New V/Line data reveals punctuality is an ongoing problem for passengers on the Bendigo line, with only 79.4 per cent of trains running on time during March.
While this is significantly higher than the 64.2 per cent recorded during the height of January’s regional public transport crisis, the figure is well below the 82.9 per cent recorded last December.
Woodend commuter Robert Knight said while punctuality had improved, overcrowding was a major problem during the morning peak.
‘‘What’s happening is people don’t want to have to catch the bus, so they’re all catching the same morning train,’’ he said. ‘‘By the time you get to Gisborne, they’re fighting for seats, and by Sunbury, you’ve got no hope.’’
V/Line continues to be affected by service reductions, put in place due to faster than normal wheel wear, which has led to hundreds of services being cancelled or replaced by buses.
More than 80,000 refunds have been handed out to affected customers.
A Monash University report released last week found tight curves on sections of the Regional Rail Link, high friction due to the absence of lubrication and wear of both wheels and rail were to blame for the dramas.
In a statement which acknowledged the “unacceptable disruption” for regional train passengers, Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said an independent review revealed V/Line had been asked to do “more with less for too long”.
Ms Allan said the review made recommendations about improving the structure, governance and capability of V/Line.
