By Alesha Capone
The state opposition has labelled Metro’s performance on the Werribee train line for September as “shocking”.
Speaking in state parliament last month, opposition Public Transport spokesman David Davis said the punctuality rate on the Werribee line was 86.6 per cent during September.
According to statistics from Metro, this means 4505 trains out of 5334 Werribee services arrived on time during the month (compared to a punctuality rate of 91.3 per cent during September last year, in which 4723 out of 5245 Werribee trains arrived on time).
In September this year, the only train lines with worse punctuality rates than Werribee were the Frankston line, on 83.2 per cent, the Cranbourne line, on 84.5 per cent, and the Pakenham line, on 85.3 per cent.
The Glen Waverley line recorded the best punctuality of 97.1 per cent.
A total of 59 trains were cancelled on the Werribee line in September, while 42 ran short (less carriages than usual) and 47 bypassed some stations.
Mr Davis said that in September, 10 of the 16 Melbourne train lines did not meet their performance targets. Train operator Metro issued a statement which said they were working with the Department of Transport to improve reliability.
“In September, track, signalling and electrical upgrades, tree clearing, graffiti removal and bridge maintenance works were carried out across the network, including on the Frankston, Sandringham, Belgrave, Lilydale, Mernda, Hurstbridge, Craigieburn and Upfield lines,” the statement said.
There was also more than 320 incidents involving police operations, trespassers and near misses in September, which delayed a total of 955 trains. Of these, 160 incidents involved people illegally walking on the rail line.
Department of Transport head of transport services, Jeroen Weimar, said: “Metro Trains is expected to deliver a train service that Melburnians can rely on and there were a number of times during September that did not happen. “Metro needs to continue to work hard to improve its performance.”
