Metro and Yarra Trams improve punctuality in May 2012
Melbourne's train and tram operators Metro and Yarra Trams improved their punctuality in May 2012 even though each operated more trips than in May 2011, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.
"The benefits of the Coalition Government's sustained investment in maintenance are starting to show. During May and June, Metro is spending more than $11 million on specific infrastructure renewal works," Mr Mulder said.
Mr Mulder said that Metro's performance was good despite it timetabling 3,458 more trains in May 2012, 5.6 per cent more scheduled trains than in May 2011, with network-wide punctuality increasing from 82.1 per cent in May 2011 to 90.7 per cent in May 2012, an 8.6 per cent rise.
"For the second consecutive month, Metro's timekeeping improved on all of its 15 electrified lines and one non-electrified line despite the number of timetabled Metro train trips increasing from 60,731 in May 2011 to 64,189 in May 2012. Metro's performance on the operationally challenging Hurstbridge and Werribee lines was particularly pleasing," Mr Mulder said.
"The Hurstbridge line is single track with train passing loops beyond Greensborough, while the Werribee line includes the Altona Loop, has a junction with the Williamstown line that is extremely busy during weekday peak periods and shares the tracks with V/Line's Geelong and Warrnambool trains.
"On the Hurstbridge line, Metro's punctuality increased from 83.2 per cent of train arriving at their destination less than five minutes late in May 2011 to 93 per cent in May 2012. On the Werribee line, the rise was from 80.8 per cent of trains officially on time to 91 per cent."
Mr Mulder said that on longer metropolitan rail lines such as Frankston (72 per cent punctuality in May 2011 to 89.3 per cent in May 2012, Pakenham (71.8 to 88.4 per cent), Belgrave (79.7 to 86.9 per cent), Cranbourne (76.9 to 88.3 per cent), Glen Waverley (91.7 to 94.2 per cent) and Sydenham (81.4 to 86.6 per cent), the increase in train timekeeping was consistently good.
"On shorter routes such as Upfield, Metro's punctuality rose markedly from 77.3 to 89.9 per cent despite the labyrinth of tracks that these trains must thread their way over between North Melbourne and Southern Cross. The two most punctual were Frankston to Hastings and Stony Point (97.7 per cent, up from 93.7 per cent) and Sandringham (91.6 to 96.1 per cent)," Mr Mulder said.
Mr Mulder said Yarra Trams had improved its punctuality over the length of its routes from 80.3 per cent in May 2011 to 81 per cent in May 2012 despite timetabling 2793 more trips.
"Route 57 along Elizabeth Street to West Maribyrnong rose in punctuality by 2.9 per cent to 86.9 per cent while Route 75 along Flinders and Spencer Streets from Vermont South, Burwood East and Camberwell improved by 1.8 per cent to 80.1 per cent,", Mr Mulder said.
Download PDF 
