mmg.com.au

Trains on the Echuca line were on time only 77.6 per cent of the time last month.

This figure is the lowest it has been for the past 12 months, which has not dipped below about 84 per cent since last January.

Despite not dropping this low in 12 months, V/Line’s punctuality targets for the past 12 months were only met four times.

The target is for 92 per cent of services to be on time and for 96 per cent of services to run.

For long distance services — Echuca is deemed long distance — ‘on time’ is deemed to be within 10 minutes and 59 seconds.

However, Echuca and Swan Hill — who have the same punctuality performance — did not fare the worst, with trains on the Shepparton line only achieving 58.8 per cent punctuality and Bairnsdale trains 68 per cent.

In the reliability stakes, trains on the Echuca line achieved 99 per cent for January, and have not dropped below that figure in the past year.

A V/Line spokesperson said there were 11 late services in January, four of which were as a result of heat.

Heat-related speed restrictions are applied on days when temperatures climb above 36°C.

Reasons for other delays included train faults and suburban congestion, the spokesperson said.