The North-East railway line woes have been a contributing factor in the demise of Victoria's public transport minister Melissa Horne, according to National Party deputy leader Steph Ryan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Albury to Melbourne service has failed to meet its 92 per cent punctuality target in 18 monthly counts since late 2018.
Last month the North-East line recorded just 0.6 per cent of trains running on time with speed restrictions still in place due to the Wallan derailment earlier this year.
But Ms Ryan said Premier Daniel Andrews' decision to dump Ms Horne from the public transport portfolio was an admission of his government's appalling record on V/Line.
IN OTHER NEWS
"V/Line's performance has gone from bad to worse under Labor, as deep funding cuts continue to affect the lives of regional train travellers," Ms Ryan said.
"In Melissa Horne's 18 months as minister, V/Line has regularly failed to meet performance targets.
"Changing ministers will do nothing to fix the delays, overcrowding and cancellations that continue to hit country train travellers.
"Daniel Andrews might think a different minister will be a better salesperson but nothing will change while Labor continues to sell the same dodgy policies.
"Labor has cut $149 million from V/Line's operating budget and is selling out country train travellers with a second-rate airport rail link."
Ben Carroll will take on the public transport role and the roads and road safety portfolio which was occupied by Jaala Pulford.
MsPulford takes on employment, innovation and small business.