Metro Performance Update #4

Luckily for me, my train travel has been sporadic so far in May.  This means that I have been collecting less data than normal and neglecting blog updates a little.  It also means that I feel a lot less stressed than usual.  

Based on a sample size of one, I can confirm that reduced exposure to Metro is good for the mind, body and soul.  But darn it, I still have to travel to work to bring home the bacon, and Metro is the only viable option for me at the moment.

If you have been reading recent entries, you'll know that May 2011 started off horribly for Sandringham line commuters.  The good news is that things have improved.  The bad news is that Metro performance is still painfully rubbish.

Before presenting the full MPU4 (covering all data collected to date), here is some data on what has happened so far in May.

• Of the 10 city-bound rush hour trips that I have recorded, 5 have run more than 5 minutes late.
• This equates to a punctuality performance of just 50%, compared with Metro's target of 88%.
• Over these 10 journeys, the cumulative lateness is 74 minutes - so over 7 minutes late on average.
• The worst trip arrived at Flinders Street an appalling 18 minutes late!
• The evening service from the city has been less awful, with only 30% of trains late by more than 5 minutes.  That's still rubbish in my book.
• Over just 20 journeys so far in May, Metro has "achieved" total lateness of 107 minutes.

Here is an update covering all data that I have collected to date (starting from 09 March 2011):

MPU4

• Of the 36 city-bound rush hour trips that I have recorded, 15 have run more than 5 minutes late.
• This equates to a punctuality performance of just 58.33%, compared with Metro's target of 88%.
• Over these 36 journeys, the cumulative lateness is 188 minutes.  Just think how much productive time is being lost - over 3 hours just for me.  Multiply that by the amount of people affected each day and your brain will start to ache.
• If I include the data for Sandringham bound trips, over the 69 journeys (in both directions), the cumulative lateness is 320 minutes.  That's over 5 hours of lateness in a period which is roughly equal to 5 weeks of normal commuting.
• In other words, on average, every week, Metro wastes about 1 hour of my time (and yours).

I think that I have now conclusively shown that Metro's performance data is rubbish, and that rush hour service is much worse than Metro and the government would like us to believe.

Everybody is frustrated.  I heard a report today of a guy losing it with a Metro customer service representative at Flinders Street this morning.  Whilst I don't encourage or condone passengers being rude and verbally aggressive to Metro staff, I can understand why it happens.

I feel that I am trying to make a small difference with this blog - simply by raising awareness and hopefully inspiring people to complain to Metro and the government.

But I also feel that some sort of direct action would have a bigger impact.  If only I had a few drops of French blood in me - I'd have organised a massive public demonstration by now, and maybe parked a few tractors (laden with steaming manure) in front of the barriers at Flinders Street station.  Or stirred up a commuter strike, where we all refuse to buy or validate our tickets for a month.  

Any volunteers for a strike?  Do we need a Metro Passenger Union?  I think so.

To the usual tune:

"What do we want?"

"Punctual trains!"

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

"What do we want?"

"Trains that run!"

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

"What do we want?"

"Clean trains!"

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

New timetable - is it working?

Unfortunately (?) I've had a few commitments over the last week or so that have prevented me from using Metro and gathering trip data.  After the terrible Metro start to May, this has been good for my sanity.

On the few trips that I have taken, the service has improved.  Trains have been less late, and the slight increase in frequency seems to have reduced over-crowding a touch.

It's still too early for me to draw conclusions.  I'd really like to hear about reader experiences (not just the Sandringham line) - so please submit comments!

I'll be back with a proper performance update later in the week.

I thought that it was only on trains that a few weird people considered it ok to file finger nails (gross) - but I witnessed this public transport sin on the tram last week.  I must email Ted B and ask him to make sure that the new train police take a hard line on anti-social nail filers.

The vague reference to state politics reminds me to comment on my relief that the New Street level crossing will finally be re-opened.  A big loss for the handful of New Street residents who have enjoyed a huge reduction in traffic whilst the gates have been 'temporarily closed', and a win for common sense and the vast majority of local residents who have been annoyed by the closure of a convenient route and the dangerous increase in traffic on Hampton Street.