Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) -- I wish to ask a question of the Minister for Public Transport. I refer to the poor level of service provided on western suburbs rail lines in the minister's own electorate -- the one that he shares with a number of us. The Herald Sun today reports in its 'Angry travellers lash out' story that its survey of train travellers reveals that western suburbs passengers are the angriest and feel they are getting the worst service on the network. Given that the minister claims to frequently travel from his home to work on public transport, how frequently does the Black Rock-based minister experience delays, cancellations and the appalling service on the Sydenham line?

Hon. M. P. PAKULA (Minister for Public Transport) -- I thank Mr Finn for his question. I, too, noted the survey story in this morning's Herald Sun.

What it primarily indicated was that in particular passengers are concerned about issues of overcrowding. Those issues are just one part of the story. Passengers seek also to have trains that run consistently and reliably, which is a message I have heard loud and clear since I have been the Minister for Public Transport.

That is exactly why the government is making the massive investment that it is making, not just in additional rolling stock to provide more services, better frequency and less overcrowding but also in infrastructure such as the regional rail link project, which is about separating Metro services from regional services. That will ensure that passengers throughout that north-western corridor, whether they travel on V/Line services or on Metro services, have extra dedicated track so that we can put more services on both Metro and V/Line services as a result of that separation. 

Mr Finn interjected.

Hon. M. P. PAKULA -- I take up Mr Finn's interjection. The whole purpose of the regional rail link project is to provide more dedicated track so that the services coming from Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat no longer have the interaction with services on the Metro line that Mr Finn has referred to.

Mr D. Davis interjected.

Hon. M. P. PAKULA -- Unlike Mr Davis, who interjects, I am a regular user of public transport, including on the Sydenham line, the Werribee line and the Williamstown line. On numerous occasions I have used the train to get to my electorate office in Yarraville, which happens to lie not on the Sydenham line but on the Williamstown line.

We are investing record amounts into putting on more services and more rolling stock and creating more reliability, all of which is designed to alleviate exactly those issues identified by Mr Finn and this morning's article -- that is, reducing overcrowding by putting on more services.

As I indicated when we announced the timetable improvements in June that focused on Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham, I also look forward to announcing improved services and extensions to services in the northern and western corridors later this year.

Supplementary question

Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) -- In thanking the minister for his answer, I point out to him that we in the west would very much welcome him as a fellow resident, if indeed he deigned to join us at some stage.

My supplementary question is: why is this government yet again ignoring service provision for the western suburbs, an area this minister purports to represent?

Hon. M. P. PAKULA (Minister for Public Transport) -- Mr Finn clearly had his supplementary question drafted in advance of my answer, because had he listened to my answer he would have heard me say that we are investing in more rolling stock -- in 38 new X'trapolis trains, of which we currently have 6 out on the network -- and that we have more coming on stream between now and the end of the year. What that additional rolling stock will allow the government to do is, in consultation with the operator, to announce further improvements to timetabled services focusing on the northern and western corridors later this year.

The PRESIDENT -- Order! I take an opportunity to attempt to bring a bit of civility to the house. I congratulate Mr O'Donohue and his wife on the arrival of their new baby girl.