Almost half of Melbourne’s morning peak trains were overcrowded and exceeded Public Transport Victoria’s maximum allowable passenger load last year.
Freedom of information data obtained from the transport authority by the Victorian Greens showed over a four day period, trains along the Cranbourne/Packenham line – Melbourne’s busiest – were carrying up to 400 more passengers into the city than they were designed to.
The Victorian Greens leader, Greg Barber, accused the state government of understating the extent of overcrowding on the public transport system.
“This problem has been getting steadily worse for years,” Barber said.
“It hasn’t snuck up on the government, but their only response has been to rip out seats to squeeze more people in.”
The data shows 22 out of 52 trains surveyed were overcrowded on the Frankston line, 38 out of 60 on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line, eight out of 12 on the Upfield line, 22 out of 36 on the Watergardens/Sunbury line, and 21 out of 44 on the Werribee/Williamston line.
However, patronage decreased on some lines, the data shows, including Alamein, Glen Waverley and Lilydale.
Public Transport Victoria had previously released the survey data, but averaged it out across the four days and did not include capacity and passenger numbers for trains immediately following one that had been cancelled.
The Greens obtained the raw data, which the party said was a more accurate reflection of the situation.
Victoria’s public transport minister, Jacinta Allan, said the government’s $11bn Melbourne Metro rail project would allow 20,000 extra passengers in peak hour. The government had also ordered 37 new high-capacity trains for the Cranbourne/Packnham line.
“Labor is building Metro Rail, removing 50 level crossings, ordering bigger trains and improving signalling to move thousands of extra passengers everyday,” Allan said.
“Extra services will be considered across the network with the next metropolitan timetable change later this year.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Public Transport Victoria for comment.
