Performance figures released by V/Line for March indicated that 81.9 per cent of trains ran on-time, a two per cent increase from the month before. 

That figure still falls below V/Lines target of 92 per cent, which has not been reached on the line since April last year.

However, the service did hit its reliability target of 96 per cent, with 217 of a total 226 scheduled services running.

A V/Line spokesman said reasons for the March delays included trains stopping longer than scheduled, speed restrictions and a near miss with a trespasser at Deer Park involving a Warrnambool train.

Temporary speed restrictions between Colac and Warrnambool were lifted in early March following the completion of a $118 million sleeper replacement project.

Those restrictions saw the line's percentage of on-time trains drop to below 80 per cent during the first two months of 2019.

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The spokesman said although performance on the Warrnambool line had improved, the transport service was "always looking for ways to deliver a better service for passengers". 

"We're completing improvement works on the Warrnambool line in April, which aim to provide a smoother and more reliable ride for passengers." 

The improvement works could see another significant drop in the line's punctuality, with buses replacing trains for the entire journey for two weeks during major scheduled maintenance.

Journey times may be extended by up to 60 minutes with highly variable traffic conditions. 

The works commenced on April 6 and include the replacement of two bridges at Allansford and Warrnambool's Otway Street bridge, as well as track maintenance between Colac and Warrnambool and veranda upgrades at Terang, Camperdown and Winchelsea stations.

Trains are expected to run again from April 21.

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