METRO has made assurances that train services will improve … but not any time soon.

The new train operator missed its annual target for on-time trains on the Werribee Line, recording an average of 82.6 per cent of trains arriving on time during 2009.

Figures revealed this was 5.4 per cent below their target of 88 per cent.

Metro measures punctuality within 4.59 seconds of arriving at the due time, the lowest point recorded was in December, with 76.7 per cent punctual services.

Cancellations on the Werribee line were at 1.5 per cent of services and 1.7 per cent on the Williamstown line.

Metro spokeswoman Lanie Harris conceded that Metro had had far too many delayed trains and was analysing data to find what had caused the delays and how to improve them.

“We are going to see improvement in train performance, but it is going to take time,” she said.

“This isn’t instant change that we are going to see, we are confident that our customers can see the amount of work that’s being done,” she said.