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Found at: http://www.macedonrangesleader.co...le/2008/01/21/28197_mrv_news.html

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V/Line blames heat
Caitlin Ryan
21Jan08

HOT day delays are keeping trains from running on time in the Macedon Ranges.

V/Line recorded 82 per cent punctuality on the Bendigo line last month, its worst since February last year.

In the past 12 months, the line only once reached its target of 92 per cent, in August.

And with six weeks of summer still to come, an improvement is far from likely.

V/Line spokesman Daniel Moloney said heat makes the steel tracks expand, and forced trains to lower speeds of 160km to 90km.

"It's easy to criticise performance, but weather factors are beyond our control," he said.

"If we have more than three hot days a month, our average goes down, and the reality is over summer periods, we get more than three hot days."

Mr Moloney said steel expansion in hot weather is a worldwide problem, and V/line will place posters at stations to inform customers of hot day delays.

"Passengers should keep an eye on the temperature, and add 20-30 minutes on to their trip if it is above 35," he said.

But opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the performance was "abysmal".

"On the Bendigo line, punctuality was abysmal with 17.2 per cent of Sunbury, Kyneton and Bendigo trains at least six minutes late," he said.

"Fifteen years ago there was a maximum speed on hot days of 115kmh, not 90kmh, with tracks inspected daily."

Mr Mulder said trains on the Bendigo line had failed to meet timekeeping targets for at least 16 months in a row.

Better Rail Action group spokesman David Cunningham said despite 250 million being spent on upgrades, a reliable rail system was still far away.

"They claim weather affects rails and signals, but they should be able to cope. Six minutes late is pathetic," he said.