Decline in Punctuality on V/Line Services
Recent performance data from V/Line has shown a significant drop in punctuality on Victoria’s northern rail routes. This decline coincides with the state’s first month of free public transport, leading to increased usage and challenges for the network.
The April data revealed that only 56% of services on the Swan Hill and Echuca lines arrived within 11 minutes of their scheduled time. This marks the lowest punctuality rate for these routes in nearly a decade, falling far below the target of 92%. The last time this level of punctuality was recorded was in July 2017, and since March 2022, the target has not been met.
Punctuality also saw a sharp decline compared to the previous month, where 72% of services were on time. The last instance of such a low punctuality rate was in June 2024 on the Warrnambool line, where only 41.7% of trains arrived on time.
Causes of Delays
According to the ABC, temporary speed restrictions were identified as the primary cause of delays on both the Swan Hill and Echuca lines. These restrictions were implemented to ensure safe operations at level crossings. Other contributing factors included trespassers and incidents requiring emergency services.
A similar situation was observed on the Albury/Wodonga line, where despite a 98% reliability score, punctuality dropped to 64.3% in April. Throughout the year, punctuality on this line has not exceeded 80%, and the last time the 92% target was met was in November 2023.
Vandalism, infrastructure issues, and train faults were cited as the main causes of delays on the Albury line. In response, V/Line stated that April was a busy month due to the introduction of free travel across three lines. The company emphasized its collaboration with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to reduce delays and cancellations, acknowledging there is room for improvement in recent performance results.
Impact on Other Routes
Punctuality also declined on the Shepparton, Bairnsdale, and Ararat/Maryborough lines during the first month of free public transport, compared to March. The data further indicated that punctuality was much lower than the 92% target for long-distance routes. Similar trends were observed on shorter routes such as Geelong, Ballarat, Seymour, and Gippsland, where trains were more frequently late in April compared to March.
However, punctuality improved on the Bendigo and Warrnambool lines, even though buses replaced trains on the Warrnambool line.
Passenger Concerns
Daniel Bowen, president of Victoria’s Public Transport Users Association, expressed disappointment with the April data, highlighting the challenges faced by passengers. He noted that frequent delays make it difficult for people to plan their journeys and make connections, especially for appointments.
Bowen emphasized the need for the state government and V/Line to address the root causes of delays, including infrastructure problems, train faults, overcrowding, and trespasses. He also mentioned the potential benefits of increasing fencing around rail lines to reduce issues related to livestock or trespassers.
Bowen suggested that the introduction of free public transport may have contributed to the delays, as overcrowded trains could lead to boarding difficulties and added station delays.
Looking Ahead
With the ongoing challenges in maintaining punctuality, it is clear that V/Line and the state government must work together to implement effective solutions. Addressing the underlying issues causing delays will be essential to improving the reliability of rail services and ensuring a better experience for passengers.
