Conclusion

Metro is largely maintaining the railway assets as planned. It is behind in renewing its technology assets and has spent significantly less on these to date than it had planned. 

The department does not know the size of this renewal backlog for technology assets, why Metro is spending less than planned and where or how well Metro does the work. 

The department does not effectively monitor if Metro is maintaining and renewing assets according to all of the agreement's requirements. 

Download a PDF copy of Appendix A. Submissions and comments.

Conclusion

The department has not defined its long-term strategic aims and priorities for managing railway assets. This limits its ability to meaningfully assess Metro’s maintenance and renewal planning and set suitable requirements for any future agreement.

Metro’s renewal priorities, and the department’s review of these, consider the need to support safe, reliable and punctual train services.

Conclusion

Metro maintains and renews railway infrastructure and technology sufficiently to support train service punctuality and reliability and minimise passenger injuries.

However, the department does not have an overarching performance measurement and reporting framework for the $6.2 billion agreement. As a result, it does not effectively monitor Metro’s performance in maintaining and renewing these assets. The department also does not check if Metro’s asset maintenance and renewal works will support train service performance into the future.

More passengers travel on metropolitan trains than any other type of public transport in Melbourne. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the network carried 4.7 million passengers each week. 

For these trains to run safely and as scheduled, the infrastructure and technology assets that support them need to be maintained and periodically renewed.

Under a franchise agreement with the Department of Transport and Planning, private rail operator Metro plans and delivers maintenance and renewal works across the network. 

We consulted with the audited agencies and considered their views when reaching our conclusions. The agencies’ full responses are in Appendix A.