General News
8 November, 2023
MP slams performance as upgrades continue
MEMBER for South West Coast Roma Britnell has slammed the state of rail services on the Warrnambool line as punctuality performance continues to fall short. V/Line’s monthly punctuality performance results have yet to reach performance targets...
MEMBER for South West Coast Roma Britnell has slammed the state of rail services on the Warrnambool line as punctuality performance continues to fall short.
V/Line’s monthly punctuality performance results have yet to reach performance targets throughout the year, which V/Line has attributed to ongoing works as part of upgrades as part of Stage Two of the Warrnambool line upgrade.
The upgrades will allow for VLocity trains to run on the line for the first time, but a number of issues ranging from COVID-19 restrictions and flooding have impacted progression of works.
Last month Western District Newspapers reported trains were slowed down during their journey to ensure worker safety on the line.
Punctuality performance is defined on long-distance travel as commuter services being recorded as on time within 10 minutes and 59 seconds.
Services on the line have yet to reach the punctuality target of 92 per cent in 2023, which was last reached in November 2022.
Punctuality reached lows in the past two months with 66.5 per cent result in July, a 48 per cent result in August and a 51.2 per cent result in September.
Ms Britnell said the results had been shameful.
“The punctuality figures for V/Line’s Warrnambool line are shamefully low, with just over half arriving on schedule,” she said.
“South West Coast residents are not able to rely on the V/Line services they need to attend their medical appointments, family commitments and important events.
“It is simply unacceptable that half the time you catch a train in Warrnambool you will be failed by Labor’s train service.
“This impacts connecting journeys, including onwards buses or trains at either end of a passenger’s trip.”
Ms Britnell also criticised the timeline for delivery of VLocity trains on the Warrnambool line, which were first promised in 2017.
“They are still not here, and the current ageing fleet is breaking down as a result,” she said.
“The trains are old, broken and belong on a scrap metal heap, not the Warrnambool Line.
“We want to encourage public transport usage, but how can anyone be confident to book a train when half the time it will be delayed, and there is a good chance it won’t run at all.”
Ms Britnell said she would continue to fight for new, modern trains until they are delivered.
“Our community, and regional Victorians more broadly, deserve a government that looks beyond Melbourne and supports modern public transport for our growing regional communities,” she said.