Only 88.3 per cent of services during March reached the goal of arriving within six minutes of the scheduled time. 

The goal for punctuality is to have 92 per cent of trains arrive within this time frame 

However, in better news for the rail operator, it met its reliability target by having 97.3 per cent of trains run. 

The goal for reliability is to have 96 per cent of services run.

Public Transport Users Association regional spokesperson Paul Westcott said the figures did tend to bounce around, however, Ballarat was unique in the fact the single track was causing most of the problems. 

“What we do know is that the Ballarat line hasn’t changed in some time,” he said. 

“Any train not running on schedule immediately causes problems for other trains.”

Due to limited passing loops, trains are often forced to wait in these loops for other delayed trains to pass through. 

“It is disappointing this government is not committing to a measured, regular program for duplication,” Mr Westcott said. 

He said the problem was worse than it seemed, with trains arriving five minutes late considered to have arrived on time. 

V/Line posted similar results for the first two months of the year, also failing to reach the goal. 

The train service has continued to fail to meet punctuality goals, with services only recording positive results for two months last year. 

The Courier has previously reported on problems with the train line, with the timetabled service increasing from 61 minutes in 2006 to 74 minutes currently for the popular 9am arrival in Melbourne. 

Bendigo, Geelong and Seymour train services also failed to meet the goal.