January performance results have been released by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) alongside a new interactive online tool with which to view them.
The tool, available on PTV’s website, allows the user to sort and select monthly performance data for metropolitan train and tram services and regional train services, presenting the percentages of timetabled services delivered and the percentages of on-time services across all routes.
The results show that both Metro Trains and Yarra Trams both manage to meet the performance targets established in their new contracts, while V/Line fell short.
98.8% of Metro’s timetabled services were delivered over the month, above the target of 98.5%, while 92.3% percent of those services were on time, just beating the target of 92%.
This is an improvement upon Metro’s December performance, during which 91.6 per cent of their services ran on time.
“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,” PTV CEO Jeroen Weimar said.
“Despite these challenges, both Yarra Trams and Metro managed to deliver service levels above the targets in the new franchise agreements.”
The best performing lines were the Sandringham and Williamstown lines, with 96.2% and 96.7% of services running on time, respectively. Unsurprisingly, the poorest punctuality figures were on the Cranbourne (88.8%) and Pakenham lines (88.6%), where there have been extensive level-crossing removal works as part of the Caulfield to Dandenong project.
Last month, Yarra Trams made a significant improvement on its December performance (which saw it dip below the 82% punctuality target), with 87.8% of its services arriving on time. It was able to achieve this while delivering major track and infrastructure upgrades on Lygon Street, and during an increase in passenger demand due to the Australian Open.
80.2% of V/Line regional train services ran on time in January, below its target of 82%. Weimar said that this was partly due to heat speed restrictions enforced during a prolonged hot spell.
“Steel tracks expand in the heat which make speed restrictions a reality of operating a rail network, whether in regional Victoria, or the London Underground,” Weimar said.
“V/Line has been taking extra steps to minimise the impact of extreme heat days on services, deploying extra crews on hot days to speed up response times should incidents arise, and we continue to look at ways to further minimise disruptions for passengers.”
On the Albury Line, 17.2% of services were cancelled, and, of those that did run, only 56.2% were on time.
According to V/Line CEO James Pinder, the condition of the standard gauge track and trains, and January’s heat-wave, were the main reasons for service delays.
“We continue to work closely with ARTC to improve the track’s condition and enable us to offer a service that our customers deserve and expect,” Pinder said.
“We have teams from different parts of the business regularly meeting with ARTC and as part of those discussions, we provide advice on maintenance priorities.”