By Luke Voogt
Geelong trains have made a good start to 2019 with both punctuality and reliability last month improving compared to the same time last year.
In January 91.7 per cent of trains ran on time, up on 82.2 per cent for the same month in 2018.
January also saw a dramatic improvement in reliability with V/Line cancelling 4.2 per cent (120) of its 2878 scheduled services for the month.
The amount was just over half the 7.9 per cent (228) cancellations V/Line made to its 2878 scheduled services in January 2018.
January was the worst month in 2018 for V/Line in Geelong for both punctuality and reliability.
The line averaged 88.8 per cent of trains running on time for the year with V/Line cancelling 4.2 per cent of scheduled services (1415 of 33,797) during 2018.
PTV chief executive officer Jeroen Weimar attributed the improvement to V/Line better adapting to hot weather over summer.
“Our regional rail network continues to improve its ability to manage services during times of extreme weather,” Mr Weimar said.
“This includes the introduction of extreme weather timetables, which have provided more certainty for passengers.”
V/Line delivered 86.4 per cent punctuality across Victoria during January, which was above the 12-month average (85.2 per cent) and up on the same month in 2018.
Performance on the next two busiest regional lines after Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, showed improvement on the same month in 2018.
Punctuality on the two lines tracked above the 12-month average at 87.7 per cent and 87.3 per cent respectively.
