Delays on the problem-plagued line that forced the capital city service to be replaced by buses from the Border have been reduced significantly, says rail authorities.

Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Brian Dale said the 2?-hour delay encountered three weeks ago was now closer to an hour.

But he said the final decision rested with CountryLink, which managed the Melbourne to Sydney XPT.

“We had the trial today and all went well,” he said.

“We have been cutting 10 to 15 minutes off the delays every day we are working on the line.

“There are a couple of spots that need to be fixed and we expect to do that by Friday and then it is up to CountryLink.”

Train drivers say the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s $285 million project that saw almost 300,000 wooden sleepers replaced by concrete sleepers is to blame for the mudholes.

They say the trains dip, sway and bounce over affected areas.

Three weeks ago the eastern track was subject to speed restrictions over more than 200 kilometres or 66 per cent of the rail line, forcing CountryLink to opt for the more reliable buses.

Railway insiders say they expect the parallel western track to encounter similar problems when it is commissioned in early October.

The revelations and subsequent advice from V/Line has cast doubt on the return of its passenger service this year.

But yesterday Victorian Premier John Brumby said the fix rested with the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

In a written response to Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder from parliamentary question time in early August, Mr Brumby said the corporation and Department of Transport were working to rectify this problem as quickly as possible.

“Commissioning of the western track will also be subject to rigorous assessment and approval,” he said.

“The corporation is contracted to operate the line at speed and would be required to rectify any possible defects.”

But Mr Mulder hopes that a new Federal Parliament would agree to audit the corporation.

“This is intolerable, Albury-Wodonga is Australia’s third largest inland city after Canberra and Toowoomba,” he said.

“Canberra has at least two trains a day each way to Sydney.

“Even Toowoomba has the twice weekly Westlander despite a hilly route that rules out commuter trains, but from Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga, Benalla and Wangaratta do not have a single passenger train serving a combined population including nearby towns approaching 150,000.”