EARLY indications suggest the new V/Line timetable has made a dramatic improvement to punctuality on the Ballarat line.
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Data obtained from V/Line on Friday showed that only 15 out of 189 train services between Sunday and early Friday on the Ballarat line did not reach their destination ‘on time’.
V/Line’s punctuality goal is to have 92 per cent of trains reach their destination on time or within six minutes of scheduling, but it has not been met once under the new Regional Rail Link system.
At the time of print services were running at just over 92 per cent on time, with 96 per cent of trains arriving within 10 minutes of scheduling.
While the trend is subject to change as the month rolls on, the early signs are good for Ballarat commuters.
The timetable was originally planned to come into effect on January 31 but delayed as V/Line dealt with a chronic wheel-wear problem caused by a tightly curled section of RRL track on the North Melbourne flyover.
The new timetable features an adjustment to scheduling at the Deer Park west junction which will help prevent clashes to Melbourne-bound services from Geelong.
“The adjusted V/Line timetable, which began on Sunday, June 26, has so far made an improvement to the on time running of services on the Ballarat line,” a V/Line spokesperson said.
“The minor adjustments to the timetable focus on making alterations to accommodate V/Line’s rapid patronage growth. Initial reports from customers suggest they are pleased with the punctuality improvement they’ve experienced as a direct result of the timetable.”
Despite the improvement, V/Line will have another stop to deal with when the Caroline Springs Station is opened early next year.
The station will accommodate hundreds and possibly thousands of commuters in the western growth zone.
The state government is yet to reveal if trains from Ballarat will service the station, or it will run as part of Bacchus Marsh to Melbourne services.