CONNEX has been forced to pay $5 million in penalties for the third consecutive quarter, bringing the amount outlaid for poor service delivery in the past 12 months to $25 million.

Government figures released yesterday reveal Connex paid $5.1 million for poor service delivery between January and March. V/Line was fined $350,000 for its performance over the same period, while Yarra Trams received a $160,000 bonus after meeting its targets.

Connex remained just above its punctuality target of 92 per cent, but train cancellations increased above 2005 levels due in part to air-conditioner faults in January.