Station plan lights flicker

By Casey Neill
POOR lighting at Lilydale Railway Station will be improved in “the near future”, according to the Transport Department.
But station users, transport advocates and Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe say the dangerous situation should be fixed immediately.
Jane Poston catches the train to work from Lilydale station five days a week.
She contacted Mrs Fyffe because poor lighting has made her scared.
Mrs Fyffe wrote to Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula on 30 April regarding what she described as “poor lighting”.
“The minister responded on 21 June, saying the lighting was below standard and it would be rectified,” she said.
But when Ms Poston called Mr Pakula’s office for a progress report, staff told her it could take up to a year for anything to be done. “The constituent told the employee who answered that this was not good enough, especially in an election year,” Mrs Fyffe said.
“The minister’s employee said it did not matter to him who she voted for and that it would happen when it happened.”
Mrs Fyffe said 12 months was “a very long time for an issue as straightforward as lighting”.
“It is completely negligent on the part of the present State Government as it shows complete disregard for commuter safety,” she said.
“When it is dark and visibility is poor, there is increased risk of people tripping and having accidents, which is dangerous on a platform with trains coming and going.”
Eastern Transport Coalition chairwoman Samantha Dunn was disappointed with the lights delay.
“I would have thought it was a pretty easy thing to fix,” she said. “What’s the hold up?”
A Transport Department spokeswoman said they recently replaced several ‘blown’ light globes at Lilydale Station following an inspection.
“Nonetheless, the department is working together with the rail operator to see how lighting at the station can be improved,” she said.
“We hope to soon confirm a time frame for works.”