Australian Greens: Greens to double the number of accessible tram stops

The Victorian Greens have announced their plan to upgrade tram stops and train stations to make public transport accessible to all including disabled people.

The Victorian Greens will double the number of accessible tram stops across Melbourne, bringing the percentage of accessible stops across the tram network to over 55 per cent.

Currently only 28 per cent of Melbourne’s tram stops are fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. The state government has failed to meet the legislated requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act to upgrade all tram stops by the end of 2022. 

At the current rate Melbourne’s tram network won’t be fully accessible until 2066. 

The Greens will accelerate the upgrade of tram stops to ensure that Melbourne has a fully accessible tram network with level access stops across the entire network.

We will prioritise the following tram routes to ensure level access stops the entire length.

• Route 6
• Route 19
• Route 57
• Route 58
• Route 59
• Route 78
• Route 86

The Greens will upgrade the following train stations to ensure they are DDA compliant and improve access and amenity for commuters.

• South Yarra Station – further upgrades
• Windsor Station
• Richmond Station
• South Kensington Station
• Caulfield 
• Jacana

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens transport spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP: 

“It is unacceptable that at the current rate Melbourne’s tram network won’t be fully accessible until 2066. 

“Our public transport network should be accessible for everyone yet many are locked out of accessing our trains and trams.

“The Greens will double the number of accessible tram stops across the tram network.

“Upgrading our tram stops and train stations will improve access for people with a disability, the elderly and parents with prams.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Richmond candidate, Gabrielle de Vietri:  

“Public transport should be accessible for everyone.

“Yet so many of our train stations and tram stops are difficult to access – including in the seat of Richmond. I know as a parent that getting kids onto tram 78 can be a real struggle, stepping out onto a main road and lifting a pram up onto the tram. For disabled and elderly people, the barriers can be prohibitive.  

“Not only has the state government failed to meet its legislated timelines, they haven’t even tried.

“With more Greens in the next Parliament we can push for a fully accessible public transport network so that people with mobility issues can more easily get around.”