V/Line staff have voted in favour of industrial action with a 24-hour pre-Christmas stoppage on the Albury to Melbourne line on Wednesday, December 18.

Similar action is being taken on all regional networks prompted by the Victorian Rail Tram Bus Union which said 98 per cent of staff had voted in support of a widespread strike.

Shadow minister for regional public transport Steph Ryan put the blame fairly at the feet of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who recently visited Wodonga and urged train travellers to "stick with us" despite the constant delays of recent months.

"Regional passengers deserve to be able to go about their lives and enjoy the holidays without being stuck in the middle of this ugly dispute that Daniel Andrews is washing his hands of," she said.

"Before the election, Daniel Andrews marched in the streets with his union mates, now they want money he has wasted elsewhere, and it's country passengers who are caught in the crossfire.

"Regional rail has become a disaster under Daniel Andrews and his embattled public transport minister Melissa Horne."

The North-East line has been beset by problems with punctuality hitting an all-time low in October with just 30.1 per cent of trains running on time.

In August this year 32.1 per cent of trains ran on time before an improvement to 43.6 per cent in September.

The next worst punctuality result on a long-haul line in October was recorded by the Bairnsdale line with 79.1 per cent of trains on time.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation is still to confirm the successful tenderer for the $235 million upgrade of the North-East line.

"Work is still under way to finalise the contract and an announcement is expected shortly," an ARTC spokesperson said.

John Holland, McConnell Dowell and a Coleman Rail-Rhomberg Rail joint venture are in contention.