Overcrowding on Melbourne’s trains increased this year, despite the recent completion of a project to take out seats and make more standing room.

There was also significantly more peak-hour overcrowding on trams, even as about a dozen more high-capacity E-class trams entered service, in another sign the city’s public transport system is struggling to keep up with rapid population growth.

A packed train to Geelong. Credit:Joe Armao

Multiple metropolitan rail lines experienced an increase in peak-hour overcrowding this year, with the South Morang, Hurstbridge and Frankston lines among those that had the biggest jump.

The South Morang line has since been extended by eight kilometres to Mernda, adding thousands more passengers a day.