While rail car parks at stations like Austinmer now sit almost empty on weekdays, the car parks and surrounding residential streets at Thirroul are clogged with cars left by commuters travelling to Sydney.

The changing face of Thirroul has prompted the local ALP branch to take up a petition  among  commuters at Thirroul station during the morning and evening peak periods.

The plan is to support efforts by Keira MP Ryan Park to get 10,000 signatures on an issue, which will force a debate in Parliament.

ALP branch president Chris Lacey said the new timetable, introduced late last month, had led to dramatic changes in Thirroul.

With morning and evening express services not stopping at most northern suburbs stations, he said commuters were now driving to Thirroul station and parking in greater numbers than ever before.

‘‘The sentiment  is that there has been an appreciable impact,’’ Mr Lacey said.

‘‘Parking is now at a premium at Thirroul station early in the morning and people are spilling out into residential streets to park.

‘‘There is parking on both the eastern and western sides of Thirroul station and our members who live in close proximity to the station are saying that they’re seeing an appreciable number of cars parking out residential streets.’’

Mr Lacey also said stations such as Austinmer which had previously full car parks were suddenly empty on a daily basis.

‘‘The other observation, particularly around Austinmer, is that Austinmer station used to be on some of the express services in the morning and afternoon peaks.

‘‘People who would previously have picked up the train at Austinmer are now driving down to Thirroul and parking in Thirroul’s residential streets to access those express services.

‘‘Previously you’d see quite a number of cars at Austinmer station in the mornings and now we’re not seeing anywhere near as many.’’

Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce president Pauline Lacelles-Smith said the new timetable had caused parking issues at Thirroul, Helensburgh and Waterfall stations as commuters drove to those stations to catch trains.

She said Thirroul, with businesses  close to the station, was more adversely affected than Helensburgh or Waterfall.

‘‘It does affect Thirroul with the people taking up parking spaces that potential customers for the businesses could use. 

‘‘It’s not too good,’’ Ms Lacelles-Smith said.

‘‘When these spaces have been taken and used for all-day parking it means that potential customers, if they cannot park near the place, will not come in and use the business.

‘‘I think the flow-on effect will affect every business in the Thirroul area.’’

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said she was happy with the performance of the new timetable so far.

‘‘The 2013 timetable was developed by experts based on demand, and has restructured services on the South Coast Line to significantly improve journey times for the majority of customers,’’ Ms Berejiklian said.

‘‘It provides 125 new weekly express services and weekly journey time savings to Sydney of 40 minutes from Wollongong and 65 minutes from Kiama.

‘‘This has been achieved by revising services and stopping patterns at smaller stations between North Wollongong and Helensburgh.’’

She did not say whether the apparent parking pressures at Thirroul created by the timetable would expedite a possible multi-storey car park.

‘‘Transport for NSW is currently investigating which projects should come next as part of the Transport Access Program,’’ she said.

‘‘Thirroul station will be considered as part of this ongoing work. 

‘‘The Illawarra has been a prominent benefactor in the Transport Access Program with upgrades delivered at Albion Park, Austinmer and Gerringong.

‘‘Work is also under way at the new Shell Cove Station, Oak Flats car park, Dapto interchange and Kiama car park.’’