Metro forced to pay out transport users following more delays
For the fourth time this year, Melbourne public transport users will be entitled to compensation, following another month of unreliable services.
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Public transport commuters will again be entitled to compensation for train and tram services, with Metro forced to pay out customers for the fourth time this year.
The rail operator failed to deliver enough trips on time for the second consecutive month while the reliability target Yarra Trams services was thrown out by strike action.
About 1 in 10 trains on the Melbourne metropolitan network were late, equating to more than 6000 services.
Commuters with Myki passes valid for 28 days or more can claim compensation from Metro at their official website.
Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne has asked the Department of Transport to work with the company to improve its performance, with a dedicated team now working to tackle the problem.
The department’s head of transport services Jeroen Weimar said passengers deserved better.
“Metro Trains is expected to deliver a train service that Melburnians can rely on and there were a number of times during in September that did not happen,” he said.
“Metro needs to continue to work hard to improve its performance and we will continue to ensure they have the plans in place to do so.”
The operator has so far missed out on $7.5 million in payments it would have received from the Andrews Government this year if it had met performance standards.
There were 320 incidents involving police on the train network in September and services were also impacted by faulty equipment at East Richmond and Flagstaff.
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Yarra Trams will also have to compensate customers after it failed to deliver enough of its timetable because of a four-hour strike led by the RTBU on September 26.
But tram punctuality improved to 86.3 per cent and was well above the operator’s target.
“It’s deeply frustrating to see this repeated and unnecessary industrial action impacting our tram passengers, and we expect both parties to be at the negotiating table to resolve this dispute.,” Mr Weimar said.
V/Line customers on Albury, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and other regional services may also be able to claim compensation after lines fells short of their individual targets.