Slow coaches on Dandenong train line

By Callan Date
COMMUTERS on the Dandenong train line catch more delayed trains than anyone else in Melbourne.
Passengers using trains along the troubled line had to wait more than six minutes in the case of 13.9 per cent of scheduled services in July.
Cranbourne line trains rank the second worst with 12 per cent exceeding the accepted six-minute delay, according to recently released Connex figures.
Other train lines fared much better than the two networks.
Alamein commuters had less than three per cent of services run late.
Opposition MPs have blasted the performance.
Leading the chorus of disapproval is opposition spokesman for public transport Terry Mulder.
Mr Mulder said residents living in the south-east were being short-changed when it came to reliable public transport.
“The eastern and southeast suburban train lines are a disaster – Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston for late running (trains),” he said.
He said 30 Dandenong line trains did not operate in July with another 15 cancelled on the Dandenong to Cranbourne branch line.
“The Cranbourne, Frankston and Dandenong lines have not met Labor’s punctuality benchmark once in the past 13 months,” he said.
The accepted punctuality benchmark is a six-minute delay.
“Across Melbourne, public transport users have been paying more since 1 January and receiving less.”
Mr Mulder said a lack of investment in Melbourne’s vital rail corridors to the eastern and south-eastern suburbs was a major issue.
“Late running is worst in weekday peak hours when Melburnians are trying to get to work or home to see their families and friends on time,” he said.
Connex communications manager Kate De Clercq said an increase in patronage caused the most delays on the Dandenong and Cranbourne lines.
“By far, the leading cause of delays is the additional time trains need to wait at platforms during peak hours due to the patronage growth that’s been experienced on the Dandenong and Cranbourne lines during the past four years,” Ms De Clercq said.
“Although patronage growth has been experienced across the network, the Dandenong and Cranbourne lines have been growing at a faster rate than other lines.”
Ms De Clercq said extra services had been added to both lines to try and alleviate the crowded conditions, which occurred during morning and afternoon peak periods.