Sections of single track on the Metro network are a direct cause of low frequencies, and cause delays to quickly cascade. In this example at Westona on the Altona Loop section of the Werribee line, a citybound train has to wait for an outbound train to arrive before it can continue on.
Similar bottlenecks are found on the Cranbourne, Belgrave, Lilydale, Hurstbridge and Upfield lines, preventing more frequent trains on those lines, and contributing to poor punctuality.
For Altona residents affected by poor train services (in part because of the single track) there’s a public meeting this Thursday night on this issue.
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