OUT IN ALL WEATHER

CALL FOR A COVER UP

A COMMUTER who has used North Shore train station for 20 years has called for an urgent upgrade so passengers are no longer treated like “fifth-class citizens”.

North Shore resident Philip Dandy (pictured) has called for “totally inadequate” shelters at the station to be rebuilt to give commuters respite from wind, rain and sun.

“The shelters they have there are totally inadequate when it rains, you don’t have anywhere to get out of it,” Mr Dandy said.

“You’re basically left out in the open. As far as I’m concerned it is substandard and we are being treated like fifth class citizens.”

He derided successive state governments for failing to provide adequate infrastructure, and said a toilet was needed.

“It’s about 800m to the nearest toilet in Labuan Square, that’s a long way for commuters to go when they’re busting,” Mr Dandy said.

He said the station needed to be staffed, have more parking spaces and security cameras to encourage more people to use it.

“I know people who refuse to use North Shore station because of the lack of parking and because there’s no CCTV cameras,” Mr Dandy said.

A Transport Department spokesman did not respond directly to questions the Addy asked about security cameras and shelters.

“Decisions on staffing and facilities at stations are made on a network-wide basis to ensure resources are directed to where they will have the most impact,” the spokesman said.

The Labor government earmarked $1.5 million to upgrade North Shore station during its term 10 years ago.

But the funding was not spent when the Coalition, under Ted Baillieu, won government, and $160,000 was allocated to improvements at the station while other funding was redirected to Waurn Ponds station.

North Shore residents have been calling for upgrades at the station for at least five years.