Melbourne’s train operator has predicted the Werribee train line will be “at capacity” by 2019.
The warning was contained in Metro’s 2016 Strategic Operational Plan, which was leaked to Fairfax Media earlier this month.
The document stated that the Werribee line would be “at capacity by 2019 once the additional paths provided by the Regional Rail Link Project have been used”.
The Regional Rail Link (RRL), which runs between the Southern Cross and Werribee train stations, opened two years ago. It separated regional trains from metropolitan trains, enabling room for extra services – known as “train paths” – to run each hour on existing railway lines, including Werribee.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said it was “critical” that Metro and the state government reformed timetables to make better use of the available fleet and track capacity.
Mr Bowen said that if the Werribee line did reach capacity by 2019, the daily commute could become uncomfortable for travellers.
“It can be very unpleasant travelling in packed trains – if you can squeeze aboard, you’re crushed in with your fellow passengers, sometimes barely able to move during the journey,” he said. “In some cases there’s simply no room to board, and you’re left waiting on the platform for another train, which may or may not arrive in time to get you to work on time.”
Werribee MP Tim Pallas said that in August this year the state government would be adding 10 peak services and 20 new services to the Werribee line between 4pm and 5pm each week.
He said the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project would also provide more space to run more trains, in and out of Melbourne’s CBD and create a “24 per cent more peak capacity on the Werribee line”.
