Maroondah Journal: Boost trains, users urge
Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 8th of July, 2008
Amid the recently held Eastern Transport Coalition Public Transport Summit, the Maroondah Journal has continued to explore public transport issues, particularly, in regard to the need for service improvements along Melbourne’s rail network.
Eastern Transport Coalition spokesman Cr Alex Makin said evening services would be an easy fix. “There’s nothing stopping the Government from saying tomorrow it will provide additional inter peak services. It would be instant relief for families struggling with increasing fuel prices.”
Inter peak services (services that are between the morning and evening peaks) beyond Ringwood currently operate at a half hourly frequency, severely limiting the opportunity to use public transport outside of peak hours to travel to and from the Ringwood Transit City.
Likewise evening services after 8pm operate at a half-hourly frequency limiting choices available for people that work late.
He said more frequent evening and inter peak services were critical for people to get to and from activity centres, such as the Ringwood Transit City.
The fact that weekend services operate at a 20 minute interval demonstrates that more frequent inter peak weekdays services are possible. For example, it is absurd that people wishing to travel between Croydon and Ringwood at 10am on a weekday are required to wait up to half an hour for train, when on a Saturday or Sunday they would be waiting for 20 minutes.
The government has stated that it will be revising the train timetable next year, hopefully they rectify these anomalies within our train timetables and help reinforce the importance of public transport within the Ringwood Transit City and the outer east.
Transport Infrastructure for Victoria: The Challenges , Maroondah Journal: East misses out on extra trains , Maroondah Journal: Zone cut boost for outer suburbs , Delegates’ Report: Enhancing opportunities for our youth, elderly and commuters , Moving Maroondah - Sustainable Transport in Maroondah
Category: Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC), Maroondah, Sustainable Transport, Urban Sustainability
“Amid the recently held Eastern Transport Coalition Public Transport Summit, the Maroondah Journal has continued to explore public transport issues particularly in regard to the need for service improvements along Melbourne’s rail network.”
With the help of a certain public transport lobby group (that goes by the name PTUA). 
Jeremy,
It’s great to see the PTUA supporting the work of the Eastern Transport Coalition in its efforts to secure public transport improvements throughout the eastern suburbs.
Keep up the great work as the outer east branch convenor, you’re certainly doing a wonderful job!
Thanks,
Alex
