Insane on the train

STATE Opposition Leader Matthew Guy’s commitment to reversing the travel restrictions for Pakenham commuters could be seen as a ‘vote catcher’ (‘Free to ride under Guy’ – Gazette, 17 June). Graeme Beasley (‘Letters’ – Gazette 17/6/15) asked what ALP Eastern Victoria Region MP Harriet Shing meant ‘as a big win for Gippsland passengers’.
It is just that – a big win, so many years in the coming. While Gippsland passengers MAY have a comfortable seat on the journey to Melbourne before Pakenham commuters join the train at their station, the trip from Melbourne (on some services) is certainly a different matter.
On Wednesday afternoon (17 June), my wife and I caught the 16.14pm Traralgon service ex Southern Cross. It was quite a crowded service, with many people standing, a problem which could have been alleviated by the addition of another carriage(s). It was a three-car Velocity train. When the train stopped at Pakenham a quick estimate of 50-plus passengers alighted.
From Gippsland there are 18 services to and from Melbourne on each weekday (17 stop at Pakenham), while there are over 60 Metro services each way between Melbourne and Pakenham on each weekday.
To Mr Guy and Mr Beasley I would emphasise that the border of Victoria does not just include the Melbourne metropolitan area – there’s a few of us who live out in the ‘bush’ who don’t ‘enjoy’ some of the facilities and services that ‘city slickers’ do. It’s taken many years for the decision to be made to exclude Pakenham commuters from V/Line Gippsland services. To reverse the decision would be insane.
K. Milsom,
Drouin.