20th June 2008

LUGGAGE CHANGES BURDEN COUNTRY RAIL TRAVELLERS

A lack of assistance with luggage handling on trains is disadvantaging many country people – but the StateGovernment is not interested in doing anything about it, according to Eastern Victoria MP Peter Hall.

Mr Hall has written to the Public Transport Minister and also raised the matter in State Parliament but he says the Government has wiped its hands of providing any support.

Under changes implemented at the start of this year, V/Line staff can no longer deal with checked luggage on country trains. Instead the staff are required, according to the Minister, to deal only with customers who have “genuine needs.”

Mr Hall said: “I think it is insulting and callous to suggest that an elderly person with large amounts of luggage is not some one with ‘genuine needs.’  Any person should be able to have their luggage checked in, but the Minister has indicated she is not interested in this matter, which I raised following complaints from my constituents.”

Mr Hall spoke on the issue in Parliament this month, citing examples of disadvantage.

“At one time elderly people who were carrying suitcases to Melbourne or beyond were able to book their luggage into the train and have it cared for in the guard's van of that train.

“Now, because of the V/Locity trains and the sprinter trains that access those lines, people are not able to book luggage through.”

Mr Hall told of a group of “Active for Old Age” people from the Latrobe Valley taking an excursion to Adelaide, with associated luggage for the trip.

“They can book it on the train going down from Melbourne to Adelaide but for the stretch of travel between Morwell and Moe and on to Melbourne the elderly people have to lug those suitcases in themselves and sit on them virtually in the train and guard them.

“There are no facilities on this new train to take people's luggage and store it in a safe manner. In terms of services I am the first to acknowledge that I have received some positive feedback from improved V/Line services in country Victoria but I have also received a lot of negative comment as well.”

Mr Hall said he was disappointed that the service was no longer available as it made travel difficult for people with suitcases.

"The V/Line staff are generally helpful, although in this case they have been told they cannot provide the level of assistance they used to. I encourage train travellers to seek assistance from V/Line staff.”

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066