More trains,

By Bridget Cook
TRAIN commuters will welcome the announcement of a new timetable that will bring extra peak hour services and operating changes on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines.
The new services, announced last week, will come into effect on 6 June and will also change the way the trains are run in order to improve network efficiency.
The new timetable will see 211 new and extended weekly services added to the network, including 71 new services every week on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines.
Ten of the new services will be in the morning peak, and 25 in the evening peak.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan welcomed the announcement that was made possible by the arrival of new X’Trapolis trains as well as new stopping patterns to improve network efficiency.
“This is a much-needed boost to the system,” Mr Donnellan said.
“It’s great to see the government is delivering the needed services to the local area, and this will ease the congestion on public transport out this way.”
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley also welcomed the announcement.
“These restructured stopping patterns will ensure more even train loadings on the line, which, in turn, will reduce dwell times, improve reliability and increase capacity,” she said.
“This has a positive knock-on effect for the entire train network, and is an important step as we move towards a modern, metro-style rail system.”
Commuters can pick up the new timetable from their local station once they become available on 23 May.
There will be changes to train times, stopping patterns, and whether or not they travel through the City Loop or run direct to Flinders Street Station.
For more information about the new timetables, go to www.metrotrains.com.au or www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au.