METRO is slashing more than a dozen seats per carriage from its oldest fleet of trains — a project that will leave almost half its passengers standing on an average peak service.

Metro spokeswoman Larisa Tait said about 15 seats for each carriage were being taken out of all Comeng models and being replaced with handrails.

This would leave about 444 seats in each six-car train — enough for just over half of a train’s average 800-passenger capacity, Ms Tait said.

The older-generation trains make up more than a third of Metro’s entire fleet and are used across all lines.

Metro is going too far with these cuts.  You don't see other operators around Australia taking seats out of the network at the rate Metro area.

Having ridden on a Comeng with the new layout, I actually rather like it. Catching the train last night, there are plenty of people who stand no matter how many seats there are, and in this layout there's space for them and others to actually get in and out. All it needs are rails in the middle of the centre space

If your train journey is for the full length of the line and you don't get a seat, chances are there will be some by about half way through. Therefore everyone gets a seat for the same amount of time.

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Metro is going too far with these cuts.  You don't see other operators around Australia taking seats out of the network at the rate Metro area.

Yeah they sort of have.

Qld has done it by stealth removing seats in one car of IMU's where the middle section is now North south fold down seating under the guise of wheel chairs, but same effect. Newer sets in NSW on interurban no longer have East- West seating having changed to North South. The new NWRL will have same.

Its very common for suburban operators to have wider open standing areas especially at the car ends. Melbourne has a capacity crisis and Comeng's are an old design in a congested world. No major capital solutions can be done now or quickly, so common sense really.

In a pre-election promise (two elections ago), the previous government said it would introduce new technology / high capacity trains during its term.  It ended up buying more of the same.

The design approach was to make six car trains, but without the two intermediate drivers cabins that are in the current 2 x 3 car sets.  Another option was to run nine car sets with lengthened platforms on selected lines.  This was to be able to run more capacity between the city and Dandenong before the grade separations were completed. The limiting factor to capacity was that the government did not want to run more trains per hour as the booms were down about 40 minutes in the peak hour currently and it would be electorally unpalatable to increase this.

What has happened to the design and when will get released for tenders ?  The Comengs cannot last forerver, especially given that the electrical components are getting very hard to source.

What has happened to the design and when will get released for tenders ?  The Comengs cannot last forerver, especially given that the electrical components are getting very hard to source.

Development Hell. Next Generation Trains wasn't going to come into service quick enough, so procurement was delayed in favour of buying more of existing stock. Both Siemens and Alstom tendered - Alstom won, so Metro bought more Xtraps. Then along came the Dandenong Corridor project, which promised to buy 25 new trains that would've probably ended up being similar in spec to the Next Generation Train specification. Now that project is also on hold (pending cancellation, I would hope), so we might be going back to ordering Next Generation Trains at this coming State Budget.

What gets me is that the spin doctors for both parties have started using the term "high capacity trains" and the public seem to like the idea.

Now you don't have to very bright to work out that "high capacity trains" really means "less seats". Just look at the E class trams where 40% of the interior is seatless standing room. Yet the political spin doctors continue to use the term, presumably because it hasn't dawned on the voting public that this means they will be standing up rather than sitting down when they travel on the new trains.

Pulling seats out of the Comeng trains is just the start.

I predict that a similar article will appear in the NSW Liberal Newsletter, more commonly known as the Daily Telegraph for the NSW, version.

In a pre-election promise (two elections ago), the previous government said it would introduce new technology / high capacity trains during its term.  It ended up buying more of the same.

The design approach was to make six car trains, but without the two intermediate drivers cabins that are in the current 2 x 3 car sets.  Another option was to run nine car sets with lengthened platforms on selected lines.  This was to be able to run more capacity between the city and Dandenong before the grade separations were completed. The limiting factor to capacity was that the government did not want to run more trains per hour as the booms were down about 40 minutes in the peak hour currently and it would be electorally unpalatable to increase this.

What has happened to the design and when will get released for tenders ?  The Comengs cannot last forerver, especially given that the electrical components are getting very hard to source.

3 car sets are old hat now as the systems are getting too busy to justify and at night they still drive around 6 car length anyway with just 3 cars lights off and doors locked. Qld is moving to fixed 6 car sets and NSW has gone to fixed 8 car sets. Save all that money on two extra drivers cabs, coupling etc and get some extra space for the cattle.

Longer trains have minimal impact on boom gate time, more trains do however add more time. Melbourne needs to remove LX's and not have its public transport system controlled and reduced safety by such outdated technology.

What gets me is that the spin doctors for both parties have started using the term "high capacity trains" and the public seem to like the idea.

Now you don't have to very bright to work out that "high capacity trains" really means "less seats". Just look at the E class trams where 40% of the interior is seatless standing room. Yet the political spin doctors continue to use the term, presumably because it hasn't dawned on the voting public that this means they will be standing up rather than sitting down when they travel on the new trains.

Pulling seats out of the Comeng trains is just the start.

Agreed. The Comeng Trains will need to be replaced soon and I reckon the Government will just Order more low spec obsolete XTraps with less seating.

Michael

Bloody whingers you lot, of course the Guv of the day is going to order more X'traps, I suppose you want them to order 30 year old type Commie trains or the Dinosaur Hitachii's, you should all get real and stop W"""""""""g .............   A whole new modern fleet is required with the latest technology..................

Bloody whingers you lot, of course the Guv of the day is going to order more X'traps, I suppose you want them to order 30 year old type Commie trains or the Dinosaur Hitachii's, you should all get real and stop W"""""""""g .............   A whole new modern fleet is required with the latest technology..................

@Trainbrain

I want modern trains too, never have i said I want Hitachis and Comeng's still running, as I have mentioned earlier if you think that low spec obsolete XTrapolis Trains with its Coil spring suspension is a modern train with the latest technology, well it is no wonder Melbourne's Commuter Rail is the basket case it is. A Train so popular Alstom dont make them anymore and the only other place that runs them is Valpariso in Chile, heard of that metro? Didnt think so.

Yes I want modern trains, from Siemens (not that cheap crap used on Caulfield and Northern Groups) or Bombardier. Why cant we piggy back on the SA, WA and QLD orders from Dandenong or Maryborough instead of cheap crap from Poland.


Michael

I was unfortunate enough to encounter a Comeng with the reduced seating this morning. It was an Alstom trailer car but the end result of what has been done seems to be the removal of all the seats previously designated for the aged, disabled, infirm, (whatever) with absolutely no replacement seats identified. Not sure what the M cars configuration looked like.
Bit like when they removed all the seats on some of the platforms at Flinders Street.

Melbourne has a capacity crisis and Comeng's are an old design in a congested world. No major capital solutions can be done now or quickly, so common sense really.

Comengs were designed and built when the train network was static and annual numbers were the same - I'm not sure if they could have anticipated a quadrupling of annual numbers (although maybe they should have!).

Anyway, it's just another band-aid solution... rip more seats out of older rolling-stock so you can squeeze more in.

I was unfortunate enough to encounter a Comeng with the reduced seating this morning. It was an Alstom trailer car but the end result of what has been done seems to be the removal of all the seats previously designated for the aged, disabled, infirm, (whatever) with absolutely no replacement seats identified. Not sure what the M cars configuration looked like.
Bit like when they removed all the seats on some of the platforms at Flinders Street.

Apparently Metro have just run out of the stickers to identify them as the on-request priority seats.

I think they should use different coloured fabrics like on Trams, where the priority seats are orange as opposed to the regular green. On trains they could be yellow or orange to differentiate them from the regular blue seating.

Apparently Metro have just run out of the stickers to identify them as the on-request priority seats.

I think they should use different coloured fabrics like on Trams, where the priority seats are orange as opposed to the regular green. On trains they could be yellow or orange to differentiate them from the regular blue seating.

Bl00dy typical one would expect nothing less. Stickers or not the remaining seats will be virtually inaccessible to anyone who is in any way mobility impaired.

Don't worry, as there is more standing room even more bike riders will now go to the first door so there will be more room for everyone else in the 17 other doors.