THE Border Rail Action Group is calling for previously unreleased track performance statistics for the North East line to be made public.
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The group made the call after Victorian transport minister Jacinta Allan last week accused the federal government of “failing the North East line” in a letter to the editor sent to The Border Mail.
BRAG spokesman John Dunstan said the ‘track ride index’ was a crucial measurement that would prove that the Australian Rail Track Corporation was fulfilling the terms of its contract with the Victorian government.
The measurements are recorded quarterly by the ARTC and delivered to Public Transport Victoria.
“BRAG calls again on the ARTC to make public the track ride measurements and other parameters they measure and report quarterly as part of the track access agreement,” Mr Dunstan said.
“Only by doing so can they prove that they are indeed meeting the requirements of the agreement.”
Ms Allan’s letter last week lay the blame for the ongoing poor performance of the North East line squarely at the feet of the ARTC, which is responsible for the line’s maintenance.
“Last month there were 78 reported delays on the North East line,” the letter said.
“The vast majority of these delays – more than 87 per cent – were due to the poor condition of the track.
“Unlike the rest of the V/Line network, the North East line is managed and operated by the national operator ARTC, who is responsible for its maintenance.”
Mr Dunstan said Public Transport Victoria, which is overseen by Ms Allan, should release the measurements themselves.
“If this information was released by both the federal and Victorian governments, the public could see where the truth lies in regard to whether the lease agreement requirements are being met,” he said.
“Longer term, the solution to the track condition is for the Federal government to provide the ARTC with further capital funds to permanently correct the relatively small sections of track that have foundation earthworks probe to generating mudholes.
“Mudholes are still the main cause of the poor track condition and the high number of speed restrictions in place at any given time.
“ARTC’s repair methodologies continue to prove very short term, that is, six to nine months before mudholes regenerate.”