V/Line misses punctuality targets yet again

RAIL operator V/Line has again missed its own punctuality target on the Geelong line, failing for the 35th time in the past 38 months.

V/Line data shows 89.4 per cent of Geelong line trains ran on time in October, 2.6 per below its 92 per cent target.

The target allows trains to run up to five minutes 59 seconds late and still be considered on time.

V/Line CEO James Pinder said more than $2 million was spent to maintain the line in October and lift performance.

“As more people choose to get to where they need to go using V/Line, dwell times at stations is increasing as people board and depart services,” Mr Pinder said.

He said punctuality on the Geelong line in October was above the 12-month 86.7 per cent average.

Trips on the Geelong line made up about 44 per cent of those taken across the regional network last year and patronage on the line has risen 95.7 per cent between 2012 and June 30 this year.

More than 680,000 passenger trips were recorded on the Geelong line in September.

He said another 39 VLocity carriages have been ordered for the regional network.

Last month Mr Pinder said for the first time nine-carriage trains on the Geelong line are a possibility.

Potential for a mega-train carrying more than 660 passengers comes after calls from commuters and rail experts to reduce peak-time overcrowding on the line.

Mr Pinder said a nine-carriage train was possible but it was not a priority.

He said V/Line’s priority is bolstering its fleet from three to six-carriage trains.

The Geelong Advertiser understands platforms at Geelong station are long enough for nine-carriage trains.

Platforms at smaller stations would need to be extended for Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross train.