New anti-trespasser ground panels are being trialled at five train stations to improve safety and reduce the number of incidents that delay passengers.

The innovative panels discourage pedestrians from trespassing illegally at their local station, improving the reliability of services for all passengers.

They feature raised pyramids to create an unstable surface – making it difficult for pedestrians to get around them and onto the rail corridor.

Metro CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said, “trespassing on the railway is incredibly dangerous and can stop trains in their tracks – causing significant and unnecessary disruption to our passengers.”

The anti-trespass panels are being installed at five Metro stations: Keilor Plains, Yarraville, Prahran, Narre Warren and Berwick.

“These new anti-trespasser panels have proven to be effective on railways around the world, providing both a physical and visual deterrent to illegal behaviour,” Mr O’Flaherty said.

Trespassing has a significant impact on Metro’s operational performance, with an average of 300 incidents every month that disrupt services and delay passengers.

In November, Metro delivered 98.3 per cent of scheduled services and 91.5 per cent ran on time.

Punctuality improved on 12 of Metro’s 16 train lines, with a significant reduction in delays caused by trespasses during the month.

Factors impacting performance across the month included:

• Trespassing, police operations and near misses delaying 706 services
• Extreme heat and wind delaying 368 services
• Ill and unruly passengers delaying 331 services
• External power outages delaying 331 services
• Graffiti and vandalism delaying 145 services.

Metro reliably carried 140,000 race-goers on more than 1,100 extra Melbourne Cup Carnival services including on Oaks Day – the network’s busiest day of the year.