Free phone chargers at CBD stations

By Matt Harvey

Train riders in the CBD and inner-city stations will be able to use their down-time between trains to take advantage of new phone charging units installed in stations across Melbourne.

The units can be found in non-ticketed areas at Flinders Street, Flagstaff, Parliament, Richmond, North Melbourne, South Yarra and Southern Cross Stations, and within the ticketed area of Melbourne Central.

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said the units would be accessible not just to train users, but to all city goers. 

“The charging units in seven of the stations will be in public, non-ticketed areas meaning both train commuters and those out and about in the city will be able to stay connected for longer while on the go,” Mr Carroll said. 

Coming at a cost of $350,000, the project provides nine mobile phone charging units across the eight CBD stations (two at Southern Cross) offering 172 charging points.

Ranging from having eight charging points, to 12 points, and 24 points, the charging units look similar to small lockers and are similar to the pay-for-use charging stations in shopping centres and airports, but are free to use.

They enable people to stay connected with family, friends, and work as they go about their daily travel.

And when interstate and international travel opens up again it will assist tourists who often rely on their smartphones for information and directions.

The charging units are regularly sanitised as part of a comprehensive cleaning program across the public transport network, which focuses on high touch surfaces and hand sanitiser units are also installed at CBD stations.

The units all contain multiple chargers and have the capacity to charge various smartphones including iOS and Android devices •