NEWLY available data proves what long-suffering Frankston line commuters have often suspected – the train line is the most unreliable across the Melbourne metropolitan network.
Public Transport Victoria figures released last week under a new online system aimed at greater transparency around train running times.
The statistics showed passengers on the Frankston line copped 862 cancelled train services in the past 12 months or so from 2 January 2017 until 31 January this year.
A further 634 trains that ran skipped scheduled stops at stations along the line during the same period.
The PTV figures reveal trains on the Frankston line were cancelled more often than on any other metropolitan rail lines.
Despite the frustrations for commuters, 98.4 per cent of train services did arrive and 89.4 per cent were on time although this was below the network average of 91.7 per cent running on time.
Metro Trains passengers on the Cranbourne, Lilydale and Pakenham lines also faced above average delays and cancellations.
PTV CEO Jeroen Weimar said the new online statistics tool offers greater transparency about meeting contract targets.
Mr Weimar said last month’s statistics showed Metro Trains ran 92.3 per cent of its services on time despite soaring temperatures potentially disrupting the network.
“January saw the operators deal with the dual challenges of prolonged periods of hot weather and major upgrade works on our road and rail networks. Despite these challenges, both Yarra Trams and Metro managed to deliver service levels above the targets in the new franchise agreements,” he said in a statement.
“With detailed planning and close coordination across agencies and operators, we successfully ensured people could still access public transport to get them to their destination during as important upgrade works were carried out across the network, with more than 900,000 trips taken on our replacement buses in January alone.”
On the connecting Stony Point line 4.8 per cent of train services were cancelled from 2 January 2017 until 31 January this year compared to a 1.1 per cent cancellation rate on the Frankston line.
The Frankston line cancellations may make state Labor MPs in the marginal sandbelt seats of Frankston (Paul Edbrooke), Carrum (Sonya Kilkenny), Mordialloc (Tim Richardson) and Bentleigh (Nick Staikos) nervous ahead of the upcoming state election in November.
The four sets swung from Liberal to Labor at the 2014 election and could be the key to winning government for both the Labor Party and Liberal National Coalition.
Train service performance results going back to 2001 showing service delays and cancellations also when Coalition state governments were in power are now available at PTV’s website.
