BALLARAT line trains have failed to meet a single monthly performance standard for punctuality this year.
While the latest V/Line figures, for March, reveal an increase in total trains on time during January (81.4 per cent), February (82.7 per cent) and March (89 per cent), each result was below the 92 per cent benchmark.
Ballarat line trains achieved the benchmark only three times to March last year.
Melton commuter Sandra Belmar, who travels to the CBD each morning for work, said she was frustrated by regular delays and cancellations.
She said her son missed a university exam in Ballarat due to a last-minute cancellation of the 7.01am service last Monday.
“We were told he could either accept being penalised for non-attendance or get a letter of confirmation from V/Line,” she said. “It really angers me. My train is either delayed or cancelled up to three times a month. V/Line never provides an explanation why. We just get an apology.”
A V/Line spokesman said the 7.39am Melton to Melbourne service Ms Belmar usually took had not been cancelled during the first three months of the year.
“This is not an unreliable service,” he said.
“The introduction of a 7.42 service from Melton in the last timetable change has . . . helped to significantly reduce overcrowding that was occurring on trains around this time.”
The spokesman said V/Line would give the family a letter of explanation.
