Media release: Second train station protest planned as communities escalate for bus reform in Melbourne’s west
On Wednesday 11th December at 5pm, local residents from Tarneit and surrounding suburbs will gather at Tarneit train station to protest the lack of buses in the area. After petitioning their local MPs and receiving no commitments to improve bus services, residents have decided they must take to the streets.
“The West needs better buses to address inadequate public transport options, reduce traffic congestion, and ensure equitable access for fast growing communities” said protest organiser and local Tarneit resident, Rifai Raheem “We urge the government to action bus reform which was promised and to increase funding, and ensure frequent, reliable, and accessible public transport for the Western suburbs.”
Residents say they are tired of not having access to buses that they can rely on, with commuters often subject to long wait times, safety concerns, slow journeys, and poor connectivity with other public transport services.
“I'm forced to drive to the station and park in the surrounding streets due to the lack of regular buses when coming home, and later once buses stop I have safety concerns as an older woman” says Hoppers Crossing resident, Delwyn Ogden “Waiting up to 40 mins for a bus or missing the last bus around 9pm leaving no public transport options to get home”
Forced car dependency has become a huge issue for many, with the excessive costs of car ownership placing a huge financial burden on families who are already struggling to pay their rent, or for home ownership, during a cost of living crisis.
Saajidh Zizam, a local resident of Tarneit, said that “Currently, when I attempt to use the buses to get home, the door-to-door travel time increases by at least 35 to 50 minutes, which is exhausting after a long workday. Buses rarely run through my neighborhood, and this inconsistency makes public transport less viable as an option” and that, “Unfortunately, this has made me dependent on my wife for drop-offs and pick-ups from the station. This arrangement has become increasingly burdensome for her, as she works full-time and also manages to pick up our children from childcare.”
This action follows a similar protest held at Williams Landing station in October. Venkat Ram Upparlapalle who attended the protest after signing a pledge to support better buses whilst running in the Wyndham council local election said that “When I door-knocked as part of my councillor campaign recently, many people raised concerns about the bus services in the Tarneit area. For many in our community, this lack of reliable transport means missed opportunities—whether it’s for work, school, or even accessing basic services. It’s frustrating to see such neglect in a growing region like ours.”
Momentum for the campaign has grown rapidly as communities become increasingly frustrated with the lack of reliable public transport. Elyse Cunningham, Coordinator of the Better Buses campaign said that “This protest is the second in a series of coordinated actions that will be happening across the West in the lead up to the next budget, and we hope that local MPs will be turn up to support local residents and urge the Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams MP and the treasurer Tim Pallas MP to ensure that a significant contribution to bus reform is funded in the next state budget.”
The protest will take place at 5pm on Wednesday 11th December at Tarneit train station. State MPs have been invited to attend and support their constituents, with the protest organisers expecting a large crowd to attend.
About us:
We are a grassroots community campaign for better buses in the western suburbs. This protest is led by Tarneit Transport Action Group with the support of the Sustainable Cities collective at Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Contact details:
Rifai Raheem - Protest Organiser, Tarneit Transport Action Group: 0430 334 388
Elyse Cunningham - Better Buses campaign coordinator, Friends of the Earth Melbourne: 0421 559 343