HUNDREDS of Melton and Moorabool commuters were left frustrated last month when more than 100 trains on the Ballarat line failed to reach stations before scheduled times.
V/Line figures show 132 Ballarat line trains were delayed last month, with only 87.3 per cent of services arriving within the required five minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled time.
V/Line’s punctuality target is 92 per cent, but trains headed towards Melton have not met this since September. In January, 81.9 per cent of trains were on time. Punctuality in February last year was 84.9 per cent.
Melton resident Daniel Winkler said delays were a continuing problem.
Adding to the frustration, trains were often cancelled.
“My friend quite often stays over at the weekend and goes to work on the Monday via train from Melton,” he said.
“Twice within three weeks the 8.28am service, which is pretty much the peak hour train, was cancelled without notification. He got the next train that took an hour and 10 minutes to get into the city because it stopped out in Sunshine because of a bottleneck at Southern Cross station.
“People say they don’t bother with the trains because it’s too unreliable and that puts extra traffic on the road. It’s a nightmare.”
Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said commuters regularly complained of late trains.
“Disruptions and constant delays to travellers harm those using the service, especially students and workers trying to arrive at work on time.”
V/Line spokesman James Kelly said 38 per cent of the 132 delayed trains were due to metropolitan congestion.
He said some commuters were eligible for free tickets as compensation.
“It’s fair to say there have been a number of incidents outside the direct control of V/Line that have adversely impacted service punctuality and we understand commuter frustration in this regard.”
Mr Kelly said the Regional Rail Link project would help address congestion, with dedicated tracks for Ballarat trains from Sunshine to Southern Cross.
