelling outside the peak, practising good hygiene, keeping distant from other commuters wherever possible and wearing masks when it is not possible.”
The state government was contacted for comment.
