The Warrnambool train line has hit its punctuality target of 92 per cent for the first time since June last year and all it took was a global pandemic.
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Punctuality was 99.3 per cent for the month of April - the best result since V/Line began recording performance figures 13 years ago.
It's the first time the service has reached its punctuality target since June last year and the 13th time in the past decade.
V/Line has previously reported delays occurring on the Warrnambool line due to trains stopping at stations longer than scheduled to allow time for passengers to board or disembark safely.
But since COVID19 restrictions came into place there have been less passengers than normal travelling on all V/Line services, including the service running between Warrnambool and Melbourne.
Of the 136 trains scheduled last month, only one service ran late and there were no cancellations.
It comes after more than 30 services ran late in March - an average of one per day.
South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said it was "too early to say we have turned a corner and are seeing overall improvement on the Warrnambool line".
"While this is a positive step, it's important to remember that people have been staying at home and presumably not using public transport as we deal with the pandemic," she said.
"That would mean less time stopping at stations to let passengers on and off which will of course make a positive difference to travel times.
"I think we will only be able to say there has been a turnaround when the train service meets its targets when passenger numbers return to normal levels."
Information obtained from V/Line revealed April patronage levels remained much lower than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There was also a reduction in incidents, such as track and infrastructure faults.
In late March, V/Line began more than $9 million in maintenance and improvement works on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines.
A crew of more than 200 worked to renew the surfaces of bridges along the line and replace culverts and improve signal equipment and track surfaces.
A V/Line spokesman said Warrnambool trains continued to run to the normal timetable during the coronavirus pandemic to provide an essential service for those who need to travel.
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Jessica Howard
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
