Illawarra train commuters frustrated by their inability to get a seat on the way home from Sydney during afternoon peak hour are being asked to put pen to paper.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Commuters have recently used social media to vent their annoyance at the overcrowded 4.24pm express service from Central to Kiama.
Jamberoo dairy farmer Lynne Strong regularly uses this service and tweeted photographs of the crowded train to Member for Kiama Gareth Ward.
“We all want affordable, reliable and comfortable train travel; however most of all we want to feel safe when we travel, particularly on afternoon trains from Central to Kiama,” she said.
Jamberoo resident Dr Tim Billington, 66, works part-time at the University of Wollongong.
“I catch the [4.24pm] train from Wollongong to here [Kiama], and it’s often packed,” he said.
“There isn’t a chance of sitting once the train’s got to Wollongong. It’s ridiculous that you can’t get a seat.”
On Thursday, Mr Ward launched a petition urging the state government to increase the number of seats and carriages on the service.
“I’ve raised this issue directly with the NSW Minister for Transport, and I’ll be making it very clear to the government via this petition that local commuters are desperate to see the service improved by increasing the number of seats and carriages,” he said.
“It’s not something that you often see, I suppose, from government MPs.
He said he would always fight for a fair share of improved services and better access, regardless of which party is in government.
Mr Ward said he had previously caught the 4.24pm service, and would do so again to gather signatures.
The petition is available from his electorate office and website.
