By Kyra Gillespie
Gembrook Liberal MP Brad Battin has slammed the Andrews Government following revelation that the Pakenham line was the worst-performing metropolitan train line in Melbourne.
February 2019 metropolitan rail performance data shows that 259 train services were either cancelled, cut short, bypassed or skipped on the notoriously problematic line.
Out of 4325 scheduled services in the month, 3417 (83 per cent) were delivered on time.
“Commuters in the South East deserve to receive the reliable, safe and timely public transport service they pay for,” Mr Battin said.
“Daniel Andrews and the Labor Government promised to abolish skipped services, and they have simply failed.”
“It was revealed last week that Daniel Andrews is spending $240,000 a day advertising he is delivering for all Victorians, he should use this money to make the Pakenham line reliable.”
The underwhelming February results fare better than January’s results, with 83.1 per cent of trains delivered on time – up six per cent on the previous month.
It comes as Pakenham line commuters face a mammoth construction blitz in April; with buses replace trains between Flinders Street and Caulfield/Westall from Saturday 6 April to Tuesday 23 April.
Bass Labor MP Jordan Crugnale assures commuters that the short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain.
“The Andrews Labor Government is delivering the biggest infrastructure program Victoria has ever seen,” Ms Crugnale said.
“Whether it’s the Metro Tunnel, North East Link, West Gate Tunnel or the Suburban Rail Loop we’re getting on with building the road and rail projects Victorians need to get them home sooner and safer.”
