- Minister for Public Transport
Gippsland passengers will receive free travel during July’s winter construction blitz, as critical maintenance is undertaken on the Gippsland line and works continue on the Metro Tunnel.
Bus and coach replacements will be provided on the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston, Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines between Saturday 6 and Sunday 14 July, with trains to return from the first service on Monday 15 July.
Gippsland works during this time including rail restressing between Warragul and Moe and rail welding between Traralgon and Bairnsdale, ensuring the line is kept in good condition.
The significant amount of work being completed to prepare the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines for the Metro Tunnel and new, bigger, better trains will provide a more modern and reliable journey for Gippsland passengers as they get closer to Melbourne and share these lines.
A mix of express, semi-express and stopping all stations coaches will replace Traralgon and Bairnsdale services for the entire journey to help passengers get where they need to go while works take place. Passengers are encouraged to allow up to 90 minutes extra time for their journey.
Running coaches for the entire journey means passengers don’t have to worry about changing from a coach to a train at Pakenham or timing their connection.
Special coaches will run during the weekday peak between Warragul, Drouin and Parliament, via the Eastern Freeway, to provide passengers with a quicker option to get to and from work or appointments on the eastern side of Melbourne.
Extra coaches will also be in place to take fans to and from AFL matches throughout the disruption.
A six-month online calendar is available on the PTV website, showing proposed work dates where buses will replace trains, giving Gippsland line passengers more certainty when planning their journey.
For more details on how this will affect your journey and to access a copy of the temporary timetable, visit vline.com.au
As noted by Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne
“We thank Gippsland passengers for their patience as we undertake the crucial works that will bring Victoria’s rail network into the future and provide a more reliable travel experience on the Gippsland line.”
“We acknowledge these works are inconvenient for passengers, however they will ultimately allow us to provide Gippsland with the rail services it needs and deserves long into the future.”
