Commuters need better alternatives

A Warragul couple that commutes by train to Melbourne for work each day believes there should be some better alternatives when V/Line services are disrupted, such as during metropolitan level crossing removal works.

Joyce and Greg Pearce had to go to some extraordinary lengths during the recent coach/train solution to track closures in the metropolitan network.

Both are contract employees and don’t get paid if they can’t get to work.

For Mr Pearce, who is required to start at 7am, there is not a minute to spare even when the first Gippsland train to Melbourne each weekday is running on schedule.

He travels from Warragul to Southern Cross station where the train arrives at 6.55am – if it is on time.

But with coaches replacing trains between Pakenham and the city for a period in January and again this month the 7am start to work could not be met.

Instead, Mr Pearce was forced to impose on relatives living in the metropolitan area to accommodate him for much of that time.

Ms Pearce said neither she or her husband could meet start times using the train/bus combination that sometimes took up to an hour longer, road works and speed reductions on the Monash Freeway further complicating matters.

She said she had raised the issue with V/Line officers that conducted interviews at the Warragul station asking travellers to comment on V/Line’s service.

Ms Pearce suggested running buses – smaller commuter buses if necessary – that depart Gippsland towns much earlier than the first train and able to reach the city before 7am.

And she also says – in “normal times” – V/Line should run an earlier additional morning train service from Traralgon to Melbourne for the many people that start work in the city at 7am or earlier.

Other actions she believes should be taken to alleviate problems for V/Line commuters include subsidies for accommodation in the metropolitan area when the Metro track, or part of it, is closed.

And Ms Pearce said fares should be waived, or at least reduced, during rail works.

It is a small price for authorities to pay given the level crossing removals is a billion-dollar project, she said.

The latest disruptions ended last Thursday, three days later than earlier advertised, adding to Mr and Mrs Pearce’s commuting woes.

Even then, several of the early trains on Thursday ran later than scheduled.

Further disruptions because of the level crossing works will affect Gippsland rail users at times throughout the year but a V/Line spokesperson said as much notice as possible would be given so that people could plan their travel.

At this stage V/line is unable to advise specific dates.