Recently, I was on a 4.16PM Lilydale from Parliament. Train gets to Richmond packed. A few get off, heaps try to get on. Good luck......

So, (Burnley Group observation) if the train is packed when it gets to Richmond, WHY (with this antiquated throwback to the past BS) does the train even stop there at all?? Granted, not all cases are like this, BUT with certain services in the AM/PM peaks, IMHO there should be scope with the scheduling of trains that every alternate 3rd Belgrave/Lilydale does NOT stop at Richmond.

Whats the point if passengers cant get on?? IMHO, passenger numbers on our network are such nowadays that some tweaking needs to be considered

Lets be honest, if you're wanting to get on a connecting service at Richmond from the Burnley group in the City Loop, then you should get on a Glen Waverley or Alamein service. These (more so with Alamein are under subscribed, and the Glen Waverleys aren't that packed)

I believe there/s scope withing our network to funnel passengers to where they need to be more efficiently, and this shouldn't  (in this day and age) revolve around a jump on any train and go anywhere approach, just because we used to. I believe in some cases, the having to change trains be the routine rather than the exception?

Too many trains stop at Richmond, and I believe there's scope for some AM/PM services that are heavily loaded during those times NOT to stop at Richmond.

Discuss...

Regards

Changing trains should definitely be the norm, however since Richmond would likely be the point of transfer for most passengers from the east, cutting services there would not be ideal.

Changing trains should definitely be the norm, however since Richmond would likely be the point of transfer for most passengers from the east, cutting services there would not be ideal.

I would suggest running some peak empty cars services from Flinders St to Parliament then Richmond and on. This would help distribute passengers better and would encourage them to join these trains as the chance of a seat was much higher. A following train could then skip Richmond, or even run ahead of the empty cars and run express Melbourne central to beyond Richmond.
A similar issue arises with cup traffic at Spencer St. The cup trains are often full when arriving from Flinders St and then seriously delayed while more passengers attempt to squeeze on. If every third train was empty cars from Flinders St it would quickly clear Spencer St and then the following full train could be run non stop. I have seen two packed delayed trains leave Spencer St and then a third now close behind not full at all.

Bill Johnston