Between the 2014 to 2015 financial year to the 2015 to 2016 one, V/Line data shows an extra 1871 passengers boarded trains between Winchelsea and Warrnambool stations – an increase from 142,434 to 144,305.

Public Transport Users Association regional spokesman Paul Westcott said any increase in patronage stemming from the introduction of a fourth daily service may be cancelled out by “painful unreliability”. The line’s punctuality rate dropped to 12.6 per cent in January.

“It’s not increasing by a great deal and one would have to assume that any increase would be constrained and restrained by the problems that the Warrnambool line has had over the years,” he said.

Mr Westcott said level crossing upgrades, track duplication between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds and additional crossing loops would improve the line’s efficiency. He said it was “completely unfair” that despite poor performance, most Warrnambool-line users were not eligible for compensation because a monthly ticket was required.

“It’s clearly designed to reduce any possibility of compensation in the first place and to put people off even making a claim when they’re eligible,” Mr Westcott said.

The Standard revealed on Saturday no Warrnambool-line passengers received compensation for V/Line failing to meet punctuality targets for all of 2016.