On time on track

TRAINS on the Pakenham line are arriving on time.
The percentage of Metro trains officially on time on the Pakenham railway line has increased more than 19 per cent in the past three years.
In August 2010, 72.8 per cent of Metro trains were considered to be on time – a definition that includes all trains arriving at their station within five minutes of their timetable.
Last month, in August 2013, 91.1 per cent of Metro trains arrived on time.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said there had been an obvious improvement on the line since the Victorian Coalition came in to government.
“The frequency of weekend trains between Flinders Street and Dandenong has doubled – giving commuters a train just about every 10 minutes between 10am and 7pm,” he said.
“Between Dandenong and Pakenham, there is now a 20 minute frequency during those times, instead of the previous train every half hour.”
The Victorian Government has also introduced Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to the railway stations to patrol stations from 6pm until after the last train.
Since the first PSOs were deployed, more than 12,000 infringement notices have been issued for offences including public drunkenness and possession of weapons.