AS overcrowding concerns persist on Shepparton train services, both Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and Member for Shepparton District Kim O’Keeffe are demanding immediate action from the government to alleviate the situation and ensure passenger safety.
Lovell’s plea focuses on the need for additional carriages on crowded Shepparton V/Line trains, especially as passengers eagerly await the commencement of the promised nine weekday return services between Shepparton and Melbourne. Despite assurances from Premier Jacinta Allan in 2021 that Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade would be completed by 2023, the deadline was missed, and track works were only finished in April 2024. However, signalling upgrades remain incomplete, delaying the commencement of the additional services.
Lovell has urged the government to provide clarity on the start date for the nine weekday return services and to deploy more carriages on existing services to mitigate overcrowding. She emphasizes the discomfort and safety risks passengers face during long journeys, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, O’Keeffe echoes these concerns, emphasising the impact of overcrowded trains on passenger safety, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with disabilities. Constituent reports highlight the prevalence of standing-room-only conditions, compromising the safety and comfort of passengers.
O’Keeffe calls for immediate action from Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams to address overcrowding issues and implement measures to expand capacity while prioritising passenger safety and comfort. She emphasised the need for a detailed plan to manage overcrowding effectively and criticised the government’s failure to deliver promised rail upgrades on time and within budget.
Both MPs stressed the importance of ensuring safe and comfortable travel for all passengers, urging the government to prioritise regional infrastructure projects and address the ongoing challenges faced by regional communities.
Last week we asked readers online if they have experienced overcrowding travelling on the Shepparton line, with 69 per cent of respondents saying they had and only 31 per cent saying they have not.
As overcrowding continues to plague Shepparton train services, the calls for action grow louder, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to improve the region’s public transport system.
