Stops hit journeys
Late train problems
STOPPING longer than scheduled at Geelong line stations is accounting for more than a third of V/Line delays and the Public Transport Users Association was warned it could get worse without significant service improvements.
V/Line data provided to the Geelong Advertiser shows 34 per cent of delayed services “dwell” longer than scheduled as passengers clamour for places on crowded trains.
Other reasons for delays included service delivery delays and congestion (15 per cent), animal strikes, ill passengers and trespassers (14 per cent), train faults (14 per cent) and signal faults.
PTUA convener Paul Westcott said with more stops being added to the Regional Rail Link corridor, the delays would only snowball.
“It’s clearly a problem with the overcrowding we experience,” Mr Westcott said.
“Obviously what needs to be done is we need to get the Regional Rail Link completed the way it was supposed to be and get trains electrified to Tarneit and Wyndham Vale, and build extra tracks.
“There are three extra stations planned for the Regional Rail Link, location identified and money set aside, so if they do go ahead and things don’t change, the problems from Geelong would be even worse.”
V/Line chief executive James Pinder said his team was working with the Government to improve performance.
“There are many factors that can cause delays and our aim is to keep improving how we respond,” Mr Pinder said.
Meanwhile, it has been a torrid week for Geelong commuters, who have been hit with 35 major service changes since Sunday, including 14 not running, 10 terminating or originating at other locations than schedule, and three reduced capacity. GEELONG Flower Farm’s bottom line will be blooming on the back of new initiatives to support small business.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson and Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, Kelly O’Dwyer, met owner Glen Butteriss yesterday to discuss a newly announced $5000 boost to the Federal Government instant asset write-off scheme, which has been extended for 12 months.
Geelong Flower Farm owner Glen Butteriss said being able to write off up to $25,000 of equipment gave him an incentive to upgrade and improve efficiency.
“We need new spray equipment for our chemicals to spray the crops on the farm and new flower displays and racks, which we’ve been planning, but we’ll able to go ahead and do that now,” he said. “Any little help you can get in small business always helps.”
Ms Henderson and Ms O’Dwyer, who is also Minister for Women, also visited Bright Minds Early Learning in Bannockburn for a morning tea with parents to discuss new flexible paid parental leave measure.
Parents of children born and adopted on or after July 1, 2020 will be eligible to split their Parental Leave Pay period into two blocks in an initiative to give women greater choice and financial security.
To prevent any loss of a full 18-week entitlement, those who take a minimum 12 weeks’ leave block in the first 12 months will be able to take the remaining six weeks within two years.