Public Transport Victoria will begin publishing the number of stations skipped by trains on the metro network, in a transparency move by the Andrews Government.
Public transport minister Jacinta Allan says the number of stations skipped by metropolitan trains will be published each month on the Public Transport Victoria website, “as part of a push by the Andrews Labor Government to further reduce the practice”.
Public Transport Victoria’s monthly Track Record report usually features punctuality and overall service data for the state’s metro and country trains, and trams. The report will now include data on station skipping.
Allan said the data will show the number and proportion of overall services that run express when they were not timetabled to, as well as historical data, so trends in station skipping can be monitored.
The minister said that while there’s been a 0.5% per cent drop in station skipping since the election, to just 0.2% of services, the practice was still a serious concern for many passengers.
This month’s Track Record report showed 97 Metro services ran as unplanned express, out of the more than 60,000 scheduled services.
Allan said greater transparency would give passengers the accountability they deserve and help to improve train punctuality.
“Passengers need a train system that actually works and we’re delivering it,” Allan campaigned.
“While the previous Liberal Government defended station skipping, Labor is taking a strong stand against it.
“By publishing the data, passengers will get the transparency they deserve. If Victorian’s don’t like what they see, then more will need to be done to put an end to the practice.”
Allan said the government has already had discussions with PTV and Metro about how skipping can be reduced within the current contractual arrangements, and will ensure the issue is addressed in future contract negotiations.
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