A snap action drew more than 30 people to Gowrie Station on September 19 to push for the duplication of the Upfield Line which becomes a single track north of Fawkner.
The Upfield Transport Alliance, Sustainable Fawkner and Climate Action Merri-Bek called the protest as part of .
The narrowing of the track along the Upfield line has caused up to 40 minutes of wait times between services, frequent cancellations and overcrowding. When the trains are cancelled north of the tramline, which terminates in North Coburg, there is no direct line to the city.
Peter Murry, a retired train driver and member of the Rail Tram andΒ Bus Union (RTBU) retired members association, said βit is not an engineering obstacle β¦ there is sufficient room to duplicate the track. It is a lack of political willβ.
Sue Bolton, Socialist Alliance Councillor for Merri-Bek,Β said the Daniel Andrews Government had βno definite plans to duplicate the trackβ. She noted the disparity in services on the Upfield line along class lines, adding that βwe need to unite everyone up and down the lineβ because politicians are βnot interested in the people in the northβ.
Bolton described how the poor service impacts the lives of affected users. βWeβve met people who have lost jobs because of train cancellations, as well as people who have missed specialist medical appointments and exams.β
John Englart of Climate Action Merri-Bek called for the extension of the Upfield line to Craigieburn and Wallan.
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The Upfield Transport Alliance is calling for the duplication of track from Gowrie to Upfield; the extension of the Upfield line to Craigieburn and Wallan; the rebuilding of Campbellfield station at Camp Road, all buses to run from the first train to the last train and the extension of the Upfield bike path to Upfield.
[Transport equity week is organised by Friends of the Earth Melbourneβs Sustainable Cities collective. Support the campaign to duplicate the Upfield Line on and visit the .]