General News
25 April, 2024
Historic number of travellers see improved performance
THE Warrnambool Line hosted its busiest month on record in March, coinciding with the line’s best monthly reliability performance result since 2023.
V/Line achieved a reliability result of 97.2 per cent of services running as scheduled on the line last month, the highest result since November last year.
March was the busiest month on record for travel on the Warrnambool Line, with more than 52,000 passenger trips taken.
This included almost 10,000 trips across the Easter holiday period.
The line recorded a punctuality result of 64 per cent, with a temporary timetable in place to assist passengers with planning their journey while critical works progress along the line.
A V/Line spokesperson said the result was a step in the right direction at a time when passenger numbers have surged since the Victorian Government implemented its cap on regional fares.
“The Warrnambool Line recorded its highest reliability result this year and comes as the line experienced its busiest month on record, with more than 52,000 passenger trips taken in March,” the spokesperson said.
“Since the introduction of the regional fare cap, the Warrnambool Line has recorded more than 519,000 passenger trips as increasingly more passengers take advantage of reduced fares.
“While crews continue to deliver critical upgrades on the Warrnambool Line, we encourage passengers to check the temporary timetable to help plan their journey.”
Work as part of Stage two of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade continues, which will enable VLocity trains to run to and from Warrnambool for the first time.
To date, works have included new train detection technology and safety improvements at more than 50 level crossings.
Track Force Protection and temporary speed restrictions, which is halting punctuality, remain in place along sections of the line to ensure the safety of workers, while allowing trains to run at the same time.
A temporary train timetable for the Warrnambool Line will continue until Friday, May 31 while works progress.
Weekday trains to the city are departing up to six minutes earlier from Warrnambool, Sherwood Park and Terang stations.
Weekday trains from Southern Cross to Warrnambool will arrive approximately six minutes later.
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