This follows revelations last Tuesday that the asset management plan — which the company submitted to the state government last April in its bid to win the contract to run the trains and maintain infrastructure — had stated that track buckles “have the potential to cause derailment of trains or collision with structures or trains on adjacent lines, with catastrophic consequences”.

The assessment named the Frankston line as one of the most at risk in the system.

As has been pointed out, it was to Metro’s advantage to highlight deficiencies in the network’s equipment — tracks, sleepers, points, signals, ballast, overhead lines and stanchions — to boost the amount of money the government will give it for construction works under the contract.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder jumped at the revelations, saying the documents, which had been released under Freedom of Information, showed the government guilty of negligence and deceit.

“John Brumby has known about the risk of catastrophic accidents on the metropolitan rail network but has hidden it from the thousands of commuters who travel on the Frankston line every day,” Mr Mulder said.

Metro’s response to the alarming reports was that the documents to which Mr Mulder referred had also stated that its belief was that the existing track condition was “in general fit for purpose” but needed “enhancement” to meet operational performance requirements and the predicted increase in traffic demand.

Metro said that since taking over the franchise it carried out a “full track assessment”.

“Passenger safety and maintaining a safe rail network is Metro’s priority, which is why we are pleased to have secured a significant increase in works funding from the government, with $40 million currently being spent in year one (November 30, 2009, to June 30, 2100) and $60 million will be spent on year two (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011),” Metro said.

Apparently its original assessment, presented in its bid to take over the network from Connex, worked. Metro seems happy with the money it has been given for infrastructure upgrades.

But services for commuters last month were the worst since the Kennett government privatised trains in 1999. More than than 16 per cent of services failed to arrive within the scheduled five minutes.