Metro’s latest seven months shows improvement
Posted on 24 January, 2012
A Department of Transport analysis of official punctuality figures for Melbourne’s trains shows a considerable improvement by rail operator Metro in its latest seven months compared with its first seven months, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.
Mr Mulder said that in between commencing its franchise in late November 2009 and June 2010, 84.1 per cent of Metro’s trains arrived at their destination station less than five minutes late.
“In the latest seven months between June and December 2011, this improved significantly to 88.7 per cent of trains being officially on time,” Mr Mulder said.
“The most pleasing aspect of this most recent seven month period is that Metro has consistently met punctuality and reliability targets.”
Mr Mulder said passenger satisfaction with Melbourne’s trains had increased.
“This is measured by the Department of Transport in an independently conducted telephone survey,” Mr Mulder said.
“Metro’s passenger satisfaction score averaged 60.7 points in the first two years of its contract, compared with an average of 59.0 points for the previous rail operator in its final two years.
“The survey measures a wide range of indicators including train punctuality, personal safety, graffiti removal and station cleanliness.
“While there remains room for further improvement, in the most recent available survey Metro met or exceeded the set performance benchmarks in each of the 11 categories covered by the survey.
“The Coalition Government’s Maintaining Our Rail Network funding initiative has increased spending on rail maintenance by $25 million per annum. This is assisting in improving Melbourne’s rail network after the previous Labor Government ran it down.
“On an annual basis during the life of Metro’s franchise, the Coalition Government will be investing an average of $19 million per annum on electrical traction power infrastructure for Melbourne’s trains, compared with an average of $13 million under the previous operator’s franchise. This includes spending on renewals and maintenance,” Mr Mulder said.