By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong bus drivers are going on sick leave with stress from unrealistic new timetables, a public transport forum has heard.
Drivers told the forum that passenger complaints were increasing, said Liberal Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay.
“Drivers are saying that under the new timetables they’re now required to make specific times allocated per stop.
“They’re saying some of the times are unrealistic. For instance, allowing two minutes to reach a certain stop when it can take more depending on traffic conditions.
“They’re saying their local knowledge indicates that the times allocated do not allow for traffic congestion.
“A lot are getting quite stressed and are taking leave because they’re under such pressure to make timetables.
“Psychologically, some struggling to deal with the pressure to make stops and relationships with passengers have become less than pleasant when they are running late.”
The forum, at Manifold Heights on Tuesday night, followed a first Liberal-organised session on changes to Geelong’s public transport system at Grovedale last month. The changes have sparked complaints across the city, with passengers complaining of long walks to bus stops and extended travel times compared to the previous regime.
Mr Ramsay said the voices of the 200-plus people who attended both forums must be heard.
“The (state) government have got to get this right. There are too many voices saying it’s not working for them to ignore it.”
Mr Ramsay said the regional rail link also needed attention.
A rail tunnel restricting the line between Geelong and South Geelong stations to single track was now a significant bottleneck, he said.
“It needs another line. There needs to be a feasibility study to see what solutions there are to putting in an extra track.
“If the government really wants people to move into regional communities as part of the decentralisation of Melbourne they need to look at situations like this.
“There needs to be a discussion between the federal and state governments about joint funding arrangements to do something about that tunnel.”
