Melbourne's new West Tarneit station already bursting after one month
West Tarneit station's 400 car parks filled by 8am, forcing commuters to arrive 40 minutes early.
Melbourne's newest train station, West Tarneit, opened last month but is already running out of space. The station launched with 400 car parking spots.
The ABC found the car park full by 8am during school holidays, when fewer people usually commute. Commuter Dershan Vyas said he arrived about 40 minutes earlier than normal just to find a spot.
Commuter Abdul Majid walks more than a kilometre to reach the station. When he arrives, he can wait up to 30 minutes for the bus.
The government has announced new bus routes. It says land north of the station has been set aside for more parking, but developers must build access roads first.
Transport experts say better bus connections matter more than adding more car parks in growth areas. Wyndham's population is expected to reach 500,000 by 2050, putting pressure on existing infrastructure.
- 400
- Car parking spaces
- 40 minutes
- Early arrival time
- up to 30 minutes
- Bus wait time
- 500,000
- Expected Wyndham population by 2050
Why it mattersThe station's quick overcrowding reveals how poorly planned infrastructure can be in fast-growing areas, affecting commuters' daily travel and frustrating an already stretched system.
AustraliaMelbourne commuters in the outer west face longer waits and earlier departures; planners may reconsider how to handle growth in sprawling suburbs.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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