Ongoing problems with the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s treatment of the Albury rail line are set to be challenged in Federal Parliament on Monday.
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Indi MP Cathy McGowan has planned to put forward a motion for the government to pay closer attention to the how the ARTC is performing.
“The ARTC keep telling us that they meet their contractual obligations (with the Victorian government). Well there’s something wrong with that contract, so we’ve got to ask the government to have a look at it,” she said.
“We need recognition there is a problem.
“Things are certainly much better than they were, but things are not OK.”
The comments come as V/Line’s January performance results revealed just 65.1 per cent of trains on the Albury line ran on time.
It was an improvement on December’s 56.7 per cent, but still had the line as the second-worst in Victoria, behind Warrnambool.
V/Line chief executive James Pinder said poor punctuality was due to speed restrictions caused by hot weather, trespassers and delays on metropolitan trains.
“The hotter summer months can often be challenging due to the hot weather, which results in heat speed restrictions to ensure the safety of passengers, services and staff,” he said.
The Albury line has not had more than 80 per cent of trains run on time since August.
Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester last week accepted an invitation from Euroa MLA Steph Ryan to travel the troubled Albury line aboard a V/Line train.
Ms McGowan said she wanted a real pledge to improve the train line.
“We’ve got to get the government to make a commitment that passengers work collectively with freight and we don’t put the passenger trains behind as a priority,” she said. “What we’re hoping to do is set up the agenda so when he comes, he’s got something to say to the community - he doesn’t just come and ride the train, he comes with a plan.”
The MP said plans for passenger trains, inland rail for freight and high-speed rail could occur simultaneously.
She called on a bipartisan supported high-speed rail authority to be set up in time for funds to be allocated in the 2017-18 budget.
“All it needs is the political will so that is really up to the Nationals and the Liberals to actually accept the recommendations from their own report,” Ms McGowan said.
“Sometime it has got to happen, let’s hope it’s now.”
