TWO trains a day on average were cancelled in July as V/Line once again failed to meet its punctuality targets on the Ballarat line.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While there was a slight improvement in V/Line performance figures throughout the month - up to 85.9 per cent from 82.5 per cent in June - the Ballarat line is still falling a long way below its punctuality targets of 92 per cent.
V/Line said that the on time figures had jumped to its highest figures in eight months while 96.2 per cent of services were delivered for the month which exceeds the 96 per cent target.
Despite this, there were still 63 trains cancelled during the month, up from 37 in June.
V/Line chief executive James Pinder said he was pleased with lift in trends.
“This is the third consecutive month of improvements in punctuality for this line, but we acknowledge that more still needs to be done,” he said.
“We want to ensure this improvement continues and have been working hard to improve overall performance for our passengers.”
Mr Pinder said the main reasons for delays to Ballarat services in July were trains stopping at stations longer than scheduled and train faults.
Other comparable lines across the state also saw a lift in punctuality with Geelong recording a 90.5 per cent result (up from 87.7 per cent), Bendigo 85 per cent (up from 80 per cent) and Ararat-Maryborough 83.1 per cent (up from 76.4 per cent).
The figures come as passengers are reminded that construction on the Ballarat line will ramp up later this month with coaches to replace all trains between Wendouree and Southern Cross on August 25 and 26.
Ararat and Maryborough trains will continue to run to and from Ballarat, connecting with coaches to and from Southern Cross.
Passengers are urged to plan ahead for the weekend and allow 45 minutes’ extra travel time.
When complete, the project will deliver much needed extra peak services, plus a train every 40 minutes off- peak for Ballarat.
Across the V/Line network, on-time performance increased almost three percent to an average of 85.9 per cent in July. Performance results are available at ptv.vic.gov.au/performance
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.