Melbourne Trains a Tight Squeeze

Melbourne's crowded commuter trains are a source of increasing anger and resentment in the people who have little choice but to use them to get to their workplaces. Passenger numbers on the city's trains increased 38% between 2005 and 2008.

The city's newspaper, The Age, reported that it had been flooded with messages after it reported a crush of people at the Flinders Street Station.

Upfield passenger Lachlan MacDowall said he feared someone would be seriously injured as people flooded into the station just before 5pm.

Dr MacDowall said he was greeted by a sea of people waiting at the city station as the afternoon peak-hour rush coupled with rainy weather drove a larger than normal commuter crowd on to platforms four and five.

Mark Porter wrote:

"The situation has been getting worse for the past 2 years, I used to live in West Footscray using the Sydenham line but moved to Seddon (not too far away) as I just simply could no longer fit on the Sydenham.

"The Williamstown line is also reaching crisis point, Seddon station is packed and it gets worse every 3 months or so when a whole new load of commuters suddenly also decide to start getting the train to work. I dare not use Platform 4&5 at Flinders St, that is the most crowded platform (not sure why but more people from poorer Western suburbs seem to use trains more) I would rather wait til after 6 than use that horrible platform."

Carol said:

"I catch the Frankston line train to/from Parliament Station and it's a crush in the peak periods. The crush isn't the problem though - it's the mob mentality. I have been pushed over, elbowed in the head, had my handbag grabbed and a manner of other indignities and the culprits are people of all ages. I reckon a bit of patience and courtesy is in order. The overcrowding is an issue, but it doesn't have to be a daily war."

Mel said:

"As someone stuck on the crowded Monday night trains, I just wanted to say thank you to the 99.9% of fellow commuters who were considerate, calm and friendly amongst the chaos. Its is a tribute to Melbournians that we look out for each other in these circumstances.

"I have lived in London, Tokyo and Melbourne and traveled to over 23 countries around the world in the past 3 years and seen all sorts of good and bad public transport systems, but whatever happens with our own, I hope Melbournian travellers stay curteous, helpful and considerate in times of stress or danger."

Mark Paterson, Connex's head of corporate affairs, said in a letter to The Age that there was no danger to passengers and that the overcrowding was not as severe as it had seemed. "Examination of closed circuit television (footage) confirms there was plenty of space up and down the platform, but that people were congregating around the escalator end to escape the bad weather."

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