Hundreds of trains cancelled

THE Geelong train line has had 385 services cancelled in the first three months of this year.

The number of cancelled services on the Geelong line from January to March was 23 per cent higher than the number cancelled over the same period last year, new data shows.

Figures show commuters were hardest hit in January, when 228 trains were cancelled, compared to 101 cancellations in January 2017. During February and March a combined 157 services cancelled.

According to the data, 97.5 per cent of all scheduled Geelong line services ran in March, and 88.2 per cent of the services arrived and left on time.

V/Line’s overall punctuality for March was 81.7 per cent, which, despite being higher than the same month in 2017, was still below the target of 92 per cent and significantly below Metro’s performance.

“V/Line faced some challenges during March with fires in the state’s southwest and disruptions in the east due to important upgrade works,” acting chief executive officer Mark Fedda said.

“Despite this, they were able to deliver better reliability on a number of lines and punctuality on the Geelong line was at its highest since November last year.”

V/Line cited the additional time trains were required to stop at stations to allow passengers to board and depart, train faults and unruly passengers as the main reason for delays to the Geelong line services.

In March, 33 trains were altered or cancelled due to staff sickness, including 11 on March 26.