The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has called for an urgent upgrade of the tactile paving on Werribee train station’s platforms.
Tactile paving is the orange and yellow plastic bumps on the ground which help people with vision-impairment know the edge of the platform is near.
An audit being carried out by the RTBU has identified that some sections of the tactile paving at Werribee station are in dire need of attention.
RTBU state secretary Luba Grigorovitch said it was “disappointing” that Metro Trains had “failed to maintain platforms at the expense of safety and accessibility”.
“The vision impaired who depend on these services deserve the safety and security of adequately maintained, accessible public transport,” Ms Grigorovitch said.
When Star Weekly posted pictures showing the degraded condition of the Werribee station’s tactile paving on Facebook last week, several readers agreed that they should be fixed immediately.
“I’d like to see it upgraded so I don’t trip on it any more and look like an idiot,” Belinda commented.
“I don’t need to use it personally but it does need fixing – I’m sure there are vision impaired people using the train which is who it’s designed for,” Julie wrote.
Phil said that he had “noticed the deterioration quite some time ago” and was “quite surprised that they haven’t replaced it for OHS reasons”.
Metro spokeswoman Sammie Black said the train operator was working with Public Transport Victoria to “facilitate upgrading the infrastructure at the station including the full replacement of new tactiles on the Werribee Station platforms, with new asphalt and possible further works on the platform to enable new tactiles to be installed”.
“Werribee station’s platforms are scheduled to receive new line markings in the coming months when the weather is warmer as coating is adversely affected by wet and damp surfaces,” she said.
