Commuters using Casey’s train stations were faced with unprecedented delays during March.
By Callan Date
A STAGGERING one in every four trains was late on the Pakenham line during the month of March.
Train operator Connex released the results – the worst recorded since the embattled organisation took over the Pakenham service in April 2004 – last week.
Casey commuters catching the train at Berwick, Narre Warren or Hallam train stations were regularly required to wait more than six minutes after the scheduled time to board a train.
In some cases the waiting time increased to more than 40 minutes with some services cancelled altogether.
The results follow concerning figures for the first two months of 2007.
More than 15 per cent of trains were late in January with 18.7 per cent late during February.
The Pakenham service was clearly the worst performed out of the 16-line Connex network.
The Cranbourne line was ranked as the third-worst performed with just under 17 per cent of trains late.
Connex said the latest figures for the Pakenham service were disappointing but has offered a range of reasons as to why the trains were continually late.
“Having one in four scheduled services running late is far from satisfactory for customers,” Connex spokeswoman Kate Declercq said.
Train braking issues, increased patronage and a gas leak were all contributing factors in the dismal results, she said.
However, Public Transport Users Association vice-president Alex Makin said the list was just a roll call of standard excuses peddled out by Connex.
“Connex simply rotates one excuse after another,” Mr Makin said. “If it’s not major events, it’s vandalism or driver shortages or problems with the trains.
“It’s just a range of excuses they roll out to cover up their poor performance.”
Mr Makin said the results clearly indicated the company was losing its grip on trying to operate the train lines.
“The Pakenham line is consistently rated as one of the worst lines in metropolitan Melbourne,” he said.
“These latest figures are certainly some of the worst we have ever seen.”
Further angering Mr Makin is the compensation offered to customers who used a monthly, six-monthly or yearly ticket.
“The compensation scheme is not adequate and it’s time-consuming,” he said.
“You have to prove that you have a valid ticket and that you used the trains during that month.”
Ms Declercq said eligible customers were not refunded cash but received a daily Metcard to use.
She said she could not guarantee Casey’s public transport users that their service would improve in coming months.
“The issues that have been affecting Connex’s performance this year have not been fully addressed and it is too early to comment on expected on-time performance for April,” Ms Declercq said.
A State Government spokesman said the Government would continue to monitor Connex’s performance.
“Brake issues on Siemens trains and the subsequent speed precautions have contributed to the performance on the Pakenham line,” he said.
“This is being rectified and performance times are expected to improve.”
