Aussies have blasted the state of public transport after Anthony Albanese encouraged residents to use it to combat the country’s fuel crisis.Â
In his national address last week, Albanese urged everyone to catch the train, bus or tram to work to conserve fuel so those who needed it most, such as farmers or workers in critical industries, could still have access to it at the petrol station.Â
The public plea came alongside initiatives in states such as Victoria and Tasmania to offer free fares, leading to chaotic scenes as massive crowds swarmed stations.Â
Sydney resident Brock Valesini claimed every city train he has been on in the past week has been ‘packed to the brim’.
He singled out the Prime Minister, explaining just how bad the experience is now when riding trains into Sydney’s CBD.Â
‘Anthony Albanese, listen here. If you don’t do something about these fuel prices, I’m going to do something about them,’ Mr Valesini said.
‘This morning, I get on the train and I’m sitting on the two-seater side. After about eight stops somebody gets on and literally sat on the side of my leg.
‘They didn’t even make a fuss about the fact they were on top of me.’
Brock Valesini blamed Anthony Albanese for his recent train experiencesÂ
Free public transport in Melbourne has meant trains have been crammed in recent weeksÂ
Many social media users agreed with his complaints.Â
‘I can’t even get a park at my train station any more,’ one said.
‘I work in community aged care and I would love to see him (Albanese) try and use public transport to get to all these people’s homes I service,’ another added.
‘Brisbane trains are already busy most of the time. My morning train ride is always packed after a few stops,’ a third said.
Melburnian Ruby Doyle said she uses public transport for work and on weekends, and claimed the government hadn’t taken into account what the influx of new passengers would do to the network.Â
She also experienced similar issues as Mr Valesini with behaviour on public transport.Â
‘It’s actually wild and no one knows how to act,’ she said.
‘Someone teach these people who usually drive how to behave on public transport. They seriously need some etiquette.’Â
Aussies are having to put up with packed trains and platformsÂ
Aussies in capital cities around the country are putting up with packed trains
In Victoria, no additional services have been scheduled, with Premier Jacinta Allan stating she would monitor passenger numbers to see if more services were needed.Â
Many Aussies around the country pointed out the trains were already full during peak hours and have now become unbearable to ride in.
A Transport for NSW spokesman told news.com.au the prospect of expanding services was being considered.
‘All public transport modes are currently developing plans to examine the possibility of increasing capacity, should it be required in the future,’ he said.
Despite the complaints, the NSW Opal facilitated public transport network recorded just a 1.5 per cent year-on-year increase from March 30.
Hussein Dia, Professor of Transport Technology and Sustainability at Swinburne University of Technology, said public transport networks in NSW and Victoria were not built to ‘absorb a sudden and sustained surge in demand across the network’.
Last week, Albanese announced a 50 per cent reduction in the fuel excise for three months, cutting the cost of petrol by 26.3 cents a litre.
He asked Aussies to ‘switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work’ if they can.
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Aussies lose it as crowds swarm train stations after Anthony Albanese issued plea to use public transport to combat fuel crisis