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Buses help train overload

New bus networks in Victoria have helped overcrowding on trains decrease from 2011

August 28, 2013

New bus networks have been part of a major decrease in overcrowding on major rail lines in Victoria, latest statistics show.

Public Transport Victoria announced last week the percentage of passengers travelling on trains exceeding the load benchmark dropped from 23 per cent to 17 per cent between May 2012 and May 2013.

Director of Operations Norman Gray says the results are encouraging.

“In the last year we have opened new stations, extended rail lines and introduced new bus networks which have improved access to the train network for passengers. And we have carefully planned timetable changes to balance the spread of passenger loads across trains.”

Figures from the May 2013 Metropolitan Train Peak Passenger Loads survey found passenger loads exceeded the benchmark on 11 per cent of all peak services.

This is a slight increase from 9.1 per cent of services in October 2012, but well down on the May 2012 survey where 15.3 per cent of loads exceeded the benchmark – at a time when patronage on peak services has increased by 2.4 per cent.

Gray says 20 new weekly train services in peak periods have also helped with the decrease.

“These new trains and continuing refinement of the timetable will enable us to provide more services across the network and meet the challenges increasing use of the train network presents.”

Full details of the survey can be found at ptv.vic.gov.au.

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