Sydney’s train delays are the ‘worst yet’ since introduction of the new timetable

SYDNEY’S trains are running later than ever, leaked internal transport documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph has revealed. Last month Sydney Trains recorded its worst on-time running figures for peak hour trains. See how it compares to previous months.

SYDNEY’S trains are running later than ever, with peak hour delays recorded for almost 80 per cent of June, leaked internal transport documents reveal.

Sydney Trains recorded its worst on-time running figures for peak hour trains since the introduction of the new timetable late last year.

A performance rating dashboard, listing the percentage of trains arriving and leaving Central in the morning and afternoon, shows punctuality targets were only achieved on four out of 28 days.

There have been many delays since the introduction of the new timetable last month. Picture: Christian Gilles

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The Sydney Trains’ punctuality target is for 92 per cent of trains to arrive within five minutes of the scheduled timetable in the Sydney CBD between 6am and 10am, and 3pm and 7pm.

That means trains were late — or skipped stations — for 79 per cent of the time last month.

It’s the worst figures yet since the new timetable came into effect late last year.

The internal documents show the same punctuality figure last September — before the timetable changes — showed the target was not met on 19 per cent of time.

By January — at the height of the threatened strike action, the percentage of days where the punctuality target was not met was 33 per cent.

Leaked documents reveal trains are running late 79 per cent of the time in June. Picture: Supplioed

“They figures are shocking,” Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said.

“To have only four days last month that met the target is extraordinary. This is the worst they’ve had.”

But Acting Sydney Trains chief executive Susannah Le Bron said while “we recognise there’s been a slight drop”, train services were headed towards a “turn up and go” model, with frequent services every few minutes.

“The time table is so close to a turn up and go model, what we talk about is providing service frequency to customers,” Ms Le Bron said.

“We’re very close to the 92 per cent punctuality, at the moment we’re running at 90.3 per cent. “The service normally is quite good, so the turn up and go concept works well most of the time.

“Occasionally we have some days where it doesn't go too well, there might be trespassing, or people unwell, or track issues.”

Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay is shocked at the latest figures. Picture: AAP Image / Julian Andrews

But Ms McKay said punctuality was the government’s own yardstick on whether they were succeeding or failing.

“Things are just getting consistently worse for Sydney commuters who suffer delays and trains that simply don’t turn up,” she said.

“People want the trains to turn up on time.”

“Everything depends on when people turn up, because it’s when they need to arrive. If they can’t depend on the train, that’s a problem.

“For them to have only four days where trains arrived on time is pretty disastrous for them.”

Originally published as Sydney’s train delays are the ‘worst yet’ since introduction of the new timetable