Metro - the private operator of Melbourne's suburban railway network recently released their new timetable and the community here in the west is justifiably outraged at the proposal to cut Altona Loop services. This also happens to be the Prime Ministers electorate.
Metros plan includes cutting direct access to the city loop, cutting all express services, increasing waiting time between trains during peak hours.
250 people rocked up to the first meeting. One resident reported that her daughter who has a disability avoids peak time services. As a result of the new timetable she will need to catch 3 trains to get into the city.
Another resident at the meeting raised the example of the campaign to save the Williamstown Line. In 1993 the then Kennett government planned to close the Williamstown railway line from Newport to Williamstown. A public meeting in the Town Hall was attended by 1,500 people to protest against the closure. After an intense campaign the railway line was saved.
As contractor, the Baillieu state government has the ability to reject Metros new timetable. On March 2nd 2011, Greens Western Metro Region for the Upper House Colleen Hartland stood up in Parliament and called on the Minister to reject the proposed train service cuts and instead deliver public transport improvements.
The aim of the campaign is to send a clear message to the government that the community needs public transport improvements, not cuts.
The next meeting is 7:30pm 29th March at the Altona RSL Function Room, 31 Sargood Street Altona.
You can take action by going to the Altona Loop webpage set by the Greens where you can send an email to the Minister, MPs and Metro; download and print the petition; tell your friends about the campaign and share it on Facebook.
Socialist Alliance campaigned heavily for improved public transport during our three election campaigns last year in Altona and Maribyrnong.
