Article: Connex cops $5m fine five months before operator changeover

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Connex cops $5m fine five months before operator changeover

Connex cops $5m fine five months before operator changeover
Article from: Herald Sun

Geraldine Mitchell

September 05, 2009 12:00am

CONNEX has copped a $5.3 million fine for failing to run trains on time just five months before it hands over to the new operator.

Government figures released show commuters were again eligible for compensation in April and May after the private rail operator did not meet performance targets.

But Yarra Trams did not escape, with a hefty $1.6 million fine for its performance over the last quarter.

But the state-operated V/Line was the worst, failing to meet punctuality and cancellation targets for all of the past three months.

Connex's result follows a disastrous run after it was fined a record $11.2 million for the shocking performance of Melbourne's train system during summer.

The latest data shows the worst month was May when almost 10 per cent of trains were late and the Pakenham line suffered the most.

The result improved last month with 7.3 per cent running late, but again the Pakenham line was the worst performer followed by Frankston.

Connex spokesman John Rees said the outlook was brighter. He said there had been a major turnaround.

"Our combined punctuality and delivery is currently at a 6 1/2 year high," he said.

"We're coming out of our troubles we experienced earlier in the year with the extreme weather and we're now seeing the benefits from discussions with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. So we've got much, much better performance overall."

The figures show overall 83.5 per cent of trams ran on time, which is slightly higher than the previous quarter. No compensation is available to tram commuters.

The woes of V/Line continue with only 86.5 per cent of trains running on time. But it's a 4.5 per cent improvement on the previous quarter.

Its target is for 92 per cent of trains to run on time.

Gippsland was the worst performer of the short-distance lines. Bairnsdale line was the worst of the longer routes.

V/Line blamed congestion on city lines as well as infrastructure and train faults for its performance.