DESPITE having no trains for six days on the Ballarat line during October, V/Line's punctuality report for the month has barely added a ripple to its September figures.
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With commuters now enduring a three week stoppage, and also having recently put up with a stoppage from October 19-24, it could be expected that V/Line's punctuality and reliability figures would have shown a sharp increase in October.
But punctuality, which takes in trains departing within five minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled time came in at just 86.9 per cent, only a slight improvement on the September figures.
In a further blow, reliability on the Ballarat line failed to meet V/Line's targeted 96 per cent throughout the month, coming in at 95.6 per cent.
Department of Transport Head of Transport Services Jeroen Weimar said the regional operator's punctuality remained consistent at 87 per cent, despite a number of unrelated incidents in busy parts of the network late in the month.
He said copper wire theft and people entering the rail corridor also impacted the regional operator's performance.
"In November work is continuing on the Ballarat Line Upgrade and we thank passengers for their patience," he said.
"This is the last phase of work before we open the new Cobblebank station and introduce new services for passengers in Melton, Rockbank, Caroline Springs and Deer Park."
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